Oxandrolone lipids: what to monitor during my trial?

Posted by zoe_rows in Safety & Side Effects - 3 points, 0 comments.

I started 20 mg of oxandrolone for a 6‑week recomposition cycle. For me, the biggest thing that caught my eye was a drop in HDL from 55 to 45 mg/dL after I hit week four. I ran a panel at a bloodwork lab that also checked LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, AST/ALT, and testosterone. AST and ALT were fine, but the lipid shift made me pause.

I’m wondering if anyone can share how they keep HDL from dropping while on ox. I’ve heard some people add omega‑3s or a low‑carb period, but I haven’t tested anything yet. Should I keep a weekly check or every two weeks? Also, is there a safe threshold for LDL/HDL on this steroid? For me, the idea of putting a statin on top of an anabolic is scary. I’ve read that the liver isn’t heavily taxed by ox, but pits still exist. Any protocol tweaks or monitoring advice would help me keep the risks low while still seeing the gains.

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