What Are Steroids?

Steroids are a vast range of organic compounds that consist of a specific molecular structure. These synthetic drugs are primarily used to treat allergic reactions, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and conditions such as asthma or arthritis. The other primary objective of using these drugs is to promote muscle growth and boost strength. These major functionalities are linked with two groups of steroids, corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.

Understanding Steroids

Steroids are medications that belong to a group of drugs known as glucocorticoids. These are a type of hormone that is produced in the human body. When the deficiency of this hormone occurs, it can be made artificially and then used as medication. This medication has been available for the last 50 years.

In the early years, people had insufficient knowledge about the correct use, dose, and side effects of this medication. So, people used to encounter health risks and side effects due to taking incorrect dosages. The risk of facing side effects of steroids also depends on how they are used. They can be applied directly to the skin, injected into the muscles or joints, or taken orally.

Types of Steroids

There are two major types of steroids: Corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.

What are corticosteroids?

This category of steroids fills the gap of cortisol deficiency, which is produced by the adrenal gland and is known as “corticosteroid”. By improving the slow production of hormonal functions, these drugs can treat suppressed immune systems, allergies, asthma, and skin rashes. Some examples of such steroids are hydrocortisone, prednisone, methandrostenolone, and cortisone. 

Medical Uses:

• The medicines of this group can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Addison’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They can also be used in preventing organ rejection in transplant recipients. 
• In individuals with suppressed immune systems, when the body fails to respond to pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, the victims may encounter several infectious diseases. 
• People with Addison’s disease may face symptoms including weight loss, low blood pressure, dark skin patches, and salt cravings. 
• In severe medical conditions, patients may also encounter symptoms such as dizziness upon standing, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, diarrhoea, abnormal hair growth, and mood changes.
• This is a rare disease which occurs when the adrenal gland fails to produce a sufficient amount of cortisol naturally.  
• Therefore, this group of individuals are usually recommended to use corticosteroids to avoid such illnesses. 

Administration Methods 

These steroids are administered in several ways; they are available in tablet form and can be given orally, in eye drops, in inhalers, in intranasal sprays, or through injections. These drugs can do wonders when used to reduce pain and discomfort due to several diseases.

Possible Side Effects & Health Risks:

When taking these drugs without the supervision of a healthcare professional, users may encounter side effects like:

• Cataracts 
• Bruises
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Hyperglacemia

This group of steroids is usually prescribed for hormonal malfunction, while anabolic steroids are another major group of steroids that act differently. 

Long-term Consequences of Corticosteroid Misuse 

Some of the long-term consequences of misusing corticosteroids include:

• Stretch marks on the delegate areas of the body
• Acne on the face and other parts of the body
• A weakened immune system, which may lead to more infections
• Withdrawal syndrome
• Skin damage, like skin thinning
• Increased blood pressure and sugar levels

what are anabolic steroids

These steroids are a synthetic version of the male hormone Testosterone. The technical term used for anabolic compounds is “anabolic-androgenic steroids” (AAS). “Anabolic” indicates muscle-building, and “androgenic” signals to the group of sex hormones known as androgens.  

In the male human body, this hormone is the major androgen that contributes to the development of male characteristics. These hormones are far higher in males than in females.

This category of steroids has the characteristics to treat hypogonadism (weak masculinity), increase muscle mass, strength, and athletic performance for bodybuilding purposes. Some medicinal options of anabolic steroids are Danazol, Nandrolone, Oxandrolone, and Oxymetholone.

Medical Uses:

• In individuals with slow muscle growth, poor strength, and weak masculinity (male hypogonadism), they may face issues due to a deficiency of natural testosterone levels. 
• Anabolic steroids are also helpful in treating luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone deficiency.
• These may also be useful in treating certain types of breast cancer in women.
• In some cases, these drugs are prescribed to treat specific health conditions such as delayed puberty, endometriosis, and muscle-wasting diseases. 
• Other than muscle-wasting illnesses such as cancer and AIDS, some individuals use these drugs to improve their physical appearance. 

