What are oral anabolic steroids, and what are they used for?
Anabolic steroids are orally-ingested, synthetic (man-made) drugs that act like testosterone. They cause growth and development of male sexual organs, secondary sex characteristics, and increases in muscle size and strength.
This class of drugs are used for the treatment of:
- Delayed puberty in boys
- Anemia
- Low muscle mass due to AIDs or HIV
- Breast cancer
They also are used for replacing testosterone in men with low testosterone levels.
What are the side effects of oral anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids have many side effects because testosterone, which they mimic, has many effects in the body. The long list if side effects include:
- Shrinking of testicles
- Breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
- Low sperm count
- Increased hair growth
- Deeper voice and reduced breast size in women
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- High cholesterol
- Rage
- Violence
- Aggression
Liver disease and liver cancer also can occur.
What drug interactions occur with this class of drugs?
- Anabolic steroids increase blood levels and effects of cyclosporine by decreasing the breakdown of cyclosporine.
- They reduce the breakdown of warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), increasing blood levels of warfarin and the risk of bleeding from warfarin.
List of generic and brand names available for oral anabolic steroids available in the US
Examples of anabolic steroids available in the use are:
- oxymetholone (Anadrol-50)
- fluoxymesterone (Android-F, Halotestin, and Ora-Testryl brand names are discontinued).
Is it safe to take these drugs if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding my baby?
- No, they are not safe to take if you are pregnant or nursing your baby. The FDA classifies anabolic steroids in pregnancy as category X, which means that they are harmful to the fetus and should not be used during pregnancy.
- Doctors and researchers don't know if this type of drug is excreted in breast milk. Therefore, you shouldn't take these drugs if you are breastfeeding, and if you are taking them you should stop due to the risk of serious adverse effects in the infant.
SLIDESHOW
Sex-Drive Killers: The Causes of Low Libido See SlideshowSummary
Oral anabolic steroids (androgens) are man-made drugs that have the effect on the body similar to testosterone. Oral anabolic steroids are prescribed to treat delayed puberty in boys, low muscle mass as the result of AIDS or HIV, breast cancer, anemia, and testosterone replacement therapy.
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