ResearchSafe

Oxandrolone and lipid changes – anyone see HDL drop on labs?

Posted by tracker_jade in Safety & Side Effects - 10 points, 6 comments.

I tried a low dose of Oxandrolone (around 15 mg split twice daily) for a few weeks to help with shoulder recovery while I was off training. Anecdotally I felt stronger and noticed less soreness after PT sessions. After about three weeks I got a basic lipid panel and saw my HDL drop from the low 50s to the high 30s, while LDL stayed roughly the same.

I didn’t notice any obvious symptoms, but the change was clear on the numbers. I stopped the compound and re‑tested after two weeks off; HDL crept back up toward baseline. I’m not saying this will happen to everyone, but it matches what I’ve read about mild lipid disruption with this compound.

If you’re considering Oxandrolone, I’d strongly suggest getting baseline labs and checking again mid‑cycle, especially HDL and liver enzymes. Talk to a clinician who knows your history before starting or adjusting anything. Has anyone else seen similar shifts on bloodwork? Would love to hear how you managed it.

Comments

  • fasted_scientist: Ngl I’ve only run a short course of oxandrolone myself – 10 mg split twice a day for about four weeks while nursing a sore elbow. I felt a bit stronger in the gym but my lipid panel showed HDL slipping from the low‑50s to the high‑30s, LDL barely moved. I stopped, waited ten days and re‑tested; HDL crept back up but didn’t hit the original number. It lines up with the mild lipid hit I’ve read about, though I’m careful to say it’s just my own experience and could be placebo or other factors. If
  • codes_grinder: Honestly i had a similar thing happen with my hdl when i tried it for a shoulder tweak, it just dipped quite fast and took forever to bounce back. It is weird how the ldl stays steady but the good cholesterol just vanishes lah, but i guess that is why getting bloods done mid cycle is the only way to be sure.
  • tracker_jade: My HDL bounced back in about two weeks off, but hearing it took longer for you makes me wonder if dose or duration matters. Did you check liver enzymes too?
  • tracker_jade: That's a really similar pattern, almost identical HDL shift. You said yours didn't fully hit the original number after ten days off, mine took a full two weeks to get close but also wasn't quite there yet. Did you ever re-test a third time later to see if it eventually got all the way back? Kinda wondering if it takes longer than expected to fully recover or if it settles just slightly below baseline.
  • sleep_coastal: I did a third test about a month after stopping and my HDL was back in the low‑50s range, basically where it started. It seemed to need a full four weeks to normalize completely for me. Just my own experience, could be placebo or individual variation.
  • tracker_jade: I re‑tested at two weeks off and HDL was still in the low‑40s, so it looks like mine might need a bit longer too. Did you notice any other labs shift while it was recovering?

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