Administration Methods 

Anabolic steroids are available in different forms, including pills, you can inject these steroids, creams can be applied to the skin, topical gels, skin patches, and implantable pellets. These steroids are administered according to the treatment condition. For muscle-gaining and bodybuilding purposes, professionals choose the form of steroids according to their suitability and tolerability towards a specific drug. 

Possible Side Effects & Health Risks:

Along with the possible benefits, users might face some serious side effects when they take these steroids without professional advice. 

• Insufficient use of creams or gels may lead to issues like acne
• A daily high dose of these steroids may result in increased cholesterol levels
• Long-term use may also result in baldness, stomach ulcer, increased blood sugar levels, acne and fluid retention, and cause weight gain 
• Swelling in the ankles
• Smaller testicles
• Decrease in breast size in women
• Breast enlargement in men
• Worsening of sleep apnea

Stop taking steroids of any form when you notice any of these conditions. Usually, people get confused about choosing safe drugs from a reliable store when getting treatment with steroids. 

To get information about a legitimate steroids store, it is recommended to use personal references or review feedback from previous users. One such example of these steroids and retailers is UK Steroid Shop, which offers a vast range of reliable steroids. From Trenbolone to Dianabol, you can find all the steroids from this store. 

Long-term Consequences of Anabolic Steroid Misuse 

The incorrect use of anabolic steroids without the supervision of a doctor may lead to several long-term consequences:

• Acne
• Lipid abnormalities
• Gynecomestia 
• Personality changes
• Abnormal liver functioning
• Anxiety 

Key Differences Between Corticosteroids & Anabolic Steroids

 

Aspect	Corticosteroids	Anabolic Steroids
Primary Function	Treat hormonal imbalances, suppressed immune systems, and inflammation.	Promote muscle growth, increase strength, and treat testosterone deficiencies.
Conditions Treated	– Rheumatoid arthritis – Addison’s disease – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Allergies – Asthma – Skin rashes – Organ rejection in transplants – Immune system suppression	– Hypogonadism – Delayed puberty – Muscle-wasting diseases (e.g., Cancer, AIDS) – Improve athletic performance
Examples	Hydrocortisone, Prednisone, Cortisone	Danazol, Oxandrolone, Oxymetholone
Symptoms Treated	– Weight loss – Low blood pressure – Dark skin patches – Salt cravings (for Addison’s disease) – Infections due to immune system suppression	– Muscle weakness – Low strength – Poor masculinity traits in males
Administration Methods	– Oral – Eye drops – Inhalers – Intranasal sprays – Injections	– Pills – Injections – Creams – Topical gels – Skin patches – Implantable pellets
Usage for Physical Appearance	Primarily for medical treatment. Not typically used for aesthetic purposes.	Often used (illegally) for enhancing muscle mass and physical appearance, especially in bodybuilding.
Prescription Purpose	Hormonal malfunction, inflammation, and immune system suppression.	Treatment of low testosterone, muscle growth, and specific health conditions like muscle-wasting.

 

How To Use Steroids Safely?

There are almost 30 different types of glucocorticoid drugs with different potencies, which are subdivided into four major groups: 

• Low potency
• Medium potency
• High potency
• Ultra-high potency

Low Potency Steroids

This category of steroids is generally used for treating facial and skin issues. Inner sides of the joints, genitals, and eyelids are also treated with this category of steroids. 

Medium Potency Steroids

These steroids are used to treat moderate inflammatory skin conditions which doesn’t respond to low-potency steroids. Some common conditions that are treated with such steroids include psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

High Potency Steroids

This is the type of steroid that helps treat the scalp, hands, and feet. Skin in these areas is relatively thick, and small amounts of high-potency steroids can reach the deeper layers of the skin. 

