Anabolic Steroid Information. InfoFitness.Net

People who take anabolic steroid follow a pattern of usage, commonly referred to as anabolic steroid cycles. The objective of following such routine is usually two fold. One, users opt to take the drug in sporadic pre-determined intervals so as to minimize side effects. Secondly, the dosage is so designed as to accelerate the chance of meeting the end result sooner than otherwise.

Terms like ‘cycling’, ’stacking’ and ‘pyramiding’ refer to common techniques used as part of anabolic steroid cycles. They are briefly explained below:

Cycling
Cycling is the pattern of usage in which multiple doses of a particular drug are scheduled over a specific period of time, stopping thereafter for some time and then resuming the same routine again.

Stacking
Stacking is similar to cycling but differs from it in the sense that while cycling involves one type of drug, stacking usually involves two or more different anabolic steroids, mixing oral and/or injectable types, and sometimes even including compounds that are meant for veterinary use. Stacking is resorted to in the belief that two or more steroids will produce more pronounced effect than each drug taken individually. This theory has not however been tested scientifically.

Pyramiding
In this case, user will start at a low base, slowly escalating the dosage with time by either increasing the number and frequency of a single drug or doing so with multiple drugs till the pinnacle is reached half way, whereupon the dosage is progressively reduced to ultimately bring it to zero. As can be seen, pyramiding is an offshoot of either cycling or stacking though the usage pattern differs from both. Users typically pyramid their doses in cycles of 6 to 12 weeks.

Steroid users, even as they attempt to enhance performance or boost muscle size, are aware of its dangers. And so, they prefer anabolic steroid cycles spaced out and planned in such a way that danger to overall health can be minimized. In addition, they do increasing cardiovascular exercise or go for post-cycle therapy (PCT) to combat side effects.

Nandrolone (AKA 19-Nor-Testosterone or 19-Nor-Androstenolone) is an Anabolic Steroid. As the names suggests, it is related to Testosterone, a “male” hormone produced naturally in humans (male AND female) in varying quantities. All Anabolic steroids have “Androgenic” effects, which are the actions we commonly associate with Testosterone; masculinisation, aggression, virilisation, growth, but only up to a point, and with (serious!) reservations. Anabolic steroids also have “Anabolic” effects, those associated with growth of bone, muscle, red blood cells and mobilization of sugar. These are more the effects sought by athletes abusing this range off drugs. Although some Testosterone type anabolics are orally active, they undergo a very heavy Liver process, removing a lot of their action, and also stressing the liver. Serious abusers, or legitimate patients tend to have injections, or to take safer more orally compatible anabolics like Stanazolol (the drug found twice in Ben Johnston’s blood)

Anabolic steroids when used legitimately are used most often to stimulate some sort of growth, so are used in advanced osteoporosis, certain breast cancers, regeneration of red blood cells in kidney patients, puberty disorders, growth disorders, anemia, and to help gonad development (in males). Illegitimate use is focused on increasing muscle mass and strength, but will also increase red blood cell production, therefore blood thickness and oxygen-carrying capacity.

Nandrolone is produced in both males and females as a metabolite (by-product) of Testosterone, and studies have shown it can be elevated to a very detectable level. The studies however did NOT prove the elevated levels would exceed the IOC threshold for a positive test. They barely reached a quarter of this value.

The risks are something the takers ignore, or the suppliers say nothing about. Added to this is the fact that the IOC was able to find Nandrolone in over 14% of muscle-building supplements it tested, all claiming to be “natural”, “safe” or “steroid free” athletes’ health may be at risk simply by taking untested muscle or strength supplements.

The side effects are horrendous and are MORE likely to be serious the younger athletes take Anabolics. They include virilisation in males, early fusion of growing bones (stops growth) in teenagers, growth of breasts in males, androgenisation of females (loss of feminine sexual characteristics), Liver cancers, hepatitis, heart disease, cholesterol elevation, blood sugar elevation, epileptic fits, fluid retention, and ultimately heart-attack and stroke.

