There is a good array of great side effects related to abuse of anabolic steroids; an example listing are often found here.4 Steroid use can alter the traditional hormonal production within the body. Most side effects are often reversed if the drugs are stopped, but some, like a deepened voice in women may persist. Data on long-term side effects primarily come from case reports and not from well-controlled, long-term epidemiological studies, which could be more reliable.
Steroids are often taken as a tablet for easy rashes or mild asthma attacks or given intravenously for flares of autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or atrophic arthritis . to attenuate the side effects of oral or legal injectable steroids, steroid treatments that act locally were developed. Examples include
Topical application to the skin for conditions like eczema or psoriasis
Nasal inhalation for allergy symptoms
Inhalation into the lungs to regulate asthma symptoms
Injection into joints to scale back pain and inflammation
Eye drops to scale back swelling after eye surgery
Common side effects with anabolic steroids may include:
severe acne, oily skin and hair
hair loss
liver disease, like liver tumors and cysts
kidney disease
heart disease, like attack and stroke
alterations in cholesterol and other blood lipids
high vital sign
shrinking of testicles
azoospermia (absence of sperm in semen)
menstrual irregularities in women
infertility
excess facial or hair (hirsutism), deeper voice in women
stunted growth and height in teens
risk of viral or bacterial infections thanks to unsterile injections
Are Anabolic Steroids Addictive?
Users of anabolic steroids can use even with adverse effects, and physical withdrawal symptoms like mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced drive , and steroid cravings. Severe withdrawal can cause depression and possible suicide. Depressive symptoms can persist for up to at least one year after the user stops taking the steroid.
Supportive treatments and drugs interventions could also be needed for severe anabolic addiction. Medications that are used for treating steroid hormone withdrawal allow the natural hormonal system to revive . Other medications target specific withdrawal symptoms. for instance , antidepressants could also be prescribed to treat depressive episodes and analgesics, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, could also be used for headaches and muscle and joint pains. Some patients can also undergo behavioral therapies.4
What is Being Done to Combat Steroid Hormone Abuse?
Awareness and academic efforts are working to assist prevent steroid hormone abuse in schools and communities. The Oregon Health & Science University programs are scientifically-proven programs that teach athletes they do not need steroids to create powerful muscles and improve athletic performance.
These programs provide:
weight-training and nutrition alternatives
increase healthy behaviors
less likelihood to undertake steroids
less likelihood to interact in other dangerous behaviors like drinking and driving, use of marijuana and alcohol, and improved body image.
Both Congress and therefore the drug abuse and psychological state Services Administration endorsed these model prevention programs.