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Want to reap the benefits of steroids but concerned about the list of Side alpha pharma biz reviews Effects associated with them? Don’t worry! We’ll tell you exactly what you can expect from taking anabolics, including the REAL side effects experienced by users and how to effectively prevent or treat them.
Anabolic steroids have been given a bad rep over the years. Since famous bodybuilders, professional athletes, and other public figures started to use them for their own beneficial gains, more and more propaganda has surfaced about how dangerous they are. But are they actually as harmful as the media makes them out to be?
In general, no. But like with any pharmaceutical medication on earth, there is always a health risk when they are taken incorrectly. Take Aspirin for instance, this is a medication regularly used by people all over the world to treat mild pain and fever. However, if taken in large doses, this “harmless” medication can quickly become life-threatening.
The fact is, if everyone took the time to study the possible side effects of the medications we take in our everyday lives, we would be equally nervous about taking them. So why are steroids so different?
The lie told to the world is that no matter how you use steroids, they will cause seriously damaging and long-term side effects. But this is not true, proven by the countless number of men worldwide who rely on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to maintain their health.
Using anabolics in a responsible way can improve a person’s life in unimaginable ways but taking them carelessly can do the opposite. It’s only reckless users who experience severe side effects, taking extreme doses for ridiculous lengths of time, ruining the reputation of steroids in the process.
The good thing is people are starting to warm to the fact that safe use of these hormones is unlikely to do any serious harm. This is likely due to the increasing popularity of steroid use in famous figures. Now that role models like The Rock have proven to the world that you can get the body you’ve always dreamed of without messing up your health, more and more people are willing to try steroids to boost their confidence and better their life.
But the caution around using steroids safely should remain. Putting anything in your body without researching the potential consequences involved is not a very smart choice. You run the risk of damaging your health as well as your gains.
Basically, you’ve made a wise move by reading this article. We’ll help you avoid the one mistake that people make over and over again: jumping straight into steroid use with very little knowledge. Most people do this out of desperation for the perfect body in the shortest amount of time possible. But true perfection takes time and effort, remember that.
If you want to reap the benefits of steroids with the least negatives, you need to know exactly what you’re taking and why you’re taking it.
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Each and every person is different, and no one will react exactly the same to a substance, especially steroids. These hormones are used on an individual basis since one person’s body may be more sensitive to a certain hormone’s effects than someone else’s body.
To help you determine the specific side effects you may expect from each steroid, you first need to understand the different types of steroids and how they act in the body.
The original anabolic-androgenic steroid was obviously a synthetic version of the male sex hormone, testosterone. It’s an androgen that is largely produced in the testes of men and produced in small amounts in the ovaries of women. Everyone has heard of this steroid and most people are fully aware of its role in the human body for its equally powerful anabolic and androgenic effects.
Testosterone effects include:
Anabolic – encourages the growth of muscle, strength, and bones.
Androgenic – developing sex organs (penis and scrotum) at birth and masculine features (deep voice, body, and facial hair) at puberty.
Estrogenic – (weight regulation and sexual function) which stems from the conversion of testosterone into estrogen in the body, aka aromatization.
From this, pharmaceutical scientists started to create other similar steroids by slightly changing the steroid molecules and altering the ratio of anabolic to androgenic effects. All testosterone derivative steroids aromatize into estrogen in the body and therefore also have estrogenic effects to varying degrees.
Popular testosterone derivative steroids include:
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is another male sex hormone found in the body but is much more androgenic than testosterone. This androgen works in a similar way to testosterone, but its purpose is more focused towards continuing the growth of reproductive organs and male characteristics during puberty.
Dihydrotestosterone effects include:
Anabolic – growth of male genitalia like the scrotum, prostate, and penis.
Androgenic – growth of body and facial hair.
>> THE MEDICAL USE OF STEROIDS: EXPLORING THEIR HEALTH ADVANTAGES <<<
All steroids derived from dihydrotestosterone have anabolic and androgenic effects but do not convert into estrogen in the body.
The most popular steroids derived from DHT include:
19-Nortestosterone (aka Nandrolone) is an androgen that is found in minimal amounts in the body, about 50 times less than testosterone. In the body, it is involved in the process of aromatization. Nandrolone has anabolic, androgenic and progestogenic effects (another female hormone).
