Nandrolone decanoate, sometimes referred to as 19-nortestosterone, is an injectable medicine that is a member of the class II anabolic androgenic steroid subclass (AAS). The medications that belong under class II AAS are all referred to as 19-nortestosterone derivatives; they are all artificial derivatives of the testosterone, a hormone that is produced naturally in males. The main functions of testosterone in males are to promote the development of secondary sexual characteristics (androgenic effects) during puberty and to promote the growth and maintenance of muscle mass (anabolic effects). As a result, drugs that fall into the AAS category, like Nandrolone decanoate, were synthesized to have more anabolic and fewer androgenic properties. 1

Nandrolone was first created and reported by Birch in 1950, and it shares many chemical properties with testosterone. The absence of a methyl group at carbon C-19 in nandrolone is the only difference between testosterone and nandrolone’s chemical makeup. Nandrolone decanoate has very powerful anabolic effects that are substantially stronger than those of testosterone, but it has minimal androgenic effects because of its demethylation at C-19. 2

One of the primary uses for injectable nandrolone decanoate in medicine is the care of refractory anemia that is unresponsive to other forms of therapy. Nandrolone stimulates the kidneys to produce erythropoietin, which increases the bulk and volume of red blood cells. Additionally, nandrolone may support tissue growth and the ensuing development of muscular mass in patients with chronic wasting disorders like cancer. The medical treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis may potentially involve the use of nandrolone.