5-7% of MLB players tested flunked the roids test this past season. By the agreement, next year MLB will be testing.
SEE YA SAMMY
SEE YA SAMMY
MLB Will be Testing For Roids Next Year
- Thread starter IntenseOperator
- Start date
I would also like to see them ban some of these scumbags for spit tobacco, and get rid of all face hair.
HHM... that has got to be the most stupid thing i have ever read. Gid rid of facial hair, what are they in Junior High. Mabeye you just have a complex about facial hair b/c you are not able to grow. I guess they should just shave their whole bodies like swimmers
Lmao Railbird, as usual you make a good point and then have to ruin it with a utterly absurd one.
A few things I'm hearing now on the various sports shows...
The test applied during last season was of the weak variety. It could have been easily beaten.
The players new this test was coming and still failed. While some were prepared and beat the test. Numbers of failures could have been much higher.
No testing for the new designer drugs or the "artificial stimulants" used by Olympic athletes. That is coming possibly this year.
One might figure the probability of pitchers using illegal enhancing drugs is lower. I think there is 10-12 pitchers per team, the actual number of hitting players is higher then.
On a personal note, I'm not putting my heart and soul into this opinion or it's outcome, but I hope baseball's fan base doesn't just dismiss or accept steriod use by pro players. It not only provides misleading stats, performance, bogus victories and championships, but it KILLS PEOPLE! Example: Pro Wrestling
High school players are now getting more and more into this crap. Death is not immediate. When they are in their mid 30's and mid 40's with their family life in full bloom and career over they are struck down.
The test applied during last season was of the weak variety. It could have been easily beaten.
The players new this test was coming and still failed. While some were prepared and beat the test. Numbers of failures could have been much higher.
No testing for the new designer drugs or the "artificial stimulants" used by Olympic athletes. That is coming possibly this year.
One might figure the probability of pitchers using illegal enhancing drugs is lower. I think there is 10-12 pitchers per team, the actual number of hitting players is higher then.
On a personal note, I'm not putting my heart and soul into this opinion or it's outcome, but I hope baseball's fan base doesn't just dismiss or accept steriod use by pro players. It not only provides misleading stats, performance, bogus victories and championships, but it KILLS PEOPLE! Example: Pro Wrestling
High school players are now getting more and more into this crap. Death is not immediate. When they are in their mid 30's and mid 40's with their family life in full bloom and career over they are struck down.
If people were dying over steriods like you say dont you think there would be a lot more deaths caused by steriods. I am totally against there use but if they kill so many people where are all the statistics........steriods have been rampant in college and pro football for the better part of 20 years and if they were a death wish as you say they are then why dont we hear about all of these 30 and 40 year old deaths..........because they dont exist........thats why. You use pro wrestling for an example but there have been thousands and thousands of wrestlers in the last 30 years but only a very very small portion of deaths due to steriod use. Look at bodybuilding for example they have been using steriods for yrs and again no reports of people dying in large numbers. The real truth of the matter is ......if people were really dying in droves because of anabolic steriods......then they would have not gained the popularity the have in professional sports.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- Baseball's new mandatory steroid testing plan appears to give cheating players every advantage they need to avoid detection while taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs, scientists and doping detectives say.
The plan to test all athletes beginning in March will probably fail, they say, because it ignores the many lessons Olympics officials learned while trying to curb steroid abuse.
"The plan of attack is a very bad plan and it sends a very poor message to fans," said Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The tests won't be conducted during the offseason or postseason. With at least four months free from visits by doping detectives, cheaters have time to illegally bulk up and then rid their bodies of evidence before spring training.
And if all else fails, it takes five positive results before Major League Baseball will banish one of its players for up to a year.
Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, didn't return a call seeking comment. During the meeting of baseball team owners last week, commissioner Bud Selig defended the program.
"Remember, before this agreement, we had no program. So we've made progress," Selig said.
The mandatory testing plan is being imposed because between 5 percent and 7 percent of anonymous steroid tests among major leaguers came back positive last season. Those results triggered a provision in the sport's labor contract requiring all players to be tested. The commissioner's office and the union didn't say what steroids were uncovered.
Typically, steroids are taken in combination and used in cycles of six to 10 weeks.
Going forward, experts say it appears likely users will time their usage of the drugs around the testing and choose steroids that disappear from the body faster than ones widely used in gyms, such as nandrolone, which can be detected up to a year after use.