19-Nortestosterone effects include:
Anabolic – encourages the growth of muscle, strength, and bones.
Androgenic – growth of male genitalia like the penis.
Progestogenic – development of sperm in men and development of glands and blood vessels in pregnant women.
Nandrolone derivative steroids are known to have much higher anabolic activity than testosterone and, like DHTs, do not aromatize into estrogen.
The most used 19-Nors are:
Now that we understand the different actions of each type of steroid, we can better determine the side effects that can be expected from each of them.
Although there are some steroids that don’t fit the standard rule, we’ll give you a general idea of the side effects you might experience when taking testosterone, DHT, or 19-Nor steroids.
As stated earlier, derivatives of testosterone have anabolic, androgenic, and estrogenic effects. The effects of testosterone steroids that we refer to as negative ones are most often associated with their androgenic and estrogenic effects.
Not everyone who uses steroids will experience these effects. Some people may be more prone to androgenic effects, some prone to estrogenic effects, and some may not be prone to side effects at all.
Those that are sensitive to androgens may experience, oily skin, excess hair growth or loss, high sex drive, prostate enlargement, or masculinization in women.
If your body is prone to estrogenic effects, you may experience water retention, especially in the breasts (Gynecomastia), weight gain, and low sperm count from reduced natural testosterone production.
Some users who have underlying health conditions or abuse steroids may experience liver damage, high blood pressure, changes in mood or infertility.
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Steroids derived from DHT are known to cause fewer side effects than testosterone derivatives. This is due to the lack of estrogenic effects. Therefore, possible side effects of DHT steroids are primarily experienced by those who are sensitive to androgenic effects.
People who are prone to androgenic side effects will likely experience acne, hair loss, overactive sex drive, an enlarged prostate, and masculine features for women.
Unhealthy people, or those with unknown medical conditions, as well as steroid abusers, may experience damage to the liver, high blood pressure or mood swings. Exclusively to Winstrol, users who have joint or ligament injuries can experience painful joints due to Winstrol’s effects towards water removal in the body.
Although 19-Nors also lack estrogenic effects like DHTs, they are known to cause the highest number of side effects compared to the other groups.
If your body is highly reactive to androgenic effects, then you can experience oily skin, acne, excess body hair, an underactive sex drive (often called “Deca Dick”), prostate enlargement or virilization in women.
Although 19-Nors have no estrogenic effects, progestogens can also indirectly lead to gynecomastia or a reduction in sperm count due to higher female hormones.
If you’re not completely healthy or don’t intend to use these steroids properly then you could likely experience liver toxicity, blood pressure changes, or aggression. Another occurrence sometimes seen in Trenbolone users is an uncontrollable urge to cough during or after injection often called “Tren Cough.”
Do different esters produce different side effects? While the ester attached to a steroid molecule will not directly change the specific side effects received from the hormone, they will determine the number of side effects received.
For example, steroids with a faster action will cause less of the known side effects than their slower acting alternative. This is simply because fast-acting steroids have less time in the body to cause any dramatic reactions.
The general rule is: the less time steroids spend in the body, the lower chance there is of side effects developing.
Popular steroids with slow-acting (long) esters include:
These esters have long half lives of 7 days or above, meaning the hormone circulates in the body for a longer period and longer steroid cycles are required to allow users to experience the full list of effects. While these longer esters are used in bulking cycles to produce the most noticeable results, they have more time in the body to develop the side effects related to that hormone.
Short ester steroids are faster-acting, and include:
With half lives of just a few days, these steroids spend less time in the body and require shorter cycles. This means users will experience much fewer side effects such as water retention, weight gain, etc. This is why short esters are most often used in cutting cycles.
Some steroids are also available with no ester attached to slow down the release of the hormone into the blood such as:
These pure forms of the hormone are the fastest acting versions available. Winstrol suspension has a much quicker action than the oral version because it does not need to pass through the liver.
This means there is a much lower chance of experiencing the common side effects associated with these steroids. So, you might assume that they are safe enough for beginners to use.
