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.

Anabolic steroids often are abused by athletes for increasing muscle mass and performance. Non-athletes and non-competitive body builders also abuse anabolic steroids for cosmetic reasons.

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.

• 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.

Examples of anabolic steroids available in the use are:

• oxymetholone (Anadrol-50)
• fluoxymesterone (Android-F, Halotestin, and Ora-Testryl brand names are discontinued).

This medication is available as tablets.

• 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.