AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #381, June 28, 2002
John S. James
In late May or early June treatment activists learned that the only version of nandrolone currently available in the U.S. (brand name Deca Durabolin) was being discontinued. Soon we started hearing from patients whose pharmacies told them they could not find the drug. Nandrolone is approved for anemia due to renal insufficiency, but many doctors use it off label for AIDS wasting.(1,2,3) Usually the patients, doctors, and pharmacists had heard nothing about the drug going away. It just disappeared from the supply chain.
Nandrolone remains available in other countries. But because it is a controlled substance due to abuse by body builders, patients cannot import those products for personal use. Until three years ago there were lower-cost generic nandrolone products available in the U.S. Then they also disappeared with little notice.
Other anabolics that had also been used off label in AIDS have been discontinued -- and then later come back with an HIV label (FDA approval for the HIV use), but with a huge price increase, typically more than 10 times their former cost. We do not know if that will happen with nandrolone.
Activists have investigated and been told that a new generic nandrolone will be available after the July 4 weekend. But what we have heard so far is confusing and contradictory.
Recently we heard that a compounded version of nandrolone is available now.
Because the situation is unclear and rapidly changing, check Web sites of organizations that have been following this issue, including http://www.houstonbuyersclub.com, http://www.atac- usa.org, and http://www.medibolics.com for the latest information.
References
1. Sattler FR, Jaque SV, Schroeder ET, and others. Effects of pharmacological doses of nandrolone decanoate and progressive resistance training in immunodeficient patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999 Apr;84(4):1268-76.
2. Strawford A, Barbieri T, Neese R, and others. Effects of nandrolone decanoate therapy in borderline hypogonadal men with HIV-associated weight loss. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.
3. Gold J, High HA, Li Y, and others. Safety and efficacy of nandrolone decanoate for treatment of wasting in patients with HIV infection. AIDS 1996 Jun;10(7):745-52.
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