Powerful steroids such as methenolone enanthate, oxandrolone, and testosterone undeconoate that clear the body quickly are easily purchased online from Chinese companies or directly from Mexican pharmacies. There's also Winstrol, affectionately called "winny" and made popular by disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson, which can be injected or ingested in tablet form.
Winny tablets disappear within about three weeks, several weeks longer if injected. One Belize-based company offers to ship 90 tablets for $250, a quick Internet search showed.
Athletes are also turning to less dangerous applications, such as steroid-laced creams and gels that dissolve between the cheek and gum.
The only way to catch cheats who are using quick-to-clear steroids is to randomly test them the entire year, said Dr. Linn Goldberg of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
"Unannounced and out-of-competition testing is the only way you can effectively do this," said Goldberg, who is also a doping control officer for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Recently, Goldberg woke up an Olympic athlete at 7 a.m. for a urine sample. Two nights later, he waited patiently for 45 minutes as another Olympic athlete consumed enough water to provide a sample. Goldberg declined to name the athletes or their sports.
Olympic athletes are tested for as many as 70 substances, including many "masking agents," which may be legal but raise red flags when they appear in an otherwise healthy athlete.
One popular masking agent is the diuretic Probenecid, which is legitimately used to treat gout. But diuretics, which increase urine production, can also help flush steroids from the system.
Baseball will test for a little more than two dozen steroids and related substances. Since they don't have to worry about masking agents showing up in tests, experts say players may exploit a league requirement that any positive test be confirmed by a test on a second urine sample five to seven days later. In that time, a player could ingest a diuretic.
Also, with the average baseball salary surpassing $2 million annually, doping experts said cheaters can easily afford the kind of underground chemistry that is developing new steroids designed to evade detection.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco is investigating a nutritional supplement lab that may be linked to the recently discovered steroid THG. Several baseball players, including Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, have been subpoenaed to testify.
None of the players have been implicated, but their appearances as witnesses has raised questions of steroid usage by elite athletes. Five track and field athletes have tested positive for THG and face two-year bans. Four Oakland Raiders players also reportedly have tested positive for the drug.
Ultimately, though, the experts said MLB won't seriously track down on steroid use until fans stop going to the ballparks, buying memorabilia and watching the games.
"The large majority of fans don't care," said Penn State University professor Charles Yesalis, an expert on athletes' steroid use. "They just want to be entertained."
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- Baseball's new mandatory steroid testing plan appears to give cheating players every advantage they need to avoid detection while taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs, scientists and doping detectives say.
The plan to test all athletes beginning in March will probably fail, they say, because it ignores the many lessons Olympics officials learned while trying to curb steroid abuse.
"The plan of attack is a very bad plan and it sends a very poor message to fans," said Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The tests won't be conducted during the offseason or postseason. With at least four months free from visits by doping detectives, cheaters have time to illegally bulk up and then rid their bodies of evidence before spring training.
And if all else fails, it takes five positive results before Major League Baseball will banish one of its players for up to a year.
Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, didn't return a call seeking comment. During the meeting of baseball team owners last week, commissioner Bud Selig defended the program.
"Remember, before this agreement, we had no program. So we've made progress," Selig said.
The mandatory testing plan is being imposed because between 5 percent and 7 percent of anonymous steroid tests among major leaguers came back positive last season. Those results triggered a provision in the sport's labor contract requiring all players to be tested. The commissioner's office and the union didn't say what steroids were uncovered.
Typically, steroids are taken in combination and used in cycles of six to 10 weeks.
Going forward, experts say it appears likely users will time their usage of the drugs around the testing and choose steroids that disappear from the body faster than ones widely used in gyms, such as nandrolone, which can be detected up to a year after use.
Powerful steroids such as methenolone enanthate, oxandrolone, and testosterone undeconoate that clear the body quickly are easily purchased online from Chinese companies or directly from Mexican pharmacies. There's also Winstrol, affectionately called "winny" and made popular by disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson, which can be injected or ingested in tablet form.
Winny tablets disappear within about three weeks, several weeks longer if injected. One Belize-based company offers to ship 90 tablets for $250, a quick Internet search showed.
Athletes are also turning to less dangerous applications, such as steroid-laced creams and gels that dissolve between the cheek and gum.
