Chemical Properties
Oxymetholone is an odorless white to pale yellow crystalline solid or powder. Insoluble in water, easily soluble in chloroform, soluble in dioxane, vegetable oil, slightly soluble in ethanol and ether.
Uses
Oxymetholone is used in treatment of myelofibrosis and
myelosuppression. This drug can provoke bone marrow cells
and rise the blood cells in the peripheral blood vessels. It has
been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for
the treatment of anemia caused by deficient red cell
production. It is effective in catabolic states, replacement of
male sex steroids in men who have androgen deficiency, and
in eugonadal male and female patients with acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome-associated wasting.
Definition
ChEBI: Oxymetholone is a 3-oxo-5alpha- steroid that is 4,5alpha-dihydrotestosterone which is substituted by a hydroxymethylidene group at position 2 and by a methyl group at the 17alpha position. A synthetic androgen, it was mainly used for the treatment of anaemias until being replaced by treatments with fewer side effects. It has a role as an anabolic agent, an androgen and an anti-anaemic agent. It is a 17beta-hydroxy steroid, an enone, a tertiary alcohol, an enol, an anabolic androgenic steroid and a 3-oxo-5alpha-steroid.
Brand name
Anadrol (Alaven).
General Description
Odorless white to creamy white crystalline powder.
General Description
Oxymetholone, 17β-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylene)-17-methylandrostan-3-one, is approvedfor the treatment of various anemias.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Oxymetholone(434-07-1) may be sensitive to light.
Health Hazard
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of exposure to Oxymetholone may include cholestatic jaundice, hepatocellular neoplasms and peliosis hepatitis. Prepubertal exposure may cause phallic enlargement and increased frequency of erection. Postpubertal exposure may cause inhibition of testicular function, testicular atrophy, oligospermia, impotence, chronic priapism, epididymitis, bladder irritability, clitoral enlargement, menstrual irregularities, increased or decreased libido, excitation, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, leukemia, gynecomastia, deepening of the voice in women, hirsutism and male-pattern baldness in women, acne, edema, retention of serum electrolytes and decreased glucose tolerance. It may also cause higher risk of developing liver cell tumors. Other symptoms include abnormal liver function tests, salt and water retention and masculinization, particularly of the female fetus.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for Oxymetholone are not available. Oxymetholone is probably combustible.
Potential Exposure
Oxymetholone is a controlled substance
(US), hormone and a systemic anabolic steroid.
Carcinogenicity
Oxymetholone is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogenbased on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.
Environmental Fate
Oxymetholone may release into the environment through
various waste streams. If released to air, oxymetholone does
not absorb light at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore is
not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by
sunlight. If released to soil, oxymetholone is expected to have
moderate mobility. Occupational exposure to oxymetholone
may occur via dermal contact with this compound at workplaces
where oxymetholone is produced. It can be overused
intentionally in humans as a performance enhancement drug
in athletes.
Shipping
UN3077 Environmentally hazardous substances,
solid, n.o.s., Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous hazardous
material, Technical Name Required.
Toxicity evaluation
Acute and Short-Term Toxicity (or Exposure)
Animal/Human
No exact data exist for carcinogenicity of oxymetholone in
human and animal. Oxymetholone is generally presumed to be
a nongenotoxic. This statement is based primarily on the results of mutagenicity test, repeated-dose toxicology studies, and the
predicted results of a 2-year rat carcinogenicity bioassay.
Use of oxymetholone by a pregnant mother can cause
virilization of a female fetus. Oxymetholone overdose
produces symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Most of the
signs and symptoms appear after chronic toxicity. Patients are
expected to recover rapidly after acute overdose but there are
few data. ‘Body builders’ use doses many times the standard
therapeutic doses for these compounds but do not suffer acute
toxic effects.
Chronic Toxicity (or Exposure)
Human
Liver injury, jaundice, and gynecomastia can occur. Acne,
abnormal lipids, cardiovascular disease (including stroke and
myocardial infarction), abnormal glucose tolerance, muscular
hypertrophy in both sexes, and psychiatric disorder can happen
during or after prolonged treatment. Hypertension, left
ventricular hypertrophy, and premature coronary artery disease
have been reported. Also, stroke, aggressive behavior, depression,
mania, psychotic symptoms of hallucination, and delusion
in anabolic steroid abusers are seen. Fluid and electrolyte
impairments and retention of sodium and water in users lead
to edema. Hypercalcemia and insulin resistance with a fall in
glucose tolerance have been reported.
Chronic Toxicity (or Exposure)
Human
Liver injury, jaundice, and gynecomastia can occur. Acne,
abnormal lipids, cardiovascular disease (including stroke and
myocardial infarction), abnormal glucose tolerance, muscular
hypertrophy in both sexes, and psychiatric disorder can happen
during or after prolonged treatment. Hypertension, left
ventricular hypertrophy, and premature coronary artery disease
have been reported. Also, stroke, aggressive behavior, depression,
mania, psychotic symptoms of hallucination, and delusion
in anabolic steroid abusers are seen. Fluid and electrolyte
impairments and retention of sodium and water in users lead
to edema. Hypercalcemia and insulin resistance with a fall in
glucose tolerance have been reported.
Reproductive Toxicity
Women develop signs of virilism with increased facial hair,
male pattern baldness, acne, deepening of the voice, irregular
menses, and clitoral enlargement. Prostatic hypertrophy,
impotence, and small doses of anabolic steroids are said to
increase libido, but larger doses lead to azospermia and
impotence. Testicular atrophy is a common clinical feature of
long-term abuse of anabolic steroids.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates,
nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine,
bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions.
Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases,
strong acids, oxoacids, and epoxides. May be combustible
and light-sensitive.
Waste Disposal
It is inappropriate and
possibly dangerous to the environment to dispose of
expired or waste pharmaceuticals by flushing them down
the toilet or discarding them to the trash. Household
quantities of expired or waste pharmaceuticals may be
mixed with wet cat litter or coffee grounds, doublebagged
in plastic, discard in trash. Larger quantities
shall carefully take into consideration applicable DEA,
EPA, and FDA regulations. If possible return the
pharmaceutical to the manufacturer for proper disposal
being careful to properly label and securely package the
material. Alternatively, the waste pharmaceutical shall be
labeled, securely packaged and transported by a state
licensed medical waste contractor to dispose by burial
in a licensed hazardous or toxic waste landfill or
incinerator.
