If you think you have an addiction, speak to your local doctor or phone DirectLine. The size of a standard drink can vary according to the type of alcohol. Amphetamines are psychostimulant drugs that speed up the workings of the brain. Benzodiazepines tranquillisers are highly addictive and should only be used for certain conditions in a short-term or emergency situation. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.
All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Drugs. Anabolic steroids. Actions for this page Listen Print.
Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What are anabolic steroids? Who uses anabolic steroids? How anabolic steroids work How anabolic steroids affect the body Side effects of anabolic steroids Long-term effects of anabolic steroids Mixing anabolic steroids with other drugs Dependence on anabolic steroids Withdrawal from anabolic steroids Treatment for anabolic steroid addiction Anabolic steroid use and the law Where to get help.
Common slang terms for steroids include 'roids', 'gear' and 'juice'. Other groups who typically use them include: Professional athletes and bodybuilders who are involved in competitive sport or who have a strong desire to succeed. People who work in industries where muscle strength is important — such as security workers, police, construction workers and defence force staff.
Young people and adults who are concerned about their body image and want to look muscular to feel good. This may include people who work in the fashion and entertainment industries. Testosterone has two effects on your body: anabolic — maintains bone density, supports muscle growth and speeds up recovery from injury androgenic also known as masculinising — develops and maintains male characteristics such as the penis, testicles, muscle mass, deep voice and facial hair.
How anabolic steroids affect the body People who use anabolic steroids generally experience an increase in muscle strength very quickly. This can often lead to rapid increases in lean muscle tissue.
Fluid retention is also common and can lead to muscles looking soft or bloated. Diuretics are drugs that change your body's natural balance of fluids and salts electrolytes , which can lead to dehydration.
This loss of water can decrease an athlete's weight, which many athletes prefer. Diuretics may also help athletes pass drug tests by diluting their urine and are sometimes referred to as a "masking" agent. Diuretics taken at any dose, even medically recommended doses, predispose athletes to adverse effects such as:. Many athletes take nutritional supplements instead of or in addition to performance-enhancing drugs.
Supplements are available over-the-counter as powders or pills. Creatine monohydrate is a supplement that's popular among athletes. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound produced by your body that helps your muscles release energy.
Scientific research indicates that creatine may have some athletic benefit by producing small gains in short-term bursts of power. Creatine appears to help muscles make more adenosine triphosphate ATP , which stores and transports energy in cells, and is used for quick bursts of activity, such as weightlifting or sprinting. But there's no evidence that creatine enhances performance in aerobic or endurance sports.
Weight gain is sought by athletes who want to increase their size. But with prolonged creatine use, weight gain is more likely the result of water retention than an increase in muscle mass.
Water is drawn into your muscle tissue, away from other parts of your body, putting you at risk of dehydration. It appears safe for adults to use creatine at the doses recommended by manufacturers.
But there are no studies investigating the long-term benefits and risks of creatine supplementation. Some athletes use stimulants to stimulate the central nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Common stimulants include caffeine and amphetamines. Cold remedies often contain the stimulants ephedrine or pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. Energy drinks, which are popular among many athletes, often contain high doses of caffeine and other stimulants. The street drugs cocaine and methamphetamine also are stimulants. Although stimulants can boost physical performance and promote aggressiveness on the field, they have side effects that can impair athletic performance, including:. Do performance-enhancing drugs boost performance?
Some athletes may appear to achieve physical gains from such drugs, but at what cost? The long-term effects of performance-enhancing drugs haven't been rigorously studied. And short-term benefits are tempered by many risks. Not to mention that doping is prohibited by most sports organizations. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.
Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you. If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
This content does not have an English version. Unfortunately, steroids can be addictive, making it hard to stop taking them. And once users stop taking steroids, they can have withdrawal symptoms such as loss of appetite, tiredness, restlessness, insomnia, mood swings, and depression.
Anabolic steroid use is illegal and banned by professional sports organizations and medical associations. In spite of this, some athletes continue to take steroids because they think it gives them a competitive advantage. As seen in high-profile cases, if an athlete is caught using steroids, his or her career can be destroyed.
And there are serious health consequences. When it comes right down to it, harming your body or getting disqualified aren't smart ways to try to improve your athletic performance. Being a star athlete means working hard and training the healthy way: eating the right foods , practicing, and strength training without the use of drugs. Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
What Are Steroids? Athletes sometimes take anabolic steroids because of their testosterone-like effects. How Do Anabolic Steroids Work? Dangers of Steroids Anabolic steroids cause many different types of problems. Some of the common side effects are: acne premature balding or hair loss weight gain mood swings aggression problems sleeping high blood pressure greater chance of injuring muscles and tendons jaundice yellowing of the skin ; liver damage stunted growth increased risk of developing heart disease, blood clots, stroke, and some types of cancer Page Three Risks for Girls Specific risks for girls associated with anabolic steroids include: increased facial and body hair growth development of masculine traits, such as deepening of the voice, and loss of feminine body characteristics, such as shrinking of the breasts enlargement of the clitoris menstrual cycle changes Risks for Guys Specific risks for guys include: testicular shrinkage pain when urinating breast development impotence inability to get an erection reduced sperm count and infertility Other Problems Steroids can also have serious psychological side effects.
Steroids: Stacking and Addiction Some people "cycle" their steroid doses.
0コメント