Oxandrolone is a 17-alpha-alkylated oral anabolic steroid.  Oxandrolone has an excellent myotrophic activity index of 3.2 and a low androgenic activity index of 0.2. At low doses, oxandrolone will not cause suppression of endogenous testosterone production and does not aromatize to estrogens.

Oxandrolone was approved for treating alcoholic hepatitis, Turner's syndrome, and weight loss caused by HIV. In addition, the drug has shown positive results in treating anemia and hereditary angioedema and for preserving muscle mass in burns patients.  Oxandronolne also has been used with good success for idiopathic muscle mass loss and osteoporosis. At low dose (5-10mg), oxandrolone binds weakly to androgen receptors and therefore can be used by woman and does not cause virilisation. Oxandrolone has a half life 10-13 hours.