The only way to catch cheats who are using quick-to-clear steroids is to randomly test them the entire year, said Dr. Linn Goldberg of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
"Unannounced and out-of-competition testing is the only way you can effectively do this," said Goldberg, who is also a doping control officer for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Recently, Goldberg woke up an Olympic athlete at 7 a.m. for a urine sample. Two nights later, he waited patiently for 45 minutes as another Olympic athlete consumed enough water to provide a sample. Goldberg declined to name the athletes or their sports.
Olympic athletes are tested for as many as 70 substances, including many "masking agents," which may be legal but raise red flags when they appear in an otherwise healthy athlete.
One popular masking agent is the diuretic Probenecid, which is legitimately used to treat gout. But diuretics, which increase urine production, can also help flush steroids from the system.
Baseball will test for a little more than two dozen steroids and related substances. Since they don't have to worry about masking agents showing up in tests, experts say players may exploit a league requirement that any positive test be confirmed by a test on a second urine sample five to seven days later. In that time, a player could ingest a diuretic.
Also, with the average baseball salary surpassing $2 million annually, doping experts said cheaters can easily afford the kind of underground chemistry that is developing new steroids designed to evade detection.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco is investigating a nutritional supplement lab that may be linked to the recently discovered steroid THG. Several baseball players, including Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, have been subpoenaed to testify.
None of the players have been implicated, but their appearances as witnesses has raised questions of steroid usage by elite athletes. Five track and field athletes have tested positive for THG and face two-year bans. Four Oakland Raiders players also reportedly have tested positive for the drug.
Ultimately, though, the experts said MLB won't seriously track down on steroid use until fans stop going to the ballparks, buying memorabilia and watching the games.
"The large majority of fans don't care," said Penn State University professor Charles Yesalis, an expert on athletes' steroid use. "They just want to be entertained."
An article with the "A B C's" of roids
An article with the "A B C's" of roids
Monday, September 6
Anabolic steroids
Editor's note: This is the first of an eight-week series of articles examining the effects of commonly abused substances on athletic performance and overall health.
There should not be a controversy over anabolic steroid use in athletics -- non-medical use of anabolic steroids is illegal and banned by most, if not all, major sports organizations. Still, some athletes persist in taking them, believing that these substances provide a competitive advantage. But beyond the issues of popularity or legality is the fact that anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological side effects.
In light of these hazards, measures to curtail the use of anabolic steroids are escalating. One of the nation's foremost authorities on steroid use, Dr. Gary Wadler, is part of a concerted effort to educate the public about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Dr. Wadler, a New York University School of Medicine professor and lead author of the book Drugs and the Athlete, serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice on anabolic-androgenic steroid use. He has also won the International Olympic Committee President's Prize for his work in the area of performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sports. He joined us to address the issue of steroids and sports.
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids -- or more precisely, anabolic-androgenic steroids -- are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone. Both anabolic and androgenic have origins from the Greek: anabolic, meaning "to build," and androgenic, meaning "masculinizing." Testosterone's natural androgenic effects trigger the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, including the growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. The hormone's anabolic effect helps the body retain dietary protein, which aids in the development of muscles. "Although there are many types of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, it's the anabolic property of steroids that lures athletes," says Dr. Wadler. "They take them to primarily increase muscle mass and strength."
How are steroids taken?
Steroids can be taken orally or they can be injected. Those that are injected are broken down into additional categories, those that are very long-lasting and those that last a shorter time. In recent years, use has shifted to the latter category -- shorter-lasting, water-soluble injections. "The reason for that is that the side effects associated for the oral form were discovered to be especially worrisome for the liver,"says Dr. Wadler. "But the injectable steroids aren't free of side-effects either. There is no free ride and there is a price to be paid with either form."
Who takes anabolic steroids and why?
It is not only the football player or weightlifter or sprinter who may be using anabolic steroids. Nor is it only men. White- and blue-collar workers, females and, most alarmingly, adolescents take steroids -- all linked by the desire to hopefully look, perform and feel better, regardless of the dangers.
Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the bodybuilding traits of testosterone. Most healthy males produce less than 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. Females also produce testosterone but in minute amounts. Some athletes however, may use up to hundreds of milligrams a day, far exceeding the normally prescribed daily dose for legitimate medical purposes. Anabolic steroids do not improve agility, skill or cardiovascular capacity.
What are the health hazards of anabolic steroids?
