Oxandrolone

Conditions Treated

Oxandrolone is used with a diet and exercise program to cause weight gain in patients who have lost too much weight due to surgery, injury, or long lasting infections, or who are very underweight for unknown reasons. Oxandrolone is also used to treat bone pain in patients with osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) and to prevent certain side effects in patients who take corticosteroids (a group of medications used to treat many conditions that involve inflammation or swelling of part of the body for a long time. Oxandrolone is in a class of medications called anabolic steroids. It works by increasing the amount of protein made by the body. This protein is used to build more muscle and increase body weight.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Oxandrolone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• depression
• nervousness or unusual excitement
• changes in sex drive or ability
• constipation

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately. Some of these side effects may never go away if they are not treated immediately:

• swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• new or worsening acne
• deepening of voice, increase in facial hair, baldness, and changes in genital structures in women
• abnormal menstrual periods
• enlarged penis or erections that come too often or do not go away
• pain, swelling, or decreased size of testes
• enlarged breasts
• frequent, difficult, or painful urination
• bone pain
• slowed heartbeat
• pain on your side (between your stomach and back)
• confusion
• extreme thirst
• muscle twitches or weakness
• tingling in arms or legs
• weakness or heaviness in legs
• changes in skin color

Oxandrolone may prevent normal growth in children. Children who take oxandrolone may be shorter as adults then they would have been if they had not taken the medication. Oxandrolone is more likely to interfere with the growth of younger children than older children. Your child's doctor will take x-rays regularly to be sure your child is growing normally. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child.Oxandrolone may decrease fertility in men. Talk to your doctor if your partner plans to become pregnant while you are taking oxandrolone.Oxandrolone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Oxandrolone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken two to four times a day. To help you remember to take oxandrolone, take it around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take oxandrolone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably tell you to take oxandralone for 2-4 weeks. You may need to take oxandralone for additional 2-4 week periods if your weight decreases again.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking oxandrolone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to oxandrolone or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); oral medications for diabetes; oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); and steroid creams, lotions, or ointments such as aclometasone (Aclovate), betamethasone (Diprolene, Diprosone, Valisone), clobetasol (temovate), desonide (DesOwen), desoximetasone (Topicort), diflorasone (Psorcon, Florone), fluoxinolone (Derma-Smoothe, Flurosyn, Synalar),fluocinonide (Lidex), flurandrenolide (Cordran), fluticasone (Cutivate), halcinonide (Halog), halobetasol (Ultravate), hydrocortisone (Cortizone, Westcort, others), mometasone (Elocon), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenalog, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high levels of calcium in your blood, breast or prostate (a male reproductive organ) cancer, enlarged prostate, or kidney disease.