Anabolic Steroid Abuse
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Steroid Abuse
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR and Jay W. Marks, MD
Steroids are a class of compounds that share a similar chemical structure. This broad group of chemicals includes many normal
substances in the body (such as cholesterol), vitamins (vitamin D), hormones (for example, the sex hormones and their derivatives), and drugs given to treat
inflammation (hydrocortisone, prednisone). The adrenal glands secrete a number
of steroid hormones, known as corticosteroids, that are important for the maintenance of blood pressure, blood glucose levels, salt and water balance, and other critical
body processes. However, when we speak of steroid abuse by athletes, doctors are referring to the misuse of the so-called "anabolic steroids," which are manufactured drugs similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.
The term anabolic refers to the muscle-building
properties of these man-made substances. Available legally only by prescription,
anabolic steroids are sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat conditions in
which testosterone levels are abnormally low, or in certain chronic conditions such as AIDS that are
associated with loss of muscle mass.
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What are anabolic steroids?
"Anabolic steroids" is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to
the male sex hormones (e.g., testosterone). They promote the growth of skeletal
muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics
(androgenic effects) in both males and females. The term "anabolic steroids"
will be used throughout this report because of its familiarity, although the
proper term for these compounds is "anabolic-androgenic steroids."
Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s primarily to treat
hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce sufficient
testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. The primary
medical uses of these compounds are to treat delayed puberty, some types of
impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other diseases.
During the 1930s, scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could
facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory animals, which led to
abuse of the compounds first by bodybuilders and weightlifters and then by
athletes in other sports. Steroid abuse has become so widespread in athletics
that it can affect the outcome of sports contests.
Illicit steroids are often sold at gyms, competitions, and through mail order
operations after being smuggled into this country. Most illegal steroids in the
United States are smuggled from countries that do not require a prescription for
the purchase of steroids. Steroids are also illegally diverted from U.S.
pharmacies or synthesized in clandestine laboratories.
What are steroidal supplements?
In the United States, supplements such as tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) and
androstenedione (street name "Andro") previously could be purchased legally
without a prescription through many commercial sources, including health food
stores. Steroidal supplements can be converted into testosterone or a similar
compound in the body. Less is known about the side effects of steroidal
supplements, but if large quantities of these compounds substantially increase
testosterone levels in the body, then they also are likely to produce the same
side effects as anabolic steroids themselves. The purchase of these supplements,
with the notable exception of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), became illegal
after the passage in 2004 of amendments to the Controlled Substances Act.
| Commonly Abused Steroids |
| Oral Steroids |
Injectable Steroids |
Anadrol (oxymetholone)
Oxandrin
(oxandrolone)
Dianabol
(methandrostenolone)
Winstrol
(stanozolol)
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Deca-Durabolin
(nandrolone decanoate)
Durabolin
(nandrolone phenpropionate)
Depo-Testosterone
(testosterone cypionate)
Equipoise
(boldenone undecylenate)
Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)
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Next: What is the scope of steroid use in the United States? »
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High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.
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