Anabolic steroids

Mary Hall

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Ok this question may come off as dumb. :eek: but i was wondering if it was safe for someone with asthma to take anabolic steroids. If there are risks what are they?
 
It's not safe for ANYONE to take anabolic steroids illegally. Given heart problems is a known side effect of these drugs, I'd guess having asthma and/or asthma medications (many of which can strain the heart, cause arrythmia, etc.) could put a person at a far higher risk for heart attack, stroke and death.
 
Mary Hall said:
Ok this question may come off as dumb. :eek: but i was wondering if it was safe for someone with asthma to take anabolic steroids. If there are risks what are they?

Since asthma inhalers contain steroids, the answer is clearly Yes.

However, Erika is also correct that unsuperviseduse of anabolic steroids is dangerous as well as illegal, whether you have athsma or not.

"Steroids" are not a singular substance, they are a general class of substances. The steroids in Athsma inhalers are NOT going to cause you to grow huge muscles, but they will cause you to test positive for "steroids." Likewise, the "steroids" you take to build muscles might well have an adverse effect on your athsma, but htere is no way of knowing without knowing what the specific "steroid" is and what its side-effects are.
 
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Many steroids are purchased from outside the US or brought in from other countries (Mexico leaping to mind here) where the over sight on such things is vastly less. There are a few common problems with illegal unperscribed steriod use that I have seen personally as well as had to study about in a class for health.

1. Acne...yup, many steriods cause mass break outs especialy on the shoulders and back.

2. Since the substance that they are derived from is a fatty one (cholesterol based) their is a much greater increase of bad chol. in your system. One 18 year old I knew had a heart attack after taking 'roids for 8 months.

3. 'Roid Rage. Something in the make up of steriods makes aggresion sky rocket in some people. I have seen a simple thing like an empty box of pop tarts set off an explosion that ended in literally hundreds of dollars of damage to a kitchen.

These are examples from class and personal expierence. I dated a user and became so affraid of his mood swings, his lack of sexual deisre and his own paranois that we ended it. I am sure the are not the effects for everyone and people can site how 'safe' they have seen it in their own lives. all I am offering is my own knowledge on it.
 
Weird Harold said:
Since asthma inhalers contain steroids, the answer is clearly Yes.

However, Erika is also correct that unsuperviseduse of anabolic steroids is dangerous as well as illegal, whether you have athsma or not.

"Steroids" are not a singular substance, they are a general class of substances. The steroids in Athsma inhalers are going to cause you to grow huge muscles, but they will cause you to test positive for "steroids." Likewise, the "steroids" you take to build muscles might well have an adverse effect on your athsma, but htere is no way of knowing without knowing what the specific "steroid" is and what its side-effects are.
"Yes," anabolic steroids are safe for asthmatics?

Can the steroids in asthma meds and drugs like Prednisone or topical preparations for skin conditions like psoriasis (corticosteroids usually, which reduce inflammation, IIRC) cause muscles to grow and the other negative side effects associated with anabolic/muscle building/growth steroids?

:confused:

No snark intended here, Harold, and I'm likely just reading your post wrong or something, given the hour. I haven't heard thesethings before and they're of partiular interest because a lot of friends and family have conditions that require NON anabolic steroid . I had no idea they would show up like anabolic on a performance enhancers drug test, either...very interestesting. :)
 
SweetErika said:
"Yes," anabolic steroids are safe for asthmatics?

Can the steroids in asthma meds and drugs like Prednisone or topical preparations for skin conditions like psoriasis (corticosteroids usually, which reduce inflammation, IIRC) cause muscles to grow and the other negative side effects associated with anabolic/muscle building/growth steroids?

:confused:

One missing word can change the whole meaning of post -- Athsma inhalers will NOT cause huge muscles but they ARE safe for asthmatics to use as prescribed and they do produce a positive result for anabolic steroids in anti-doping drug tests.

I don't know positively whether athsma inhalers contain anabolic steroids, but that is what they are reported as in the media for a failed drug test -- based on how test results are reported, then, yes, anabolic steroids won't harm athsmatics; at least not in the prescribed dosages.