In defence athletes often ask why would anyone take Nandrolone when there are better illegal substances for middle-distance or endurance athletes? This is indeed debatable, and MAY suggest the taking has been more inadvertent, but maybe this last possibility is the exact reason they take it. They can suggest a defence saying it must have been in one of the supplements. Nandrolone helps muscle grow, and muscle stores glycogen, so no matter what the sport, if taken with the right type of training, it will improve endurance, strength and oxygen-carrying capacity.

Athletes should be VERY careful about what they take, and coaches more so. Remember health advice sites are rarely overtly commercial, but sites selling Ephedra, weight-loss and performance products are exactly that - commercial! You may receive a contaminated product in the post, but try chasing up the supplier! It’s a case of - if the substance is found in your system then you are guilty regardless.

Anabolic steroids are artificial (synthetic) versions of the male hormone testosterone that help build muscle. They also enhance masculine characteristics.

Because they can help the body to form lean muscle, they are sometimes used to treat AIDS wasting and weight loss, and doctors sometimes prescribe them to people experiencing fat loss from the limbs because of lipodystrophy. Testosterone supplements are also used to treat low testosterone levels which can develop in people with HIV due to HIV infection, some other infections, anti-HIV drugs and other medicines.

Anabolic steroids are also widely used by body builders and by many people who weight train at the gym.

Anabolic steroid treatment in people with HIV
The anabolic steroids have been studied as a treatment for AIDS wasting, and have been shown to be safe and effective, helping the formation of lean muscle mass. To be most effective, anabolic steroid treatment should be combined with a programme of resistance training.

Studies have been restricted to men because of concerns about the side-effects of steroid treatment for women.

There have been concerns that the use of anabolic steroids can depress the immune system. This has not been looked at in any great detail. The only study to examine this found that neither CD4 nor CD8 cell count were lowered in HIV-positive men with AIDS wasting treated with anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids can increase levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, so their use should be closely monitored particularly if you are taking a protease inhibitor or have any risk factors for heart disease.

Testosterone replacement therapy in people with HIV
It is estimated that as many as 40% of HIV-positive men who are ill because of HIV have low levels of testosterone (hypgonadism). Low testosterone can result in decreased appetite, depression, poor metabolism of food, and sexual problems, including the inability to obtain and maintain an erection.

A blood test can tell if you have low levels of testosterone and your doctor may prescribe you either a short course of oral testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone patches, or testosterone gel.

Although testosterone is usually considered to be the male sexual hormone, it also occurs naturally in women. Testosterone patches have been examined as a treatment for AIDS wasting in women. It was found that weight and quality of life improved for some of the women, and the development of male characteristics was not reported.

Side-effects from testosterone replacement therapy are rare, but can include the shutting down of natural testosterone production, shrinking of the testicles, hair loss, increased sexual desire, and aggression. In women, male characteristics, such as the deepening of the voice, and facial hair may develop.

Anabolic steroid use for non-medical purposes
Anabolic steroids are often used by people who weight train to improve the effects of training and for aesthetic reasons. They are usually used in four-week cycles, followed by a period off “treatment.”

The use of anabolic steroids in this way is rarely medically supervised, and this may involve considerable health risks.

Health risks of anabolic steroid use
Anabolic steroids, and testosterone, can damage the liver, and severe liver problems including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer have been seen in long-term users of anabolic steroids. If you are being prescribed them by your doctor, your liver function will be closely monitored.

Acne, male pattern baldness, sexual dysfunction, the shrinking of the testicles, and the shutting down of natural production of testosterone can also be caused by anabolic steroids. Aggression, mood disturbances, stomach pain, an enlarged prostate and water retention can also develop as a consequence of steroid use. Breast enlargement in men, and the development of male characteristics in women have also been observed.

It you are buying steroids on the black market it’s unlikely that you can verify if they are genuine or be certain of their quality. Counterfeit steroids are common and may contain impurities that cause infections or abscesses.

When used in a non-medical context, anabolic steroids are often injected. Sharing needles to inject steroids involves the same health risks as sharing needles to inject recreational drugs, including HIV transmission, and infection with hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus.

