Anabolic steroids are types of drugs that mimic natural androgens, which are male sex hormones.
While they can be used safely when prescribed and supervised, roughly three to four million individuals in the US use them for nonmedical purposes and without prescription.
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, the main androgen. They can affect various body parts, such as the bones, muscles, hair follicles, kidneys, liver, blood, reproductive system, immune system, and central nervous system.
With roughly three to four million individuals in the US using these drugs for nonmedical reasons without prescription, they are considered the most common APEDs (appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs). There are some bodybuilders and athletes who use them to enhance their physique.
Anabolic steroids operate by activating the androgen receptors. This means that they can yield the same effects as androgens in the body. Because of this, anabolic steroids could be an ideal treatment for individuals with low levels of testosterone.
They may also dampen estrogen levels, which could aid in treating estrogen receptor positive breast cancer by blocking cell growth that makes use of estrogen. For individuals with AIDs or cancer who lose muscle, these drugs could increase androgen receptor numbers within the skeletal muscle. They may also boost their strength and size.
These anabolic steroids can come in the form of pills, injections, topical gels or creams, pellets that can be implanted beneath the skin, and patches.
Doctors sometimes use these drugs for treating delayed puberty and boosting muscle strength and mass among individuals with conditions that could reduce their muscle tissue. There are also instances where anabolic steroids are prescribed as testosterone supplementation therapy for boosting sexual performance and mood among older men.
Misuse and Dangers of Anabolic Steroids
These drugs are classified as Schedule III substances within the Controlled Substances Act. Because of this, it is actually illegal to use anabolic steroids without a prescription. There are only a small number of these drugs that can be used for veterinary or human applications.
However, anabolic steroid misuse is quite prevalent, especially among athletes. This is due to how the drugs can boost lean muscle mass more dramatically and quickly when coupled with weightlifting.
Several people who use these drugs have muscle dysmorphia, which is a body dysmorphic disorder that involves being preoccupied with muscle size and being scared of muscles being too small.
There are cases where people cycle their use of anabolic steroids by taking them and then pausing later on. Others also follow "stacking," which involves taking more than one kind of steroid at a time with the hope that the effects of the drug will be better.
Another anabolic steroid usage type is pyramiding, which people do in order to prevent the drug's harmful side effects from surfacing. This involves mixing cycling and stacking methods.
Plateauing also refers to when anabolic steroids are overlapped, staggered, or substituted with a different type.
There is no proof that these methods could enhance the drug or reduce negative side effect risks.
For those who take anabolic steroids unprescribed and unsupervised, there are serious side effect risks. Unprescribed and unsupervised intake may increase one's risk of blood clots, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues (such as heart attack), stroke, aggression, liver damage, short stature, mania, major depressive disorder, and delusions.
Moreover, almost one-third of individuals who misuse these drugs end up developing drug dependence. This means that as time passes, the person may end up taking more frequent and higher doses in order to yield similar effects.
Individuals who develop dependence may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop their intake.
Moreover, as steroids act on the brain's limbic system, they may lead to mild depression and irritability. These steroids could also eventually lead to delusions, mania, and violent aggression or "roid rage."
When steroids go into the body, they reach various muscles and organs. Such steroids could affect certain cells and prompt them to produce certain proteins that could lead to issues like liver tumor growth, peliosis hepatis, atherosclerosis, and a weakened immune system.
Individuals who inject these steroids using a shared needle have a greater risk of having hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
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