Oxandrolone is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a maximum plasma concentration between 30 and 90 minutes and a plasma half-life of about 9 hours. Oxandrolone has been given orally in the treatment of constitutional delayed growth and puberty in boys. Courses of treatment are short (about 3 to 4 months) because of the risk of epiphyseal closure. Oxandrolone has been prescribed to post-menopausal women in the treatment of osteoporosis. Oxandrolone is also under investigation in the treatment of Turner’s syndrome in girls. As oxandrolone is C17-alpha-alkylated there is the potential for liver damage.
Oxandrolone has relatively low androgenic effects, with little aromatization in males. It has a reputation for increasing strength but not size. It is popular with women because of its low incidence of side-effects due to virilization, but some cases of facial hair growth and deepening of the voice have been reported for over doses. Gastrointestinal irritation, including pain and diarrhoea, are commonly reported side-effects in both male and female users.
As it is mentioned above, Oxandrolone is more effective on female bodybuilders than men. It is not common to use it for enhancing the mass of muscles. It is more proper to use it for cutting cycles among male bodybuilders. On the other hand it is much more effective on females.