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Avatar universal

Oxandrin....

Hey guys,
     My HIV doctor gave me a prescription of an anabolic steriod called Oxandrin.  Before I begin HCV tx, I asked her if there was something that was liver friendly that she could prescribe to help me put on at least 10lbs.  She said that this steroid was one of, if not the most, liver friendly drugs.  As I always do I read the "WARNING" papers that they attach to your prescription bags, and as I was reading it said:  

This drug has been known to cause liver cyst, liver tumors, as well as liver failure and should be taken only as prescribed by your physician......and so on, and so on.  So in short I have been on line to see what I could find about this drug.  All of the sites concur that ANY anabolic steriod can cause liver damage, but it has been only in those cases where people have abused steroids or has abused this drug that these problems have been reported.  ALL FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ABUSE THEMSELVES WITH THIS STEROID.  

I have not started taking them because of the info that I read before hand.  Although you guys are not physicians, what do you think?  My weight flucuates between 152 and 157 for a guy that is 5'6".  I have a muscular build, and......oh good grief......it sounds like a personal add, doesn't it?  It the weekend and my next Dr appt. is on Nov. 2.  Has anyone taken steroids while on tx?  Before tx?  

In Him,
Rick
15 Responses
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131817 tn?1209529311
I have a little frig upstairs that I keep packed with water, puddings, and Ensure. I don't have to shlep down to the kitchen for much!! I probably go through 3 cases of bottled water a week. I like it cole ;)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
move the fridg up stears ??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
have to agree with jim  why treat what you dont have bmi is normal range anabolic steroids have side effects that could increase side effects of treatment and disease state. they are chills, insomnia,diarrhea, nausea, anemia(iron def), decrease cloting factors, hepatic necrosis and hcc all but the last 2 occuring in 1-10% of pts . why increase prob unless necessary chuck
Helpful - 0
131817 tn?1209529311
Hey, you have come to the right place! Tx seems to knock the weight off of some people. I am not thin, but not fat and ate ice cream like no tomorrow for a while. I didn't gain much weight, but didn't lose it. Now in 27/48 those fattening things are makeing it so I can't zip up my pants. Not good. I hate feeling this way. Of course my exercise program involves walking downstairs across the house to the frig (sometimes no easy feat) this could be a big problem. I have really cut down on the sweets now, except my Kern's Nectar, of course!
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146021 tn?1237204887
Absolutely...unconditionally!
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Avatar universal
Why are you trying to put on weight prior to treatment? 157 for a guy that is 5'6" sounds about right.

Not everyone loses weight during treatment, but if it turns out you're one of the ones that do, that xtra ten pounds may come off very quick anyway and then more some. I lost close to 30 pounds during treatment and a good part was muscle. Heard the same from others. If you're a body builder worried about losing some muscle during tx, it may be the price you will have to pay for getting rid of the virus. Not to say you definitely will lose some, but losing muscle mass is fairly common on the tx drugs.

In general, most people try to lose a little weight prior to tx as lower body mass index (BMI) is associated with better results. Personally, I'd hold off on steroids or other agressive weight-gaining approaches such as supplental testesterone, unless your doctors feel you really need them.

My doctor actually suggested both but it it was during treatment and after I lost the 30 lbs. Weight finally stabalized so I didn't take either. Frankly, can't remember reading of anyone here taking either although both steroids and testosterone are commonly used for wasting in AIDs patients.

If it's just ten pounds you want to gain -- and again not sure if that's a good idea -- ice cream, as suggested sounds a lot safer.

Is the doctor that gave you the rx for Oxandrin the liver specialist who will be treating you? If not, I'd definitely run any drugs like Oxandrin by your treating doctor first.

All the best.

-- Jim
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey guys,
     Although ice cream is great!  The meds that one takes for HIV tend to raise the cholestrol levels in your blood, so I have to be careful about what I eat to begin with.  Any other foods or thoughts on what I could eat?  

In Him,
Rick
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thay wont treat me intel im very thin,, i lost 25 ponds last treatmont. i was told the less fat the less place the vires can hide from treatmont and that helps to get rid of it????? does that sound rong our right ...i need a  doctar that lets me eat pizza and ice cream
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Avatar universal
I love you for loving me......  :)
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146021 tn?1237204887
I looked up the drug your doctor prescribed and I was pleasantly surprised at the info. My first reaction was "What kind of weight" meaning swelling or increased fluid retention, but the drug actually helps to icrease muscle mass. (as all steroids)The difference is that this drug is for people with weight loss due to HIV so it sounds good to me. There are risks with any drug, but being underweight and starting tx carries a risk too.  You want to go into tx as good as you can get, I think I would trust your doctor. She sounds informed and has something the rest of us don't-a medical degree!
Blessings to you on this beautiful Sunday, did you turn your clock back?
Bug
Helpful - 0
131817 tn?1209529311
I know you haven't started, but I know they stay in your system a while....not sure how long.  Just a suggestion. I took them on tx and don't regret it, but for gaining weight, I wouldn't. Try some ensure plus. That will put weight on you. Also there are weight powders that work.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was put on prednisone immediately after tx because of major skin problems, but only for 5 days. What I started to understand through my reading was that it slowed the immune system down and what the interferon does is activate it. Now I could have missed something but I think thats what happens. If so, it's not that it will damage the liver on a short treatment, but would interfere while on SOC. Only my take.....
Hey, my brothers name is Rick, good name!
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Avatar universal
I have yet to begin tx for the HCV.  My doc said that I could put on at least 10 more lbs. before beginning.......thanks for your post.
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131817 tn?1209529311
I have heard steriods are a NO NO! They cut down the effects of the interferon. I would stay away from them. My Hemotologist gave them to me after Neulasta shot, when I had horrible bone pain. I took them once for 4 days, because I could NOT handle the pain. It helped, but the next time I took two. The next time I got oxycodene and it seemed to help some....He told me NOT to take them if I could at all help it. So now I dont'.
Helpful - 0
131817 tn?1209529311
Another GREAT way to gain weight on tx (I know b/c I have) is eat the standard of care for comfort around here....ICE CREAM! I ate buckets of it. That is all I wanted to eat at first. Now I have cut it out pretty much, and eat that pudding instead. I never had a sweet tooth before, but it was the easiest stuff to get down. Since my appetite is not great in the morn, I drink reg. Ensure with my meds.
Helpful - 0
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