What happens when those same substances or similar substances are used or abused illegally and without medical supervision, is a completely different story. The negative effects of steroid use are almost exclusively related to unsupervised over-use of the wide variety of drugs classed as "Steroids" -- and "Anabolic Steroids" in particular.
 
Here's the deal:

steroids can be used with reasonable safety. there's always some risks though.

However, since you didn't know the answer to your question, that tells me you have not yet done nearly enough research and education for yourself to be ready for a cycle of anything, even the mild stuff.
 
I'd guess having asthma and/or asthma medications (many of which can strain the heart, cause arrythmia, etc.) could put a person at a far higher risk for heart attack, stroke and death.

So if someone has asthma then they wouldnt touch roids knowing they could probably die.
 
Mary Hall said:
So if someone has asthma then they wouldnt touch roids knowing they could probably die.
what WH says is the most important thing here... there's a difference between the generic term "steroids" and the specific class of "anabolic steroids." neither is particularly safe but the degree of risk, as is true of all meds, depends on what they're being used for and whether they're being used under the watchful eye of a qualified medical professional.
 
Mary Hall said:
So if someone has asthma then they wouldnt touch roids knowing they could probably die.
I wouldn't say that, it's too big of a leap and assumes the person is intelligent and motivated enough to do what's best for their health. There are a lot of stupid people out there, and those who make dumb decisions, especially when it comes to their health (look at all the smokers, drinkers, druggies, junk food eaters, etc., who know their behavior poses a major health/death risk, yet do it anyway!).

ETA: Thanks for the clarification, Harold. :)
 
Mary Hall said:
So if someone has asthma then they wouldnt touch roids knowing they could probably die.

Having asthma does't make someone smarter about the health risks of unsupervised, illegal use of steroids. Your statement should be equally true if you substitute "freckles" for "asthma" -- use of steroids, or any other performance enhanceng drug, without medicl supervision can kill you. It maybe a slow an painful death far in the future, but it's still dead because of irresponsible drug use.
 
asthma inhalers contain corticosteroids which are pretty much the exact opposite of anabolic steroids. They are catabolic and in large doses would actually metabolize muscle mass. Corticosteroids over the long term are probably far more dangerous than anabolic steroids.
Anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS) do have negative side effects if abused, but are fairly safe if used in moderate doses for short periods and with the proper ancillary substances to prevent side effects. In fact if you head over to pubmed and read the research, the dangers of AAS are fairly small and certainly exagerated by the medical field and the media. In fact most of the current research shows many positive benefits of low dose AAS with virtually no dangers to the heart or cardiac system in general. In fact for older men, AAS can improve heart function markedly.
Having said all that, injectables are preferable to orals as oral anabolics must past through the liver and are toxic, although liver values usually return to normal within a short period after ending a cycle.
Cycles should be no longer than 10 weeks in duration and I would never reccomend more than 2 cycles in a year although many people do more than two a year without issue. At the very least you should take as much time off as you are on, to let your natural endoctrine system recover. Doses are generally anywhere from 300mg/wk up to 1000mg/wk with anything beyond that considered excessive. Some professional bodybuilders will run cycle of up to 4000mg/wk, but that would certainly classify as abuse.
Lastly, remember that AAS are illegal in the US and actually and classified as a schedule III drug along the lines of cocaine and heroine. Odd that it is the only non-adictive drug to fit into that classification, but thankfully Canada and Europe are not as uptight as the US in that regard.
 
She only asked cause the wrestler in her sig suffers asthma yet idiots always claim that due to his huge size from years of bodybuilding and being a gym rat in geenral means he takes steroids, which is usually the accusation thrown to most muscular guys in the business.
 
eXplorer63 said:
She only asked cause the wrestler in her sig suffers asthma yet idiots always claim that due to his huge size from years of bodybuilding and being a gym rat in geenral means he takes steroids, which is usually the accusation thrown to most muscular guys in the business.
the "wrestler" in her sig line does juice. if he pissed in a cup, it'd melt.
 
OK, I consider myself an amature expert on steroids for reasons I won't get into here. The asthma question is actually a tricky question. While it's true that asthma is often treated with steroids, they are not anabolic steroids, but corticosteroids(cortizone based). The two have vastly different effectsont he body, yet strangely similar side effects. For example, I take Prednizone occasionally for asthma symptoms, and it turns me into a raging asshole. So does one have anything to do witht he other? No, not really.

