Illegal Supplements
Performance-enhancing substances, also known as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. A well-known example involves doping in sport, where banned physical performance-enhancing drugs are used by athletes and bodybuilders. but we're not just going to talk about the misuse of prescription drugs here as thats only half the story.
Steroids
To say the use of Anabolic Steroids in sport and fitness is a controversial subject would be an understatement, but when thinking of PEDs (performance enhancing drugs), most people put them all under the umbrella of steroids. But in reality, there’s a lot more to it than that.
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Anabolic steroids are medications related to testosterone (male sex hormone) that are made in labs. Doctors use anabolic steroids to treat hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from some diseases. Some bodybuilders and athletes might misuse anabolic steroids in attempts to build muscles and improve athletic performance, often taking doses much higher than would be prescribed for a medical condition. Using them this way, without a prescription from a doctor, is not legal—or safe—and can have long-term consequences.
Anabolic steroids are only one type of steroid. Other types of steroids include cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone. These are different chemicals and do not have the same 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. Many people who use anabolic steroids are aware of the dangers of taking them, and believe that by taking the drugs in certain ways they can avoid side effects.
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Users might:
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Take the drugs for a period of time and then stop for a rest period before starting again. This is known as "cycling".
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Taking more than 1 type of anabolic steroid at a time, known as "stacking" – which they believe makes them work better.
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Do a combination of both stacking and cycling known as "pyramiding" – where they start off taking a low dose of 1 or more anabolic steroids, and then increase the dose over time up to a maximum dose. They then stop taking them for a rest period to give the body a break before starting the cycle again.
But there is no evidence that any of these methods actually reduce side effects from taking anabolic steroids. Users tend to exercise more when they're taking high doses to make the most of their improved performance during this time.
​List of Anabolic Steroids
01
Danazol
03
Furazabol
05
Methandrostenolone
07
Nandrolone
09
Quinbolone
11
Stanozolol
13
Turinabol
02
Fluoxymesterone
04
Mesterolone
06
Methenolone
08
Oxymetholone
10
Oxandrolone
12
Trenbolone
What are the dangers ?
The use of anabolic steroids by athletes, especially athletes for whom speed and strength are important competitive characteristics, has been widespread. When people take steroids without a doctor’s prescription or in ways other than as prescribed, it is called misuse.
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The continuous use of injected or oral steroids can cause the body to shut down its natural production of testosterone in the testes, thus shrinking them. Breasts can enlarge in men (gynecomastia) because estrogen is also in the pathway of anabolic steroid metabolism, called aromatization. Breast growth may be irreversible without plastic surgery. Steroid users often try to control this with other drugs.
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When taken orally (in pill form), there is a greater risk of liver damage and some anabolic steroids are broken down in the stomach and digestive tract so that they do not work. Many believe the most effective method of taking many anabolic steroids is by injection, although needles have their own health risks. Creams and gels that are absorbed through the skin are also popular.
WARNING !
Cycling steroids or injecting them (rather than taking them by mouth) does not protect against all adverse effects.
Side Effects
of Anabolic Steroid use:
Anabolic steroids affect a part of the brain called the limbic system, which controls mood. They don’t cause a “high” like some other drugs, but can cause harmful effects.
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Long-term steroid misuse can lead to aggressive behavior and extreme mood swings. This is sometimes referred to as “roid rage.”
It can also lead to feeling paranoid (like someone or something is out to get you), jealous, delusional (believing in something that is not true), and invincible (like nothing can hurt you).
Side Effects
of Anabolic Steroid use:
Anabolic steroids affect a part of the brain called the limbic system, which controls mood. They don’t cause a “high” like some other drugs, but can cause harmful effects.
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Long-term steroid misuse can lead to aggressive behavior and extreme mood swings. This is sometimes referred to as “roid rage.”
It can also lead to feeling paranoid (like someone or something is out to get you), jealous, delusional (believing in something that is not true), and invincible (like nothing can hurt you).
Short
Term
Effetcs
Possible Side effects:
People who misuse anabolic steroids can experience many effects, some of which are serious:
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oily skin and acne
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water retention
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yellowing of the skin
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muscle building
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possible improved athletic performance
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infection
Long
Term
Effects
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stunted growth (in teens)
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stunted height (if teens use steroids before their growth spurt)
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high blood pressure
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changes in blood cholesterol (increases in “bad” cholesterol or LDL, decreases in “good” cholesterol or HDL)
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enlarged heart
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heart attack or stroke (even in young people)
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liver disease, including cancer
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kidney problems or failure
Male
Possible Side effects:
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breast growth and shrinking of testicles
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low sperm count/infertility
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baldness
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increased risk for prostate cancer
FEMale
Possible Side effects:
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voice deepening
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growth of facial hair
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male-pattern baldness
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changes in or end of menstrual cycle/getting your period
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enlargement of clitoris
Other
Performance
Enhancing
drugs
Anabolic Steroids aren't the only type of drugs athletes and fitness fanatics use in order to gain an advantage, there are many different Performance Enhancing Drugs people take for various reasons. Below is a list of the most common.
HGH
Human Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone used in post-cycle therapy to normalize a persons hormone levels and to stimulate testosterone production.
insulin
Insulin is used by diabetics but has recently also been used by bodybuilders in order to gain bulk and stamina, sometimes as part of a ‘stack of steroids, insulin and HGH.
Some take insulin before a workout but it important to note that it is believed to lead to heart problems and hypoglycemic shock which can be fatal.
prohormones
Prohormones such as androstenedione are compound which convert anabolic hormones and some consider them to be ‘more devastating than actual steroids.’
sarms
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators are non-steroidal drugs which grow muscle. These are fairly new and although not a drug prescribed by Doctors have been used by bodybuilders. They can often contain ‘unapproved substances, hormones, or even steroids.’
synthol
Synthol isn’t a steroid but is an oil which gets injected into muscle to increase size or even to change the shape of the muscle. Some report that it can have ‘permanent deforming effects on muscles,’ and other possible side effects ranging from skin ruptures and even nerve damage.
AUTHORS NOTE
When making content about controversial subjects such as this it can be difficult to be impartial. many people will already have their minds made up about PEDs and Steroids. I hope you have found the information useful but please note that the drugs discussed on this page are for the most part illegal for a reason.
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i'm not telling you what to do, but personally I don't think using any of these drugs is safe. they may be great for enhancing performance and I have seen with my own eyes the effects they can produce ...
"With the right steroids, you can get a lot wrong in the kitchen and gym and still build an extraordinary body."
However, I personally have met many people who have truly suffered both from using Steroids and other PEDs for personal use (to enhance GYM performance) but also those who have been prescribed such drugs by their own Doctor.
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Now I am in no way saying that you shouldn't listen to your Doctor if it was me then I certainly would, but I think it's worth noting that even those who are prescribed drugs by and monitored by a medical professional, can be negatively effected by the drugs, these patience take the risk of getting side effects from these drugs, because it is often the lesser of the two evils. I have spoken to many who have had terrible experiences with drugs and those people always say the same thing "I wish I didn't have to take them".
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If you aren't being prescribed drugs by your Doctor and are healthy then please don't take the risks.
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Kind Regards
LIAM
