Physicians order anabolic steroids to treat patients who have issues like inactive puberty and other physical issues that cause the person to produce very low levels of testosterone.
Steroids make muscles larger and bones harder. The medications can also cause puberty to begin and may assist younger male patients with genetic abnormalities to develop more steadily.
Basic anabolic steroid drugs include fluoxymesterone (like Halotestin) and nandrolone (such as Durabolin). In the U.S., a person has to have a prescription to acquire any anabolic steroid hormone. Banned anabolic steroids are those that individuals obtain in the absence of a physician’s order.
A few patients use legal dietary pills that have some steroids that happen to be produced in the human body. One such pill is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The body will change DHEA into other types of steroids, including estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. Individuals buy it to attempt to make the muscles larger.
Whether these items can work has not been established. However, if a person takes them in bulk quantities, it may result in the same side effects as anabolic steroid hormones.
A Further Look into Anabolic Steroid Abuse
A lot of grownups and adolescents apply illicit anabolic steroids to depress body fat, acquire larger muscles, and enhance physical activity. They take these substances because they are looking to better their performance in sports, and/or how they appear externally.
The dosage of illicit anabolic steroid hormones is ten to a hundred times greater than the dosage a health professional orders for medical conditions. Individuals frequently take more than one of the outlawed substances concurrently. This is referred to as stacking.
Or, these individuals will use the items as part of a routine, starting from no pills or injections at all, to a dangerous amount over a time of weeks to months. This is known as pyramiding.
Anabolic steroids may be consumed as a tablet, as an injection into a muscular tissue, or as a cream or lotion applied on the skin.
Issues Caused by Abusing Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids bring about severe side effects. Several of these effects could be long-term.
In males, anabolic steroids may:
- Decrease sperm amount.
- Expand the breasts.
In females, anabolic steroids may:
- Increase body hair.
- Dilate the clitoris.
- Intensify the voice.
In both males and females, anabolic steroids may result in:
- Bone development ending before it is complete in an adolescent. The adolescent will not achieve normal adult height.
- A heart attack (infarction) or cerebrovascular accident (stroke), possibly in an extremely young patient.
- Male-pattern hair loss.
- Skin infection that may get severe in the event the pill has been tainted with bacteria.
- Fretfulness, uncontrolled high energy (mania), or delusions.
Persons who misuse anabolic steroids may suffer from withdrawal signs and symptoms whenever they cease using them. Symptoms are: experiencing mood swings, getting exceedingly tired or weak, and hungering for steroids.
Diagnosis of Anabolic Steroid Abuse
A health professional may occasionally spot a patient who is misusing anabolic steroids as the patient comes through the door. This is because the drug makes muscles abnormally prominent.
The physician might also ask questions about the fitness techniques and what types of dietary pills and steroid substances you take. The specialist might also perform a physical examination and ask for urine and blood screenings.
More from this Author:
References:
Jeffrey A. Potteiger and Vincent G. Stilger. (1994). Anabolic Steroid Use in the Adolescent Athlete. Journal of Athletic Training. 29 (1): 60-62, 64. March.
Samaha, Ali A, Nasser-Eddine, et al. (2008). "Multi-organ damage induced by anabolic steroid supplements: a case report and literature review." Journal of Medical Case Reports. (2); 31. Oct.
 |