Abuse of anabolic steroids put a huge strain on the cardiovascular system as a whole. Given the way asthma works though, unless you had extreme asthma, steroids probably wouldn't increase your risk of death anymore than they would in someone with a normal pulmonary system.

If we are talking about Batista here, there's no way he could have asthma to that level and still wrestle. As to whether or not he takes steroids, that's the million dollar question and a debate I've had a few times. Frankly I don't know. The dude is seriously ripped, but he doesn't really have any of the outward signs of steroid use. He's also known to have a serious hardcore workout regime, so it's possible to he could get that physique without roids. However, the kind of injuries he's sustained lately are often associated with steroid use, because it causes excess muscle growth or too growth too fast, to the point where the tendons can't handle the strain and something's got to give. That again fuels the suspicion, but doesn't mean anything conclusive.

Well I hope I've muddied the waters enough for tonight. :rolleyes:
 
Tonka said:
Lastly, remember that AAS are illegal in the US and actually and classified as a schedule III drug along the lines of cocaine and heroine. Odd that it is the only non-adictive drug to fit into that classification, but thankfully Canada and Europe are not as uptight as the US in that regard.
I can see why unprescribed use is illegal here though. As you said, high doses and certain methods can be very dangerous, so education and caution are warranted.

As is true with many other drugs, improper use of anabolic steroids can lead to addiction, so I'm puzzled by your assertion that they're the only non-addictive Schedule III drugs. Everything I've read from a variety of reliable sources (e.g. NIH, JAMA, Universities, institutes in Canada and Europe, etc.) indicates physiological dependence, withdrawal and addiction among users and abusers are common. While tolerance isn't an issue with AS like it is with other drugs, tolerance isn't a requirement for dependence or addiction.

That said, I wouldn't have a problem with adults who wanted to build muscle or increase athletic performance using steroids under close medical supervision -- as long as they understand the risks and have the resources to cover drugs, care and potential health problems, it's their body, and I wouldn't consider it any worse than other legal "vanity/optional" drugs or procedures.
 
Tonka said:
Anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS) do have negative side effects if abused, but are fairly safe if used in moderate doses for short periods and with the proper ancillary substances to prevent side effects. In fact if you head over to pubmed and read the research, the dangers of AAS are fairly small and certainly exagerated by the medical field and the media. In fact most of the current research shows many positive benefits of low dose AAS with virtually no dangers to the heart or cardiac system in general.

That is why I have tried to stress that it is Unsupervised, Illegal use where the dangers of "Steroids" exist -- Unsupervised, Illegal Use tends to be anything but "moderate doses for short periods and with the proper ancillary substances to prevent side effects."
 
SweetErika said:
While tolerance isn't an issue with AS like it is with other drugs, tolerance isn't a requirement for dependence or addiction.
Actually there is a tolerance with Anabolic steroids. Usually with each consecutive cycle you have to increase dosages. Especially if you don't take enough time off between cycles. You receptors become saturated so it takes more and more mg's.

Just thought I'd put my expertise into this discussion.

Bryan
 
majkthreads said:
Actually there is a tolerance with Anabolic steroids. Usually with each consecutive cycle you have to increase dosages. Especially if you don't take enough time off between cycles. You receptors become saturated so it takes more and more mg's.

Just thought I'd put my expertise into this discussion.

Bryan
I stand corrected. :) I can't remember where I read tolerance wasn't a problem (maybe the pro-AS Wikipedia article :rolleyes: ), but I just looked it up, and apparently it can be, as you said.
 
It's totally a psychological addiction, but saying that steroids are non-addictive is like saying that they are not mood altering drugs. Roid Rage is real, VERY real and if you have ever experienced someone under that influence first hand, your view of steroids will change forever!

