Can i take anabolic steroids

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Anabolic Steroids Also called: Anabolic-androgenic steroids, Performance-enhancing drugs. What are anabolic steroids? What are anabolic steroids used for? Why do people misuse anabolic steroids? What are the health effects of misusing anabolic steroids? Although testosterone is mainly a mature male hormone, girls' bodies produce smaller amounts.

Testosterone helps build muscle and promotes the masculine traits that guys develop during puberty, such as deepening of the voice and growth of body hair.

Testosterone levels can also affect how aggressive a person is. For the most part, steroidal supplements, which used to be found at health food stores or gyms, are now illegal and require a prescription. DHEA is one of the few exceptions and can still be bought over the counter. Steroid supplements are weaker forms of androgen.

Their effects aren't well known, but it's thought that, when taken in large doses, they cause effects similar to other androgens like testosterone. But research studies suggest that they do very little or nothing to improve athletic performance. Here's what is known about steroidal supplements: Companies that make them often use false claims, and very little is known about the long-term effects some of these substances have on the body.

That's one reason why the government took action to protect citizens by passing laws controlling steroid distribution. Anabolic steroids stimulate muscle tissue to grow and "bulk up" in response to training by mimicking the effect of naturally produced testosterone on the body.

Anabolic steroids can remain in the body anywhere from a couple of days to about a year. However, use among teens is generally minimal. The NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future study has shown that past-year misuse of steroids has declined among 8th and 10th graders in recent years, while holding steady for 12th graders. People who misuse anabolic steroids usually take them orally, inject them into muscles, or apply them to the skin as a gel or cream. These doses may be 10 to times higher than doses prescribed to treat medical conditions.

There is no scientific evidence that any of these practices reduce the harmful medical consequences of these drugs. Anabolic steroids work differently from other drugs of abuse; they do not have the same short-term effects on the brain.

Aside from mental effects, steroid use commonly causes severe acne. It also causes the body to swell, especially in the hands and feet. Some of these physical changes, such as shrinking sex organs in men, can add to mental side effects such as mood disorders. Even though anabolic steroids do not cause the same high as other drugs, they can lead to a substance use disorder.

A substance use disorder occurs when a person continues to misuse steroids, even though there are serious consequences for doing so. The most severe form of a substance use disorder is addiction. A person who is addicted to anabolic steroids will want to keep using them despite experiencing unpleasant physical side effects. When doctors prescribe steroid medication, they always advise coming off the medication slowly by gradually reducing the dose.

Coming off anabolic steroids suddenly can result in withdrawal symptoms that include:. You should see your GP if you think you're addicted to anabolic steroids.

Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction. Your GP may refer you to a specially trained drugs counsellor. They'll discuss your addiction with you, how to safely stop taking steroids, and any obstacles you may face when trying to stop, plus strategies for dealing with those obstacles. Page last reviewed: 30 August Next review due: 30 August Anabolic steroid misuse. Are anabolic steroids illegal? Why people misuse anabolic steroids Anabolic steroids can be used as performance-enhancing drugs that increase muscle mass and decrease fat, as well as causing many undesirable effects.

How anabolic steroids are taken Anabolic steroids are usually injected into the muscle or taken by mouth as tablets, but they also come as creams or gels that are applied to the skin. Users might: Take the drugs for a period of time and then stop for a rest period before starting again.

This is known as "cycling".