"There can be a whole panoply of side effects, even with prescribed doses," says Dr. Wadler. "Some are visible to the naked eye and some are internal. Some are physical, others are psychological. With unsupervised steroid use, wanton 'megadosing' or stacking (using a combination of different steroids), the effects can be irreversible or undetected until it's too late." Also, if anabolic steroids are injected, transmitting or contracting HIV and Hepatitis B through shared needle use is a very real concern.
Additionally, Dr. Wadler stresses that "unlike almost all other drugs, all steroid based hormones have one unique characteristic -- their dangers may not be manifest for months, years and even decades. Therefore, long after you gave them up you may develop side effects."
Physical side effects
Men - Although anabolic steroids are derived from a male sex hormone, men who take them may actually experience a "feminization" effect along with a decrease in normal male sexual function. Some possible effects include:
Reduced sperm count
Impotence
Development of breasts
Shrinking of the testicles
Difficulty or pain while urinating
Women - On the other hand, women often experience a "masculinization" effect from anabolic steroids, including the following:
Facial hair growth
Deepened voice
Breast reduction
Menstrual cycle changes
With continued use of anabolic steroids, both sexes can experience the following effects, which range from the merely unsightly to the life endangering. They include:
Acne
Bloated appearance
Rapid weight gain
Clotting disorders
Liver damage
Premature heart attacks and strokes
Elevated cholesterol levels
Weakened tendons
Special dangers to adolescents
Anabolic steroids can halt growth prematurely in adolescents. "What happens is that steroids close the growth centers in a kid's bones", says Dr. Wadler. "Once these growth plates are closed, they cannot reopen so adolescents that take too many steroids may end up shorter than they should have been."
Behavioral side effects
According to Dr. Wadler, anabolic steroids can cause severe mood swings. "People's psychological states can run the gamut." says Wadler. "They can go from bouts of depression or extreme irritability to feelings of invincibility and outright aggression, commonly called "'roid rage. This is a dangerous state beyond mere assertiveness."
Are anabolic steroids addictive?
Recent evidence suggests that long-time steroid users and steroid abusers may experience the classic characteristics of addiction including cravings, difficulty in stopping steroid use and withdrawal symptoms. "Addiction is an extreme of dependency, which may be a psychological, if not physical, phenomena," says Dr. Wadler. "Regardless, there is no question that when regular steroid users stop taking the drug they get withdrawal pains and if they start up again the pain goes away. They have difficulties stopping use even though they know it's bad for them."
An article with the "A B C's" of roids
Monday, September 6
Anabolic steroids
Editor's note: This is the first of an eight-week series of articles examining the effects of commonly abused substances on athletic performance and overall health.
There should not be a controversy over anabolic steroid use in athletics -- non-medical use of anabolic steroids is illegal and banned by most, if not all, major sports organizations. Still, some athletes persist in taking them, believing that these substances provide a competitive advantage. But beyond the issues of popularity or legality is the fact that anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological side effects.
In light of these hazards, measures to curtail the use of anabolic steroids are escalating. One of the nation's foremost authorities on steroid use, Dr. Gary Wadler, is part of a concerted effort to educate the public about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Dr. Wadler, a New York University School of Medicine professor and lead author of the book Drugs and the Athlete, serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice on anabolic-androgenic steroid use. He has also won the International Olympic Committee President's Prize for his work in the area of performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sports. He joined us to address the issue of steroids and sports.
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids -- or more precisely, anabolic-androgenic steroids -- are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone. Both anabolic and androgenic have origins from the Greek: anabolic, meaning "to build," and androgenic, meaning "masculinizing." Testosterone's natural androgenic effects trigger the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, including the growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. The hormone's anabolic effect helps the body retain dietary protein, which aids in the development of muscles. "Although there are many types of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, it's the anabolic property of steroids that lures athletes," says Dr. Wadler. "They take them to primarily increase muscle mass and strength."
How are steroids taken?
Steroids can be taken orally or they can be injected. Those that are injected are broken down into additional categories, those that are very long-lasting and those that last a shorter time. In recent years, use has shifted to the latter category -- shorter-lasting, water-soluble injections. "The reason for that is that the side effects associated for the oral form were discovered to be especially worrisome for the liver,"says Dr. Wadler. "But the injectable steroids aren't free of side-effects either. There is no free ride and there is a price to be paid with either form."
Who takes anabolic steroids and why?
It is not only the football player or weightlifter or sprinter who may be using anabolic steroids. Nor is it only men. White- and blue-collar workers, females and, most alarmingly, adolescents take steroids -- all linked by the desire to hopefully look, perform and feel better, regardless of the dangers.
Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the bodybuilding traits of testosterone. Most healthy males produce less than 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. Females also produce testosterone but in minute amounts. Some athletes however, may use up to hundreds of milligrams a day, far exceeding the normally prescribed daily dose for legitimate medical purposes. Anabolic steroids do not improve agility, skill or cardiovascular capacity.
What are the health hazards of anabolic steroids?
"There can be a whole panoply of side effects, even with prescribed doses," says Dr. Wadler. "Some are visible to the naked eye and some are internal. Some are physical, others are psychological. With unsupervised steroid use, wanton 'megadosing' or stacking (using a combination of different steroids), the effects can be irreversible or undetected until it's too late." Also, if anabolic steroids are injected, transmitting or contracting HIV and Hepatitis B through shared needle use is a very real concern.
Additionally, Dr. Wadler stresses that "unlike almost all other drugs, all steroid based hormones have one unique characteristic -- their dangers may not be manifest for months, years and even decades. Therefore, long after you gave them up you may develop side effects."
Physical side effects
Men - Although anabolic steroids are derived from a male sex hormone, men who take them may actually experience a "feminization" effect along with a decrease in normal male sexual function. Some possible effects include:
Reduced sperm count
Impotence
Development of breasts
Shrinking of the testicles
Difficulty or pain while urinating
Women - On the other hand, women often experience a "masculinization" effect from anabolic steroids, including the following:
Facial hair growth
Deepened voice
Breast reduction
Menstrual cycle changes
With continued use of anabolic steroids, both sexes can experience the following effects, which range from the merely unsightly to the life endangering. They include:
Acne
Bloated appearance
Rapid weight gain
Clotting disorders
Liver damage
Premature heart attacks and strokes
Elevated cholesterol levels
Weakened tendons
Special dangers to adolescents
Anabolic steroids can halt growth prematurely in adolescents. "What happens is that steroids close the growth centers in a kid's bones", says Dr. Wadler. "Once these growth plates are closed, they cannot reopen so adolescents that take too many steroids may end up shorter than they should have been."
Behavioral side effects
According to Dr. Wadler, anabolic steroids can cause severe mood swings. "People's psychological states can run the gamut." says Wadler. "They can go from bouts of depression or extreme irritability to feelings of invincibility and outright aggression, commonly called "'roid rage. This is a dangerous state beyond mere assertiveness."
Are anabolic steroids addictive?
Recent evidence suggests that long-time steroid users and steroid abusers may experience the classic characteristics of addiction including cravings, difficulty in stopping steroid use and withdrawal symptoms. "Addiction is an extreme of dependency, which may be a psychological, if not physical, phenomena," says Dr. Wadler. "Regardless, there is no question that when regular steroid users stop taking the drug they get withdrawal pains and if they start up again the pain goes away. They have difficulties stopping use even though they know it's bad for them."
a little more on the "few" side affects
a little more on the "few" side affects
Anabolic Steroids Side Effects
The side effects from steroids can be very serious. However, the truth is the media makes them out to be worse than they actually are, which makes athletes turn away from anabolic steroids. Below are some of the most common side effects associated with anabolic steroids. Taking steroid properly, you can minimize, if not eliminate, any side effects.
Water Retention:
This is most common from using steroids. It is a ?puffiness? or swelling in the neck and facial areas. It is rather notable mainly if you know the person is on steroids. There are safe drugs which can be taken to minimize water retention. Water retention increases and decreases depending on one's diet.
Acne:
How many times have you heard this, "I want to take steroids, but I am afraid of getting acne."? It is a very common side effect, athletes who have never had acne can get it, and it can make it worse for those who already have it. It can also appear in new areas on the body, such as, the back and neck. On the other hand, there are numerous steroids users that do not get any acne. The truth is, it's not as bad as the media makes it to be, they like to make people think their whole body will break if they touch any steroids.
Gynecomastia:
People don't recognize the name gynecomastia, they recognize it's other, well known name, BITCH TITS.. It is the formation of breasts, or abnormally large glands. The first signs are lumps under the nipples, then will gradually grow to fatty tissue and increase in size. With the right anti-estrogens (which our suppliers carry), this side effect can be eliminated.