Legal status of anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are a prescription only medicine. Although possession of anabolic steroids is not illegal, selling them is and can involve a fine and a prison sentence.

If you take part in any form of competitive sport, then it’s likely that the use of anabolic steroids will be banned, even if you are taking them for legitimate medical reasons.

Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. They can exert strong effects on the human body that may be beneficial for athletic performance. A review of the literature revealed that most laboratory studies did not investigate the actual doses of AAS currently abused in the field. Therefore, those studies may not reflect the actual (adverse) effects of steroids. The available scientific literature describes that short-term administration of these drugs by athletes can increase strength and bodyweight. Strength gains of about 5-20% of the initial strength and increments of 2-5 kg bodyweight, that may be attributed to an increase of the lean body mass, have been observed. A reduction of fat mass does not seem to occur. Although AAS administration may affect erythropoiesis and blood haemoglobin concentrations, no effect on endurance performance was observed. Little data about the effects of AAS on metabolic responses during exercise training and recovery are available and, therefore, do not allow firm conclusions. The main untoward effects of short- and long-term AAS abuse that male athletes most often self-report are an increase in sexual drive, the occurrence of acne vulgaris, increased body hair and increment of aggressive behaviour. AAS administration will disturb the regular endogenous production of testosterone and gonadotrophins that may persist for months after drug withdrawal. Cardiovascular risk factors may undergo deleterious alterations, including elevation of blood pressure and depression of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-, HDL2- and HDL3-cholesterol levels. In echocardiographic studies in male athletes, AAS did not seem to affect cardiac structure and function, although in animal studies these drugs have been observed to exert hazardous effects on heart structure and function. In studies of athletes, AAS were not found to damage the liver. Psyche and behaviour seem to be strongly affected by AAS. Generally, AAS seem to induce increments of aggression and hostility. Mood disturbances (e.g. depression, [hypo-]mania, psychotic features) are likely to be dose and drug dependent. AAS dependence or withdrawal effects (such as depression) seem to occur only in a small number of AAS users. Dissatisfaction with the body and low self-esteem may lead to the so-called ‘reverse anorexia syndrome’ that predisposes to the start of AAS use. Many other adverse effects have been associated with AAS misuse, including disturbance of endocrine and immune function, alterations of sebaceous system and skin, changes of haemostatic system and urogenital tract. One has to keep in mind that the scientific data may underestimate the actual untoward effects because of the relatively low doses administered in those studies, since they do not approximate doses used by illicit steroid users. The mechanism of action of AAS may differ between compounds because of variations in the steroid molecule and affinity to androgen receptors. Several pathways of action have been recognised. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase seems to play an important role by converting AAS into dihydrotestosterone (androstanolone) that acts in the cell nucleus of target organs, such as male accessory glands, skin and prostate. Other mechanisms comprises mediation by the enzyme aromatase that converts AAS in female sex hormones (estradiol and estrone), antagonistic action to estrogens and a competitive antagonism to the glucocorticoid receptors. Furthermore, AAS stimulate erythropoietin synthesis and red cell production as well as bone formation but counteract bone breakdown. The effects on the cardiovascular system are proposed to be mediated by the occurrence of AAS-induced atherosclerosis (due to unfavourable influence on serum lipids and lipoproteins), thrombosis, vasospasm or direct injury to vessel walls, or may be ascribed to a combination of the different mechanisms. AAS-induced increment of muscle tissue can be attributed to hypertrophy and the formation of new muscle fibres, in which key roles are played by satellite cell number and ultrastructure, androgen receptors and myonuclei. Copyright 2004 Adis Data Information BV

Stories about athletes and steroids seem to pop up regularly in the news. Some professional baseball players, cyclists, and track stars have been accused of — and in some cases have admitted to — using steroids to give them an edge competitively.

And steroid use has trickled down to younger athletes too, who face fierce pressure to be stronger and faster, and to make it to college and professional leagues. Some research has shown that 5% of teen boys and 2.5% of teen girls have used some form of anabolic steroids.

Steroids promise bold results, but there is little proof that they deliver any such benefits. Extensive research, however, shows how they can harm developing kids — with some of these ill effects not likely to turn up until years later. And steroids are illegal, too.

