Oxymetholone is a potent oral anabolic steroid derived from
dihydrotestosterone. More specifically, it is a close cousin of
methyldihydrotestosterone (mestanolone), differing only by the addition
of a 2-hydroxymethylene group. This creates a steroid with considerably
different activity than mestanolone, however, such that it is very
difficult to draw comparisons between the two. For starters,
oxymetholone is a very potent anabolic hormone. Dihydrotestosterone and
mestanolone are both very weak in this regard, owing to the fact that
these molecules are not very stable in the high enzyme (3-alpha
hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) environment of muscle tissue. Oxymetholone
remains highly active here instead, as is reported in standard animal
assay tests demonstrating a significantly higher anabolic activity than
testosterone or methyltestosterone. Such assays suggest the
androgenicity of oxymetholone is also very low (1/4th to 1/7th its
anabolic activity), although real world results in humans suggest it is
decidedly higher than that. Oxymetholone is considered by many to be the
most powerful steroid commercially available. A steroid novice
experimenting with this agent is likely to gain 20 to 30 pounds of
massive bulk, and it can often be accomplished within 6 weeks of use.
This steroid produces a lot of water retention, so a good portion of
this gain is going to be water weight. This is often of little
consequence to the user, who may be feeling very big and strong while
taking oxymetholone. Although the smooth look that results from water
retention is often not attractive, it can aid quite a bit to the level
of size and strength gained.The muscle is fuller, will contract better,
and is provided a level of protection in the form of extra water held
into and around connective tissues.