The simple answer is yes, but not in the illegal and banned since. Because steroids are a hormone that regulates things such as muscle growth and metabolism, there has been an interest in using them to treat medical conditions where they can be of benefit. Steroids have been used medically since the 1930s and were first approved by the FDA for use in humans in 1942.
Steroid hormones work by binding with receptors on cells, and this triggers chain reactions within cells which result in various cellular actions. For example, steroid hormones bind with receptors on bone and cartilage, and this signals these tissues to stop breaking down (catabolism) and start forming (anabolism).
Types of Medicine: Different Types of Medications Containing Steroids
There are three main types of medications that contain specific steroid hormones: Corticosteroids, Sex Hormones, and Anabolic Steroids. Corticosteroid is a broad term for a class of steroid hormones that includes cortisol in humans and cortisone in animals. These have anti-inflammatory effects when they bind to their receptors on white blood cells. This is very beneficial in treating conditions such as alopecia areata (hair loss), asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. There are several different types of sex hormone medications, including birth control pills, progesterone creams for women going through menopause, and testosterone replacement therapy, among others. Anabolic steroids or anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic versions of the male sex hormone testosterone. They promote the growth of skeletal muscles and linear bones (hence anabolic) as well as deepening of the voice and increased body hair growth (androgenic).
Anabolic Steroid Abuse: What is Anabolic Steroid Abuse? Who Abuses Steroids? How Do You Know if Your Teen is Using Steroids? Signs & Symptoms
Anabolic steroids are mostly used illegally in sports to improve performance. There has been a lot of media attention given to athletes, especially professional athletes, who have ended up testing positive for steroid abuse after winning important tournaments or competitions. However, while this scenario does play out in some cases, it is certainly not always true. There are many types of people who use steroids for various reasons. Only some of these reasons can be considered ‘legal’ in the sense that they do not break laws, but the majority of them certainly are illegal.
Steroid abuse means taking any form of prescription steroid medication without a valid medical reason to take it or taking steroid drugs bought on the black market (or dark net) without having a valid prescription. This is also known as ‘illicit drug use, and this term will be used interchangeably with ‘steroid abuse’ in this article. Illegal steroid users include bodybuilders who want to gain muscle bulk quickly, athletes seeking an advantage during training or competitions, and patients with wasting diseases such as cancer who need to gain weight. Illegal users may take higher doses or more potent forms of steroid drugs because their main motivation is to achieve a rapid and illicit effect rather than proper medical treatment. This leads to the side effects which accompany steroid abuse.
Steroid Abuse Side Effects: Steroid Abuse Side Effects – HGH, Testosterone Therapy, Ben Johnson
The side effects of steroid abuse are as numerous as they are varied. Some common side effects include acne, growth of body hair (especially on women), deepening of voice in women, hoarseness of voice for both men and women, male pattern baldness, mood swings from euphoria to anger/irritability, and aggressive behavior or even violence known as ‘roid rage.’ Less common side effects include liver damage, kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, or changes in cholesterol leading to heart disease and stroke.
The physical effects associated with steroid abuse are major, but the mental side effects can be just as serious. These drugs have an effect on mood centers of the brain which can lead to feelings of euphoria, grandiosity, or aggression known as ‘roid rage.’ When this occurs while a person is abusing steroids, it usually means that they will take out these feelings on whoever is available at the time, either verbally or physically. Some people get depressed when their ‘high’ comes down from steroid use, and this can last for days after their last dose. This depression may lead users to take more steroids in the hope that they feel better or take other drugs to ‘come down from the high more quickly.
However, while these side effects might be what first comes to mind when thinking of steroid abuse, there are others that may surprise you even more. For example, anabolic steroids can damage sperm production in men and cause women to stop menstruating (menstrual cycle). Because these drugs can also affect users’ moods very strongly, this means that many illegal steroid abusers find themselves addicted to both the drug’s effect on their body as well as its mental effects. This makes quitting very difficult for them because they will need help with managing their emotions and dealing with cravings for the drug at the same time as getting over physical dependence on it.
The market for anabolic steroids is estimated at $1 billion worldwide, and some of these drugs are also made in home laboratories. Illegal steroid users may run some risk of buying counterfeit or adulterated drugs that contain no active ingredients. They may also not know what other substances have been added to the drug by previous dealers along the supply chain, only increasing the dangers.
Unfortunately, many people are put off getting help with their addiction to anabolic steroids because they think it is ‘just legal.’ However, this is not true, and there are several programs available for anyone who needs them. Many of these groups work with local sports teams or gyms so they can get referrals from athletes who need help quitting their steroid abuse. Programs often involve lifestyle changes, counseling sessions, and support group works so that people can overcome their steroid ‘addiction.’
If you are concerned about your own use of anabolic steroids or someone else’s, here are some guidelines to help determine if help is needed. People who abuse these drugs tend to do the following: Take more steroids than they were prescribed by a doctor Take steroids for longer periods of time than they were prescribed Develop withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit using them Spend large amounts of money on buying the drug Show changes in mood that affect relationships with others.
Conclusion: Conclusion – Anabolic Steroid Abuse Side Effects
Anabolic steroid side effects can be very hazardous and even life-threatening. They include both physical and mental issues. The most common is muscle weakness, liver damage, cardiovascular complications leading to heart disease and stroke, acne, and cysts. Steroid abusers may also become depressed, suffer from ‘roid rage,’ and if they quit abusing the drug, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings that affect relationships with others.
Hopefully, this article has given you some good points about anabolic steroids that you did not already know and will lead to a better understanding of steroid side effects. If someone you know is abusing these drugs, first try and approach them in a caring way before getting help for them either on your own or through a treatment program. However, if they refuse or cannot stop using without help, then be sure to get some for them as soon as possible because of all the hazards associated with anabolic steroid abuse.
Is it legal to use anabolic steroids? Yes or no?
Yes. Steroids are prescription drugs that can be taken legally. However, these medications are very closely monitored because of their dangerous side effects. Anabolic steroid abuse is extremely common in men and women who want bigger muscles without increasing their workout regimens. If someone you know has begun abusing these drugs, here are some signs to watch out for:
· Mood swings (or changes in personality) · depression · Suicidal thoughts (even attempts) · Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy · Social withdrawal · Muscle weakness and wasting away As the name implies, anabolic steroids help promote muscle growth by stimulating protein synthesis within the body’s skeletal muscles. However, while this may sound good, many of the side effects can be very hazardous and even life-threatening. The most common is muscle weakness, liver damage, cardiovascular complications leading to heart disease and stroke, acne, and cysts. Steroid abusers may also become depressed, suffer from ‘roid rage,’ and if they quit abusing the drug, it can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings that affect relationships with others.
If you have a friend or family member who has been abusing steroids, try approaching them in a caring way before getting help for them either on your own or through a treatment program. However, if they refuse or cannot stop using without help, then be sure to get some for them as soon as possible because of all the hazards associated with anabolic steroid abuse. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905294/