Over the counter dietary supplements, such as creatine, should be used with caution. Manufacturers claim they can build muscles and improve strength without the side effects of steroids. Taken in small doses, nutritional supplements may not be harmful. Before taking any over-the-counter nutritional supplements or adding them to your regimen, talk with your doctor.
When taken in large doses and combined with alcohol or aspirin, or when combined with stimulents such as caffeine or ephedrine, nutritional supplements may become dangerous. Creatine can cause short-term cramping and diarrhea. While less is known about long-term use, creatine has been linked to muscle injury and kidney problems.
Creatine and other dietary supplements are gaining popularity. Manufacturers claim they can build muscles, and improve strength and stamina, without the side effects of steroids.
Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration FDA and are not held to the same strict standards as drugs. If abused, they can have harmful effects. New York State law bans the sale of dietary supplements containing the stimulent ephedra. When improperly used, anabolic steroids can cause serious health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease; liver damage and cancers; and, stroke and blood clots. Other side effects of steroids include: nausea and vomiting, increased risk of ligament and tendon injuries, headaches, aching joints, muscle cramps, diarrhea, sleep problems and severe acne.
While the total impact of anabolic steroid abuse is not known, health care providers have observed the following problems:. Because anabolic steroids are derived from testosterone, they can have profound effects on the hormone levels of both male and female abusers.
Changes in the male reproductive system are often reversible, if anabolic steroids have not been abused for a long period of time. Unfortunately, some of the changes in women are NOT reversible. Prolonged abuse of anabolic steroids very often results in physical addiction. Abusers must undergo a strict, medically-supervised withdrawal program. Sometimes, athletes who use anabolic steroids may share the needles, syringes or other equipment they use to inject these drugs.
By sharing needles, syringes or other equipment, a person becomes a high risk for HIV transmission. If a person shares needles, syringes and other equipment to inject steroids into the vein IV , in the muscles or under the skin, small amounts of blood from the person infected with HIV may be injected into the bloodstream of the next person to use the equipment.
HIV attacks the body's defense system, making the body less able to fight off infections and cancers. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Anabolic Steroids Also called: Anabolic-androgenic steroids, Performance-enhancing drugs. What are anabolic steroids? What are anabolic steroids used for? Why do people misuse anabolic steroids? What are the health effects of misusing anabolic steroids?
You can have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using them, including Fatigue Restlessness Loss of appetite Sleep problems Decreased sex drive Steroid cravings Depression , which can sometimes be serious and even lead to suicide attempts Behavioral therapy and medicines can be helpful in treating anabolic steroid addiction.
Examples of drugs used to treat the short-term adverse effects of anabolic steroid abuse are erythropoietin, human chorionic gonadotropin HCG , and tamoxifen. Also, diuretics and uricosuric agents may be used to mask steroid use. Over the last few years, a number of metabolic precursors to either testosterone or nandrolone have been marketed as dietary supplements in the U.
These dietary supplements can be purchased in health food stores without a prescription. Some of these substances include androstenedione, androstenediol, norandrostenedione, norandrostenediol, and dehydroepiandtrosterone DHEA , which can be converted into testosterone or a similar compound in the body.
Whether they promote muscle growth is not known. An undetermined percentage of steroid abusers may become addicted to the drug, as evidenced by their continuing to take steroids in spite of physical problems, negative effects on social relations, or nervousness and irritability.
Steroid users can experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, and depression. Untreated, some depressive symptoms associated with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known to persist for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs. The most important aspect to curtailing abuse is education concerning dangerous and harmful side effects, and symptoms of abuse.
Athletes and others must understand that they can excel in sports and have a great body without steroids. They should focus on getting proper diet, rest, and good overall mental and physical health. These things are all factors in how the body is shaped and conditioned. Millions of people have excelled in sports and look great without steroids. For additional information on steroids please see our website at: www. The Department of Justice does not endorse the organizations or views represented by this site and takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over, the accuracy, accessibility, copyright or trademark compliance or legality of the material contained on this site.
Why do people abuse steroids? Where do you get steroids? How are steroids taken? Possible psychological disturbances include the following: Mood swings including manic-like symptoms leading to violence Impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility Depression Nervousness Extreme irritability Delusions Hostility and aggression Laws and penalties for anabolic steroid abuse The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of placed anabolic steroids into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act CSA as of February 27, Steroid alternatives A variety of non-steroid drugs are commonly found within the illicit anabolic steroid market.
Are anabolic steroids addictive?
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