Decabolic injection Nandrolone decanoate is indicated for the management of the anemia of renal insufficiency and has been shown to increase hemoglobin and red cell mass. Surgically induced anephric patients have been reported to be less responsive.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

1. Male patients with carcinoma of the breast or with known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate.

2. Carcinoma of the breast in females with hypercalcemia: androgenic anabolic steroids may stimulate osteolytic resorption of bones.

3. Pregnancy, because of masculinization of the fetus.

4. Nephrosis or the nephrotic phase of nephritis.

LABORATORY TESTS:

Women with disseminated breast carcinoma should have frequent determination of urine and serum calcium levels during the course of anabolic therapy (see WARNINGS section).

If children are treated, periodic (every six months) X-ray examinations of bone age should be made during treatment to determine the rate of bone maturation and the effects of anabolic therapy on the epiphyseal centers.

Hemoglobin and hematocrit should be checked periodically for polycythemia in patients who are receiving high doses of medicine.

Serum lipids and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol should be determined periodically.

Because of the hepatotoxicity associated with the use of 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroids, liver function tests should be obtained periodically.

The decanoate salt form of nandrolone, an anabolic steroid analog of testosterone with androgenic, anabolic, and erythropoietin stimulating effects. Nandrolone enters the cell and binds to and activates specific nuclear androgen receptors in responsive tissue, including the prostate, seminal vesicles, scrotum, penis, larynx, hair follicles, muscle, and bone. The resulting activated hormone receptor complex translocates into the nucleus and binds to androgen response elements (ARE) in the promoter region of targeted genes, where the complex promotes gene expression necessary for maintaining male sex characteristics. Mimicking the negative feedback mechanism of testosterone, nandrolone decanoate also suppresses the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). Furthermore, this agent also stimulates erythropoietin production by enhancing the production of erythropoietic stimulating factors.