Aggression:
Anabolic steroids do cause aggression, but the word "ROID RAGE" is a myth. Certain anabolic steroids can make an athlete more irritable, or aggressive, but any "rage" or uncontrollable mood swings are all in the mind. If one cannot control their aggression, they should not be using anabolic steroids in the first place.
Hypertension:
High blood pressure is also a chance when taking steroids. Most athletes would not know if they had high blood pressure so it is suggested to get tests regularly. High blood pressure can lead to many more serious diseases.
Below are more side effects, which are less common and not seen very often.
Cardiovascular Disease:
Studies have shown that steroid use is a risk factor for heart disease, which is due to the fact that steroids affect cholesterol levels. Over a period of time the cholesterol builds up and clogs the arteries.
Palpitations:
Heart palpitations have been reported by a number of athletes on steroids. These may indicate an excited or elevated level of the central nervous system.
Impotence:
When steroids are first used sexual interest increases because of the heightened frequency and duration of the erections. But eventually the opposite happens and no erections can be produced. Once the steroid cycle is over, the testosterone levels will eventually return to normal; the process can be sped up by taking such drugs as clomiphene citrate, or HCG.
Jaundice:
A serious liver disease which is found by an enlarged painful liver, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and flu like symptoms. This happens when athletes use high dosages of steroids. (RARE)
Here are some more possible side effects from www.cancerbacup.org.uk:
Irritation of the stomach lining. Steroids can increase the production of stomach acid and lower the production of protective stomach mucus. This can irritate the lining of the stomach and may cause or aggravate a stomach ulcer. To reduce this side effect the tablets should be taken with meals or milk. Tell your doctor if you have indigestion, stomach pains or abdominal discomfort.
The levels of sugar in your blood may change temporarily. This may happen if you have high-dose or long-term treatment. While you are having your steroid therapy your blood sugar levels will be checked regularly by blood tests. You may be asked to test your urine for sugar. You will be shown how to do this. Tell your doctor if you get very thirsty or if you are passing more urine than usual.
Fluid retention due to changed salt and water balance. You may notice that your ankles and/or fingers swell. Some people have a bloated feeling in the abdomen. This is usually only a problem with long-term treatment. Increased appetite. You may notice that you feel hungrier than usual while taking steroids, and this can make you want to eat more than usual.
If you are concerned about weight gain speak to your doctor or contact CancerBACUPs information service.
Increased chance of infection and delayed healing of injuries. This happens mainly with high-dose or long-term treatment. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection (inflammation, redness, soreness or a temperature) or if cuts take longer than usual to heal. It is important to maintain good personal hygiene to prevent infection.
Menstrual changes. Women may find that their periods become irregular or stop.
Behavioral changes. You may notice mood swings, difficulty in sleeping and perhaps anxiety or irritability. These happen mainly with high-dose or long-term treatment and will stop when the steroid therapy ends. Tell your doctor about any behavioral changes which are worrying you. Difficulty in sleeping may be reduced by taking the steroids in the early part of the day, but discuss this with your doctor first.
Less common side effects
Cushings syndrome. This is usually caused only by long-term use of steroids. It can cause acne, puffiness of the face, dark marks on the skin and facial hair in women. Cushings syndrome can be partially reduced by taking the steroids early in the morning, by taking them on alternate days instead of every day, or by reducing the dose, but discuss this with your doctor first.
Muscle wasting. With very long-term use of steroids, wasting of leg muscles may occur. This can cause weakness. When the steroids are stopped some people experience muscle cramps for a short time.
Osteoporosis. With very long-term use of steroids, calcium may be lost from the bones. This can result in pain (especially in the lower back), an increased susceptibility to fractures and loss of height.
Other side effects include: enlarged prostate, premature hair loss, sterility, shortness, and head and stomach aches.
a little more on the "few" side affects
Anabolic Steroids Side Effects
The side effects from steroids can be very serious. However, the truth is the media makes them out to be worse than they actually are, which makes athletes turn away from anabolic steroids. Below are some of the most common side effects associated with anabolic steroids. Taking steroid properly, you can minimize, if not eliminate, any side effects.
Water Retention:
This is most common from using steroids. It is a ?puffiness? or swelling in the neck and facial areas. It is rather notable mainly if you know the person is on steroids. There are safe drugs which can be taken to minimize water retention. Water retention increases and decreases depending on one's diet.
