OpenClaim

Oxymetholone Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of oxymetholone include drug abuse, aortic aneurysm, and polycythaemia, based on 155 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025.

#1 Reported: Drug AbuseAll side effects ↓Top Co-Medication: TestosteroneDrug interactions ↓70% of Reports Are AdultDemographics ↓

Oxymetholone side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for oxymetholone.

1
Drug Abuse11.0%17
2
Aortic Aneurysm5.8%9
3
Polycythaemia4.5%7
4
Sepsis3.9%6
5
Deafness Neurosensory3.9%6
6
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome3.9%6
7
Abdominal Pain Upper3.2%5
8
Diabetes Mellitus3.2%5
9
Weight Decreased3.2%5
10
Hepatitis3.2%5
11
Vascular Purpura3.2%5
12
Off Label Use3.2%5
13
Headache2.6%4
14
Cardiac Failure Congestive2.6%4
15
Renal Failure Acute2.6%4

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that oxymetholone caused these reactions.

Report severity

87.7%Serious136 reports
42.6%Hospitalizations66 reports
9.7%Fatal15 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Oxymetholone drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside oxymetholone. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Testosterone27.1%42
2
Somatropin14.8%23
3
Stanozolol9.7%15
4
Prednisolone8.4%13
5
Nandrolone7.7%12
6
Eculizumab7.7%12
7
Filgrastim5.8%9
8
Cyclosporine3.9%6
9
Oxandrolone3.9%6
10
Cyclophosphamide3.9%6
11
Methotrexate3.9%6
12
Busulfan3.9%6
13
Dromostanolone-propionate1.9%3
14
Emtricitabine1.3%2
15
Tenofovir1.3%2

Taken alongside

1
Testosterone6.5%10
2
Folic-acid5.8%9
3
Hydrocortisone5.2%8
4
Anastrozole5.2%8
5
Acetaminophen4.5%7
6
Prednisone3.9%6
7
Stanozolol3.9%6
8
Spironolactone3.9%6
9
Hydrocodone3.9%6
10
Losartan-potassium3.9%6
11
Ritonavir3.2%5
12
Amoxicillin3.2%5
13
Ibuprofen3.2%5
14
Nandrolone3.2%5
15
Liothyronine-sodium3.2%5

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports oxymetholone side effects

17.4% of oxymetholone adverse event reports involve female patients and 69.7% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 70%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female17.4%
Male69.7%
Unknown12.9%

Age group

< 22.6%
2–1112.3%
12–173.5%
18–6470.2%
65+11.4%

What is oxymetholone used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking oxymetholone when the adverse event was reported.

Anabolic DietAnaemiaAndrogens AbnormalAplastic AnaemiaAplastic AnaemiaBlood Lactate Dehydrogenase IncreasedBlood Testosterone DecreasedBody Mass Index IncreasedBone Marrow FailureCataract OperationCongenital Aplastic AnaemiaCongenital DyskeratosisDrug AbuseDrug AbuserDrug Use For Unknown Indication

Showing 15 of 33 indications

Oxymetholone brand names and reporting trend

Oxymetholone is sold under the brand name Anadrol-50.

Brand names

Anadrol-50109

Quarterly reports (2004–2025)

2005201020202025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking oxymetholone with another medication?

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