Norethandrolone, sold under the brand names Nilevar and Pronabol among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which has been used to promote muscle growth and to treat severe burns, physical trauma, and aplastic anemia but has mostly been discontinued.

[6][7] It was the first AAS with a favorable separation of anabolic and androgenic effect to be marketed.

[3] As with all 17α-alkylated AAS, long-term use of norethandrolone in high doses may result in hepatotoxicity including elevated liver enzymes and cirrhosis.

[3][11] This is likely related to the high ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity observed with norethandrolone.

[3] The progestogenic potency of norethandrolone is similar to that of norethisterone in terms of endometrial changes in women.

[13] Norethandrolone was synthesized at G. D. Searle & Company in 1953 and was originally studied as a progestin, along with norethisterone and noretynodrel, but ultimately was not marketed as such.

[14][8] Norethandrolone was introduced in the United States in the late 1950s under the brand name Nilevar but was discontinued in this country in the 1960s due to limited sales.

[3] Although it was also introduced into Europe and certain other markets,[3] it was withdrawn in many countries in the 1980s due to concerns of cholestatic jaundice.