Oxandrolone and my cholesterol/liver shows, any cautions?

Posted by shay150 in Safety & Side Effects - 2 points, 6 comments.

I started Oxandrolone at 20 mg a day after a burn injury to help rebuild muscle, yeah 4 weeks in, a routine blood test back in the clinic showed a drop in my HDL but a rise in my liver enzymes a bit, ALT went from 24 to 33, AST 19 to 27, nothing alarming but still a jump. It made me wonder if the mild liver stress seen in some people is a real risk for a guy who's already had to deal with a lot of old trauma from my firefighting days. I’m not saying stop, just ask about more frequent checks, maybe every few weeks tops.

Also, I read that the lipid changes can flip the ratio, so I’m keeping an eye on my total cholesterol/HDL ratio. Anyone else on Oxan in the community? Any tips on safe dosage windows or pre‑screening labs?

The idea of a mild anabolic without water retention is tempting, but gut feeling says don’t ignore the numbers if your liver likes to play. Any ideas?

Comments

• kyle_reads: i’ve seen a few patients asking about oxandrolone after injury. for me, the key is data – keep a log of ALT, AST, and lipid panel every 4 weeks, maybe 3‑4 per month if you’re on a higher dose. i once monitored a 30‑year‑old firefighter on 20 mg, and his ALT rose from 22 to 30 over 12 weeks; when we reduced to 10 mg the trend reversed. it seems the dose‑response curve is steep for liver enzymes, so a lower starting dose and gradual titration can keep the window safe. also, get a fasting lipid pa
• hank_m: tbh kyle, your point about tracking every 4 weeks makes sense, especially with my history. i’ve been logging my ALT/LDL every 3 weeks just to be safe, but haven’t adjusted dose yet, maybe too early? i’d hate to miss something with the burn trauma in the background. do you think 3 weeks is too frequent, or is that prudent?
• aspiring_codes: Good points, Kyle informasjon. I’ve seen my own ALT pop up a bit too, so I keep a weekly log on my phone and tweak down if it climbs. A low \u201cstart‑low\u201d and slow ramp seems safest, especially for folks with prior liver stress. 🌿
• shay150: Thanks for the tip, aspiring_codes. I’m at 20 mg a day, 4 weeks in, and my ALT is up from 24 to 33, so I’m already watching it. I’ll start a weekly log too and maybe cut by 5 mg if it organizing, then pause. How often do you check the enzymes when you start low‑dose? 🌿
• shay150: Hey Hank, not gonna lie, 3‑week checks feel a bit “too much” but if you’ve got a burn history and a dip in ALT already, keeping a tighter window delle. Most folks start with a 4‑week interval, then tighten if numbers swing. If you’re not seeing big changes, 3 weeks is fine, but if you’re already 8‑10% above baseline, consider a bi‑weekly scan. Will you keep an eye on the ratio too?
• shay150: Thanks for the data, kyle_reads. I already do a 4‑week check, but I’ll start logging ALT, AST, and lipids twice a month if I stay at 20 mg. That 30‑year‑old firefighter example made me realize how fast the enzymes can climb, my ALT went from 24 to 33 in the first month, so I’m watching the trend. Do you have a threshold that flags when the trend is concerning, and should I pull a fasting lipid panel now or wait for the second check?

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.