I'm very anti-drugs of any kind, but steroids have a special place on my shit list. I've had friends who took all manner of drugs, but they've all managed to overcome those dependencies. The friends I had who were big into steroids weren't so lucky. Prison, depression, domestic violence, assault, armed robbery, they went through it all and totally destroyed their lives and their families' lives in the process. And for what? These aren't even guys who were professional athletes. I can understand the pressures there, the pressures to achieve, the money involved, but these guys were juicing recreationally.

You can explain it anyway you want, but I watched a close family member go from the sweet country boy to raging lunatic, to devestated and broken ex-felon. The reasons why a doctor would precribe anabolic steroids are few and far between, and so arethe justified uses of such steroids. The kind of people who are prone to even try steroids are the ones prone to become addicted tot heir effects and thus fall into a pattern of abuse.

There's just no way you can convince me that there is any good, any controlled way that you can take these kind of enhancing drugs. If there was, they'd be legal and everyone would use them.
 
If we are talking about Batista here, there's no way he could have asthma to that level and still wrestle. As to whether or not he takes steroids, that's the million dollar question and a debate I've had a few times. Frankly I don't know. The dude is seriously ripped, but he doesn't really have any of the outward signs of steroid use. He's also known to have a serious hardcore workout regime, so it's possible to he could get that physique without roids.

I don't care if he does or doesn't do them....the only thing i care about is his health and well being.
 
SweetErika said:
"Yes," anabolic steroids are safe for asthmatics?

Can the steroids in asthma meds and drugs like Prednisone or topical preparations for skin conditions like psoriasis (corticosteroids usually, which reduce inflammation, IIRC) cause muscles to grow and the other negative side effects associated with anabolic/muscle building/growth steroids?

:confused:

No snark intended here, Harold, and I'm likely just reading your post wrong or something, given the hour. I haven't heard thesethings before and they're of partiular interest because a lot of friends and family have conditions that require NON anabolic steroid . I had no idea they would show up like anabolic on a performance enhancers drug test, either...very interestesting. :)



Prednisone is a corticosteroid drug that has glucocorticoid effects that are very different from anabolics.

I can tell you from experience that Prednisone will register positive on many drug tests--the accuracy of which tends to be in the same class with 1-900-psychic.

The crucial thing to know about Prednisone is that one must taper off the drug in gradual steps. Stopping usage abruptly, especially after 7 or more days of usage, is extremely dangerous.
 
Mary Hall said:
I don't care if he does or doesn't do them....the only thing i care about is his health and well being.

Taking steroids is a risk, period!
How, when and what you take are some variables that will effect the results.

I know a few people that take drugs as part of bodybuilding, and they all know what they are doing. Non of them are under the age of 30.

With things like steroids, it IS bad for you. It is just up to the individual user HOW bad it will be.

Coming in with a medical condition right of the bad is probably not the best.

Best bet would be to ask a doctor. Most people who "juice" as a lifestyle has a doc that checks them every few months.

Hope any of this helps!
 
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Batista and many other pro wrestlers, as well as many pro athletes, use AAS. There's no question about it.

The term 'steroid' is kind of a generic term as it can relate to many different things and the steroids in inhalers are not the same that you would find in a vial that you would inject intramuscular.

Taking steroids while occasionally using an inhaler wouldn't be real problematic, IMO. Ashtma relates to the constriction of the bronchial tubes, which then increases heart rate so the bronchial tubes can vasodialate (widening of the vessels) to allow more blood flow for needed oxygen (oxygen is transported in the blood via the hemoglobin).

Even though I said it may not be problematic, I did not suggest you run out and spend $700 on a cycle. There are MANY variables that you need to look at before deciding if AAS is right for you. First off, how old are you? How much do you weigh? What are your goals? How long have you been training? What is your diet like? What does your weight training program look like? I could add a 100 questions here but will leave it at that.

Steroids CAN be moderatly safe and effective if you READ and understand what you're doing, plus planning an appropriate post-cycle therapy.

I do not condone the usage of AAS and I personally have never done a cycle. A few years ago I thought about it and glad that I didn't go through with it because back then, I knew zilch about training, diet and many other things that go along with getting 'big'. If I continue to be just as serious with my training as I am right now, maybe in another 6-8 years (when I'm close or at 30-years-old), I'll consider doing a cycle. Until then, I'm far too young and need to learn my body a bit more.
 
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