Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones used by some athletes to increase their muscle mass. However, these drugs can have dangerous side effects.
Oral anabolic steroids are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and liver. These athlete supplements are converted into testosterone or dihydrotestosterone throughout this process. Oral anabolic steroids are considered more dangerous than other forms because they have a greater impact on the body’s hormone system. Other risks associated with oral use of these supplements include jaundice, high blood pressure, kidney damage, fluid retention, and severe acne. In addition, some steroid users report increased irritability with any one agent, especially when the user is stacking multiple types of oral performance-enhancing drugs at once. The most powerful oral anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone.
Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate)
Deca-Durabolin is an injectable steroid that lasts much longer when it is injected into muscles, according to Penn State Hershey College of Medicine’s “Advance for Nurse Practitioners.” It has a half-life of 15 days in the body and can pass through a user’s system in about three months if it is not cycled. The anabolic steroid also works well when combined with other supplements, such as Sustanon 250 or Omnadren. However, while Deca-Durabolin has many benefits for its users, there are possible side effects that healthcare professionals warn people against using this supplement. Possible side effects with this anabolic steroid may include high blood pressure, infection at the injection site, fluid retention, and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Anadrol (Oxymetholone)
Anadrol is a prescription-only injectable anabolic steroid that has been used to improve endurance in some athletes, notes dopingwatch.org. It can be injected using 50-100 mg daily doses per week for men and 2.5-5 mg daily for women over four weeks or more, depending on the user’s body weight. Anadrol carries similar risks as Deca-Durabolin, including high blood pressure, hair loss, and liver damage if taken longer than a doctor recommended.
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) and Winstrol (Stanozolol)
These two anabolic steroids are prescription-only oral supplements, according to dopingwatch.org. Dianabol is a powerful performance booster at the gym and works well with injectable anabolic drugs such as Deca-Durabolin or testosterone injections. However, the supplement has been linked with liver damage, water retention, and acne outbreaks in users who take high doses regularly for long periods. While adverse side effects may be more common with Dianabol than other oral supplements, there are some significant benefits to taking the steroid orally instead of injection. For example, it lets a user avoid having needles on hand all the time.
Side effects for Winstrol are similar to Dianabol. Still, the supplement is known to produce much lower estrogen levels in users’ bodies than any other anabolic steroid, according to “Anabolic Steroids and Bodybuilding.” It can also help stimulate blood cell production in some users who suffer from low hemoglobin counts due to anemia or radiation treatment. Also, this injectable supplement may cause less water retention or high blood pressure than Dianabol does.
According to the University of Michigan Health System, Winstrol should only be taken by mouth for a short amount of time because it can have negative side effects on the body’s cholesterol levels over longer periods of use. These side effects may include muscle cramps, pain, and tenderness, as well as high blood sugar.
Anavar (Oxandrolone)
Although Anavar is a prescription-only steroid, it has a much milder effect on the body’s hormone system than other types of anabolic supplements, according to dopingwatch.org. Some professional athletes use this type of supplement because it does not produce significant side effects for most users and could be taken by women without causing body hair growth or deepening their voice. The University of Michigan Health System recommends taking 5 mg twice daily for men and 2.5 mg twice daily for women to treat specific medical conditions related to short stature or weight loss due to HIV/AIDS. However, people with liver problems should avoid using Anavar because it can cause severe liver damage over time.
Laws and Penalties: Concerns over growing illegal AAS abuse by teenagers, and many of the just discussed long-term effects, led Congress in 1991 to place the whole AAS class of drugs into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Under this legislation, AAS is defined as any drug or hormonal substance, chemically and pharmacologically related to T (other than estrogens, progestins, and corticosteroids) that promotes muscle growth. The possession or sale of AAS without a valid prescription is illegal. Since 1991, simple possession of illegally obtained AAS carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a minimum $1,000 fine if this is an individual’s first drug offense. The maximum penalty for trafficking (selling or possessing enough to be suspected of selling) is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense. Suppose this is the second felony drug offense, the maximum period of imprisonment and the maximum fine both double. While the above-listed penalties are for federal offenses, individual states have also implemented fines and penalties for illegal use of AAS. State executive offices have also recognized the seriousness of AAS abuse and other drugs of abuse in schools. For example, the State of Virginia enacted a law that will allow student drug testing as a legitimate school drug prevention program (48, 49).