Dangerous Effects of Steroids

People take steroids for many reasons. Some take them so they can improve or increase their strength in sports. Others want to improve their physical appearance and become "buff" with big, toned muscles. Whatever the reasons, the public needs to understand that steroids, if not taken under close medical supervision, can have dangerous and unintended effects.

Brain

• Anabolic and androgenic steroids, while intended to treat conditions related to steroidal insufficiency and body wasting in long-term illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, are abused by those who do not have a medically documented need for these medications. Athletes and non-athletes use steroids in order to enhance their performance in sports or to improve their physical appearance. Steroids bind to brain chemicals in such a way that they slowly affect the brain's pathways and chemicals--dopamine, opoid systems and serotonin--affecting the mood and behavior of the person using them.

Mental Health

• The person who is taking steroids to enhance athletic performance or his physical appearance will display effects on his behavior and his mental state. If he was previously an easy-going, relaxed individual, the continued use of steroids will induce him into "roid rage" or an aggressive behavior resulting in violence and the destruction of property or physical harm to another person. He may also experience hallucinations, mood swings, panic attacks and anxiety paranoia, depression and suicidal thoughts. His mood may change to one of hostility, anger or irritability. His mood swings may be severe.

Male and Female Health

• The man who takes steroids long-term will notice an atrophy (wasting away) of his testicles, baldness, breast development, lowered sperm count and infertility. He may also notice an increase in the size of his prostate--his physician will need to confirm this with a physical exam.
  The woman taking steroids on a long-term basis will notice her voice getting deeper, facial hair growth, male-pattern baldness, a change or stopping of her menstrual cycle, and enlargement of her clitoris. She may also notice her breasts shrinking and increased body hair.

Side Effects

• The woman who takes long-term steroids will be at higher risk of tendon or ligament injuries, high blood pressure, severe acne, liver damage/cancer, baldness, blood clots and strokes, problems with sleep, problems with urination and/or diarrhea, nausea/vomiting and/or muscle cramps, headaches and joint aches. If she is in high school, she needs to understand that taking steroids can stop her growth too early, even if she is taking small doses. Teens are more likely to become dependent on steroids. (This list of side effects applies to males as well.)

Addiction

• Anabolic and androgenic steroids are addictive just as street drugs are. They don't act on the same brain pathways as street drugs, but users will experience the need to continue taking steroids repeatedly. The person addicted to steroids will experience withdrawal when they stop taking steroids. These symptoms include mood swings, loss of appetite, insomnia, fatigue, loss of sex drive, restlessness and cravings for steroids. The risk that a steroid addict might turn to street drugs, i.e., heroin, is also higher.