HIV Wasting:
Oxandrolone (Oxandrin®)
• Oral anabolic steroid studied in several trials1-3
• Doses used: 5 mg/day; 15 mg/day; 20 mg/day
• Study lengths: 4, 8, and 16 weeks
• Increases in weight, LBM, and strength reported
• Placebo-controlled, dose-finding study showed no improvement in LBM at 20 mg/day4
• Side effects include gonadal suppression, hyperlipidemia, hepatotoxicity, decline in HDL, and interactions with P450 cytochrome system


1.Romeyn M et al. JAMA. 2000;284.
2. Strawford A et al. JAMA. 1999;281:1282-90.
3. Berger JR et al. AIDS. 1996;10:1657-62.
4. Grunfeld C et al. XII International Conference on AIDS, 1998.



• Another popular anabolic steroid is Oxandrolone, also known as Oxandrin®. This oral steroid has been studied in several trials.1-3 Studies have used various doses, ranging from 5 mg to 20 mg a day during periods of 4 to 16 weeks. When used alone, oxandrolone produced increases in weight gain and lean body mass.

• However, a more recent placebo-controlled, dose-finding study failed to show any improvement in lean body mass at a daily dose of 20 mg.4

• Oxandrolone may produce a number of serious side effects. These include gonadal suppression, hyperlipidemia, hepatotoxicity, decline in HDL, and interactions with the P450 cytochrome system.

References:

1. Romeyn M, Gunn N 3rd. Resistance exercise and oxandrolone for men with HIV-related weight loss. JAMA. 2000;284:176.

2. Strawford A, Barbieri T, Van Loan M et al. Resistance exercise and supraphysiologic androgen therapy in eugonadal men with HIV-related weight loss: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1999;281:1282-90.

3. Berger JR, Pall L, Hall CD et al. Oxandrolone in AIDS-wasting myopathy. AIDS. 1996;10:1657-62.

4. Grunfeld C et al. Program and abstracts of the XII International Conference on AIDS, Geneva, Switzerland; June 28-July 3, 1998.