Ultra-high Potency Steroids

These steroids are used to treat specific medical issues, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies, and many other severe health conditions. 

 

Importance of Medical Supervision

As it is clear that it is almost impossible to gather all the necessary information regarding different steroids, it becomes hard to choose the most suitable type of steroid for treating health issues. Therefore, seeking advice from a healthcare professional is crucial. 

• They prescribe you the most suitable steroids after analysing your current health conditions
• Allergic reactions to a certain group of medications
• Your age
• Daily physical activities 
• And eating habits

Safe Dosing Practices

One of the most important and noticeable factors while taking steroids is to take the correct dosage. You should avoid taking the daily dose as per the leaflets of any type of steroids. According to your tolerability, suitability, and resistance, a healthcare professional can prescribe the best suitable daily dose. 

Further, they can provide you with detailed information about which ingredients in different products you are allergic to. Consulting a doctor can also help you get knowledge about reliable and authentic products that will not negatively affect your health. 

What Do Steroids Do To Your Body?

There is a wide range of steroids with a broad class of chemicals, which include two major steroids: corticosteroids and anabolic steroids. Both of these steroids have different effects on the body due to their varied properties and chemical bonds. 

When the human body fails to produce natural hormones, synthetic steroids help boost productivity to prevent the body from seasonal or recurring illnesses. Anabolic steroids are used to build bigger muscles and strength. 

On the other hand, Corticosteroids imitate the hormone activities produced by the adrenal gland in the human body. These are anti-inflammatory drugs that are designed to treat specific health conditions, including asthma, swelling, pain, and immune responses. 

Myths & Misconceptions About Steroids

It is a common myth that steroids can help to gain quick muscle mass, and it is widely misunderstood. Most people think that using steroids is a fast track for muscle growth, but the reality is far more complex. 

When you use anabolic steroids, they may help in improving muscle size and strength by increasing protein synthesis. But relying solely on steroids without doing proper exercise, maintaining healthy eating habits, and proper nutrition, you will not get the desired results. This may lead you to face health issues and unsustainable results.

Common Myth About Safe Steroid Cycles:

Generally, it is a common myth that steroid cycles are safe. While taking any steroids, “cycle” refers to taking the steroids for a particular time period and taking pauses to avoid negative effects. It is also a misconception that using steroids with short or long cycles is safe without any medical or professional supervision.

 

When you start taking any type of steroids on your own, this may affect hormone levels, cardiovascular health, moods, and liver functions.  

FAQs

What are steroids used for?

Steroids are artificial versions of hormones that our body naturally produces. They are used to boost the productivity of hormones in the human body, muscle mass, and overall strength. Some injectable steroids are used for treating specific conditions such as frozen shoulders, osteoporosis, inflammatory joint diseases, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

What might be the side effects of using steroids?

When administered without the advice of a professional physicist, the continuous and irregular use of steroids may also cause serious side effects, including weight gain, indigestion, insomnia, restlessness, abnormal sweating, and mood swings.

Who should avoid using steroids?

If someone has ever had an allergic reaction to prednisolone or any other medicine, has any infection, like an eye infection, has an unhealed wound, is breastfeeding, or pregnant, they should avoid using any type of steroids.

What should be the duration of taking steroids?

It depends on your current health condition or disease; you might have to use it for a short period of one week, or doctors may prescribe you long-term steroid treatment for the lifetime. 

How can steroids affect sleep?

In a survey of 2446 chronic steroid users, insomnia was commonly reported, and the major reason for this problem was high doses of steroids. 

Closing Remarks

Both Corticosteroids and anabolic steroids may be used for various purposes in medical treatment. Corticosteroids may help to treat inflammation, hormone imbalances, and immune system suppression. Anabolic steroids can promote muscle growth and treat testosterone deficiencies. Both types of steroids must be taken with the consent of a professional healthcare professional, nurse, or pharmacist to avoid any side effects or severe health issues.