Acne:
How many times have you heard this, "I want to take steroids, but I am afraid of getting acne."? It is a very common side effect, athletes who have never had acne can get it, and it can make it worse for those who already have it. It can also appear in new areas on the body, such as, the back and neck. On the other hand, there are numerous steroids users that do not get any acne. The truth is, it's not as bad as the media makes it to be, they like to make people think their whole body will break if they touch any steroids.
Gynecomastia:
People don't recognize the name gynecomastia, they recognize it's other, well known name, BITCH TITS.. It is the formation of breasts, or abnormally large glands. The first signs are lumps under the nipples, then will gradually grow to fatty tissue and increase in size. With the right anti-estrogens (which our suppliers carry), this side effect can be eliminated.
Aggression:
Anabolic steroids do cause aggression, but the word "ROID RAGE" is a myth. Certain anabolic steroids can make an athlete more irritable, or aggressive, but any "rage" or uncontrollable mood swings are all in the mind. If one cannot control their aggression, they should not be using anabolic steroids in the first place.
Hypertension:
High blood pressure is also a chance when taking steroids. Most athletes would not know if they had high blood pressure so it is suggested to get tests regularly. High blood pressure can lead to many more serious diseases.
Below are more side effects, which are less common and not seen very often.
Cardiovascular Disease:
Studies have shown that steroid use is a risk factor for heart disease, which is due to the fact that steroids affect cholesterol levels. Over a period of time the cholesterol builds up and clogs the arteries.
Palpitations:
Heart palpitations have been reported by a number of athletes on steroids. These may indicate an excited or elevated level of the central nervous system.
Impotence:
When steroids are first used sexual interest increases because of the heightened frequency and duration of the erections. But eventually the opposite happens and no erections can be produced. Once the steroid cycle is over, the testosterone levels will eventually return to normal; the process can be sped up by taking such drugs as clomiphene citrate, or HCG.
Jaundice:
A serious liver disease which is found by an enlarged painful liver, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and flu like symptoms. This happens when athletes use high dosages of steroids. (RARE)
Here are some more possible side effects from www.cancerbacup.org.uk:
Irritation of the stomach lining. Steroids can increase the production of stomach acid and lower the production of protective stomach mucus. This can irritate the lining of the stomach and may cause or aggravate a stomach ulcer. To reduce this side effect the tablets should be taken with meals or milk. Tell your doctor if you have indigestion, stomach pains or abdominal discomfort.
The levels of sugar in your blood may change temporarily. This may happen if you have high-dose or long-term treatment. While you are having your steroid therapy your blood sugar levels will be checked regularly by blood tests. You may be asked to test your urine for sugar. You will be shown how to do this. Tell your doctor if you get very thirsty or if you are passing more urine than usual.
Fluid retention due to changed salt and water balance. You may notice that your ankles and/or fingers swell. Some people have a bloated feeling in the abdomen. This is usually only a problem with long-term treatment. Increased appetite. You may notice that you feel hungrier than usual while taking steroids, and this can make you want to eat more than usual.
If you are concerned about weight gain speak to your doctor or contact CancerBACUPs information service.
Increased chance of infection and delayed healing of injuries. This happens mainly with high-dose or long-term treatment. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection (inflammation, redness, soreness or a temperature) or if cuts take longer than usual to heal. It is important to maintain good personal hygiene to prevent infection.
Menstrual changes. Women may find that their periods become irregular or stop.
Behavioral changes. You may notice mood swings, difficulty in sleeping and perhaps anxiety or irritability. These happen mainly with high-dose or long-term treatment and will stop when the steroid therapy ends. Tell your doctor about any behavioral changes which are worrying you. Difficulty in sleeping may be reduced by taking the steroids in the early part of the day, but discuss this with your doctor first.
Less common side effects
Cushings syndrome. This is usually caused only by long-term use of steroids. It can cause acne, puffiness of the face, dark marks on the skin and facial hair in women. Cushings syndrome can be partially reduced by taking the steroids early in the morning, by taking them on alternate days instead of every day, or by reducing the dose, but discuss this with your doctor first.
Muscle wasting. With very long-term use of steroids, wasting of leg muscles may occur. This can cause weakness. When the steroids are stopped some people experience muscle cramps for a short time.
Osteoporosis. With very long-term use of steroids, calcium may be lost from the bones. This can result in pain (especially in the lower back), an increased susceptibility to fractures and loss of height.
Other side effects include: enlarged prostate, premature hair loss, sterility, shortness, and head and stomach aches.
