Anastrozole contains the active ingredient anastrozole, which is part of a class of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors. While it’s primarily used in medical settings to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women, it’s sometimes used off-label in the bodybuilding community.
In bodybuilding, anastrozole is used to help manage estrogen levels—especially when anabolic steroids are involved. These steroids can convert to estrogen in the body, leading to unwanted side effects like gynecomastia (development of breast tissue in men) and water retention. Anastrozole works by blocking aromatase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen, helping to maintain a more favorable testosterone-to-estrogen ratio during a cycle.