It’s important to understand the facts about steroids, their side effects, and what can drive kids to try them. Being aware of the kinds of pressures kids deal with in sports can help you make sure that your child isn’t at risk.

What Are Steroids?

Drugs commonly referred to as “steroids” are classified as anabolic (or anabolic-androgenic) and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, are drugs that doctors typically prescribe to help control inflammation in the body. They’re often used to help control conditions like asthma and lupus. They’re not the same as the anabolic steroids that receive so much media attention for their use by some athletes and bodybuilders.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that can boost the body’s ability to produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some athletes take steroids in the hopes that they will improve their ability to run faster, hit farther, lift heavier weights, jump higher, or have more endurance. In the United States, it is against the law to use anabolic steroids without a prescription.

Androstenedione, or “andro,” is a kind of anabolic steroid taken by athletes who want to build muscle. But research suggests that andro taken in large doses every day can significantly increase levels of testosterone, which can lead to a number of health problems.

How Do Anabolic Steroids Work?

Anabolic steroids are drugs that resemble the chemical structure of the body’s natural sex hormone testosterone, which is made naturally by the body. Testosterone directs the body to produce or enhance male characteristics such as increased muscle mass, facial hair growth, and deepening of the voice, and is an important part of male development during puberty.

When anabolic steroids increase the levels of testosterone in the blood, they stimulate muscle tissue in the body to grow larger and stronger. However, the effects of too much testosterone circulating in the body can be harmful over time.

Dangers of Anabolic Steroids

Steroids are dangerous for two reasons: they are illegal, and they can damage a person’s health, especially if used in large doses over time. Also, the health problems caused by steroids may not appear until years after the steroids are taken.

Although they might help build muscle, steroids can produce very serious side effects. Using steroids for a long time can negatively affect the reproductive system. In males, steroids can lead to impotence, a reduction in the amount of sperm produced in the testicles, and even reduced testicle size.

Females who use steroids may have problems with their menstrual cycles because steroids can disrupt the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries. This disruption can cause long-term problems with fertility.

Steroids taken for an extended period of time also can cause:

stunted growth in teens (by causing bones to mature too fast and stop growing at an early age)
liver tumors
abnormal enlargement of the heart muscles
violent, aggressive behavior and mood swings
blood lipid abnormalities that contribute to heart disease
acne (or a worsening of acne)
increased breast growth in males, especially teens
irreversible stretch marks
a heightened tendency for hair loss and male-pattern baldness
muscle aches
Teen girls and women risk these additional side effects:

male-type facial and body hair growth and male-pattern baldness
deepening of the voice
enlargement of the clitoris
In addition to the health risks, kids who use steroids without prescription are breaking the law. Drug testing for all athletes has become more prevalent, and those who fail a drug test for steroids can face legal consequences, including jail time, monetary fines, exclusion from an event or team, or forfeiture of trophies or medals.

Andro use has been banned by many sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Association of Tennis Professionals, and most high school athletic associations.

Talking to Kids About Steroids

Many pressures may drive young athletes to experiment with steroids. Although most athletes exercise hard, eat properly, and take care of their bodies to maintain optimal fitness and performance levels, athletic competition and the desire to look physically toned and fit can be fierce.

Help kids handle these pressures by:

discussing healthy competition with them
talking about the coaches’ and team members’ attitudes toward steroids
knowing what kind of sports environments they compete in
encouraging them to prepare mentally and physically for competition by eating well and getting enough rest
If you suspect your child is using steroids, watch for these warning signs:

exaggerated mood swings
worsening acne
unusually greasy skin with stretch marks
a sudden increase in muscle size
If you see any of these signs in your child, talk with your doctor.

Steroids may give kids the sense that they’re stronger and more athletic, but the consequences are too dangerous to risk. Help kids stay away from steroids by encouraging healthy eating and fitness habits that will help them feel well prepared for competition.

When steroid use among pro athletes is in the news, use that as a launching point to discuss the issue, making sure your child understands the health risks, the possibility of legal trouble, and the concept that using steroids is cheating.