November 12, 2021Tyler Collins
If you have been taking Anavar and you’re due for a drug test, you might be worried whether it can be detected in your system. Can this drug be detected in a drug test in the first place?
Anavar, also known as oxandrolone, is a brand name for an androgen and anabolic steroid. The drug is primarily used to help people regain weight following various ailments, to treat bone pain caused by osteoporosis or bone loss, as well as the rehabilitation of severe burns and other issues including Turner’s syndrome and HIV.
If you have been prescribed Anavar due to these conditions then you don’t have anything to worry about. Even if the steroid is detected in your system, you can show your legitimate prescription as evidence that you need to take the drug.
However, since Anavar is also taken by people to enhance athletic performance or as a recreational drug, the lack of a legitimate prescription is highly probable. If you are undergoing a drug test and you do not have a prescription, read our blog for answers to how long oxandrolone can be detected in your system.
What Is the Half-Life of Anavar?
When talking about the length of time that anabolic steroids stay in your system, the first thing you need to know is the half-life of the drug. The half-life, or T1/2 as it’s sometimes called, determines how fast your body will be able to metabolize and eliminate the substance from your system. It is the time required for a drug to be diluted to exactly half of its starting concentration or amount.
Anavar has a very short half-life of only about 8 hours, which means your body will get rid of it faster than other steroids with a half-life that can last for a number of days. For older adults, however, the half-life can be longer at around 12-14 hours.
If the half-life of Anavar is only 8 hours, does this mean it will not be detected in your system, the next day after your last dose? The answer is NO. It is important to note that the half-life of a drug is different from its detection time. While the drug might already be metabolized by your system, traces of the substance may still be present and could be detected in your body.
How Long does Anavar Stay in Your System? Detection Time in Drug Tests
The detection time of Anavar in your system will vary depending on several factors. However, Anavar can usually be detected in your system for 3 to 4 weeks. In the urine, it can be detected from 14 days to 1 month.
These are just indicative periods because the exact time will depend on the following:
- Method of ingestion – Taking the medication orally means it will be processed by the body more quickly than if you injected it to your body using a syringe.
- Length of use – The detection period will be longer if you are a chronic user than if you have only used the drug once or a few times.
- Amount of dosage – A greater dose will, of course, result in a longer detection time than a small or single dose of oxandrolone.
- Your metabolism – The time a drug stays in a person’s system varies from person to person, since it is also influenced by the body’s metabolism rate, age, height, weight, sex, as well as liver and kidney function.
Do Steroids Show Up On Drug Tests?
Yes, but it depends on what type of drug test is being administered. Anavar or oxandrolone can show up on certain, specialized drug tests, but not in all types of drug tests.
For instance, steroids like Anavar will typically not show up in standard 12-panel drug tests. Typically, a 12-Panel Urinalysis drug test examines for active chemicals in different substances, including cocaine, PCP, marijuana, amphetamines, Quaaludes, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opiates, methadone, propoxyphene, Oxycodone/Percocet, and Ecstasy/MDMA. In this case, steroids are not included because they are not used to get high.
However, if a sports authority is testing you for performance-enhancing steroids, a specialized drug test will often be used to detect the presence of steroids, peptide hormones, masking agents, and other substances like stimulants or recreational drugs.
How to Get Anavar out of Your System Fast
If you want to get rid of Anavar from your system, the only way to do so is to stop using the drug. If you are already dependent on the drug as a long-time user, the safest way to go about it is to speak with an addiction treatment professional. Consulting with a professional can help you get off the drug without suffering from painful withdrawal symptoms and finally win over your addiction.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Lighthouse Treatment Center today.
