Description
This medicine belongs to the group of medicines known as anabolic(an-a-BOL-ik) steroids. They are related to testosterone, a male sex hormone. Anabolic steroids help to rebuild tissues that have become weak because of serious injury or illness. A diet high in proteins and calories is necessary with anabolic steroid treatment.
Anabolic steroids are used for several reasons:
- to help patients gain weight after a severe illness, injury, or continuing infection. They also are used when patients fail to gain or maintain normal weight because of unexplained medical reasons.
- to treat certain types of anemia.
- to treat certain kinds of breast cancer in some women.
- to treat hereditary angioedema, which causes swelling of the face, arms, legs, throat, windpipe, bowels, or sexual organs.
Anabolic steroids may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Anabolic steroids are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Oral - Oxandrolone
- Oxymetholone
- Stanozolol
Parenteral - Nandrolone
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine only as directed. Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
In order for this medicine to work properly, it is important that you follow a diet high in proteins and calories. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
Dosing—The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the anabolic steroid.
For nandrolone decanoate - For injection dosage form:
- For treatment of certain types of anemia:
- Women and girls 14 years of age and older—50 to 100 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle every one to four weeks.
- Men and boys 14 years of age and older—50 to 200 mg injected into a muscle every one to four weeks.
Your doctor may want to continue treatment for up to twelve weeks. After a four-week rest period without receiving this medicine, your doctor may want you to repeat the cycle. - Children up to 2 years of age—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
- Children 2 to 13 years of age—25 to 50 mg injected into a muscle every three to four weeks.
For nandrolone phenpropionate - For injection dosage form:
- For treatment of certain breast cancers in women:
- Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle once a week for up to twelve weeks. After a four-week rest period without receiving this medicine, your doctor may want you to repeat the cycle.
- Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
For oxandrolone - For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment in rebuilding tissue after a serious illness or injury:
- Adults and teenagers—2.5 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day for up to four weeks. Your doctor may increase your dose up to 20 mg a day.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 0.25 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.11 mg per pound) of body weight a day.
For oxymetholone - For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment of certain types of anemia:
- Adults, teenagers, children, and older infants —Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.45 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight a day.
- Premature and newborn infants—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 0.175 mg per kg (0.08 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.
For stanozolol - For oral dosage form (tablets):
- To prevent hereditary angioedema, which causes swelling of the face, arms, legs, throat, windpipe, bowels, or sexual organs:
- Adults and teenagers—At first, 2 milligrams (mg) three times a day to 4 mg four times a day for five days. Then, your doctor may slowly lower the dose to 2 mg once a day or once every other day.
Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:
- One dose a day—Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember it until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
- More than one dose a day—Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Storage—To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store the tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Tumors of the liver, liver cancer, or peliosis hepatis, a form of liver disease, have occurred during long-term, high-dose therapy with anabolic steroids. Although these effects are rare, they can be very serious and may cause death. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
For both females and males
Rare (with long-term use)
Black, tarry, or light-colored stools; dark-colored urine; purple- or red-colored spots on body or inside the mouth or nose; sore throat and/or fever; vomiting of blood
Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
For both females and males
Rare (with long-term use)
Abdominal or stomach pain; feeling of discomfort (continuing); headache (continuing); hives; loss of appetite (continuing); unexplained weight loss; unpleasant breath odor (continuing)
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 06/20/92
Interim revision: 06/08/94; 06/23/97
Note: The information contained herein has been devised without reference to cultural, dietary, societal, language, prescribing or dispensing conditions (including those imposed by law), other than those of the United States, which might affect the information provided. Information is for your personal use only and may not be sold or redistributed. Copyright ® 2001 Micromedex, Inc. All rights reserved. USPDI® and Advice for the Patient? are registered trademarks USP used under license to Micromedex, Inc. Patient Education Leaflets is a trademark of Micromedex, Inc.