BUT suspension steroids are created in water-based solutions, which brings about its own side effects.
As opposed to the typical oil-based solutions, injecting water-based liquid into your body is not the most comfortable experience and post-injection pain (PIP) is likely to occur.
Considering that these rapid-acting suspension steroids need to be injected every 1-2 days, this side effect alone prevents new users from using these steroid forms.
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This list of possible side effects may seem daunting. But, even if you are prone to any of the side effects listed, don’t worry!
Since these steroid reactions have been thoroughly studied over several years, there are several methods for preventing or even reversing them if they do happen to occur.
First and foremost, the best method for preventing side effects from steroids is by using them correctly and responsibly. Following the recommended dosages and cycle lengths for your specific characteristics and goals is the foundation of side effect prevention.
If you’re taking extreme doses for extended periods of time, then chances are, the proven methods for avoiding side effects listed below will be less effective or not work at all. So, safe use of steroids is the most important part of avoiding the side effects.
One of the main side effects associated with testosterone steroids is acne. This is caused by excess oil (sebum) in individuals who are prone to increased sebum production in the first place.
If you’re worried about getting steroid acne, don’t be. It is easily avoided.
Washing and exfoliating the skin at least 2 times a day (especially after workouts) can be beneficial for removing any acne-causing bacteria and dead skin to prevent them clogging pores and causing acne.
Dry skin can encourage oil production, so keeping yourself hydrated with 1-2 liters of fluid (+ sodium) per day and applying a good moisturizer to the skin regularly to prevent dryness is a good way to avoid oily and acne-prone skin.
In those that are severely prone to acne breakouts, skin medications like Isotretinoin (Accutane) can be used to reduce oil production. Dosages of Accutane for steroid acne usually fall in the range of 20-40mg daily, depending on the severity. Note that staying hydrated is even more important in this case.
Men who are unlucky to be susceptible to hair thinning or loss from increased DHT levels, don’t be put off! You can still take steroids without going completely bald or developing an oversized prostate. There are certain medications that can be used as either prevention or treatment in this case.
These include reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride. They prevent the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme from converting testosterone into DHT. This shrinks the prostate and encourages head hair growth.
During a steroid cycle, finasteride can be taken as hair loss or prostate prevention at 1-5mg per day for the duration of the cycle.
If you want to avoid balding or growth of the prostate with the use of dutasteride, dosages usually fall in the range of 0.5-1mg daily throughout the cycle.
The build up of fluid in the male body is a common sign of high estrogen levels in those that are prone to it. Men may find that they start swelling up in certain areas or just look bloated overall. This can be easily prevented or reduced with the help of Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs).
These anti-estrogens can be used on cycle as preventative aids since they decrease estrogen production while increasing testosterone production to eventually remove the excess fluid retention.
Arimidex can be used as a preventative aid during a steroid cycle at roughly 0.5-1mg twice per week, starting from around week 4 of the cycle (when aromatization has properly started).
When taking Letrozole for side effect prevention on cycle, 1.25-2.5mg can be taken twice each week from the 4th week of a steroid cycle.
Some men may find that the estrogen molecules attach to their breast tissue more than other men. This can lead to gynecomastia (male breasts), which can be irreversible without surgery, if not treated early on.
But no need to panic, there are several medications to prevent or treat this during the early stages where symptoms such as itchy or painful nipples may occur.
A common anti-estrogen for preventing gyno symptoms is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) called Nolvadex. While Tamoxifen doesn’t directly reduce estrogen production, it prevents the estrogen molecules from binding to breast tissue. This is the best way to prevent gyno without shutting down estrogen production (reducing gains received from the cycle).
Taking Nolvadex for gyno prevention on cycle will start from week 4, typically at 20mg twice per week, until the end of the cycle. If symptoms have already occurred, Nolvadex can be used at 20-40mg per day for 1 week until symptoms are no longer felt.
Note that Tamoxifen’s action is not effective for reducing the side effects of 19-Nors, so Nolvadex should not be used during cycles with Nandrolone or Trenbolone.
Anastrozole can be used to prevent gyno in harsh steroid cycles or reduce symptoms without completely shutting down estrogen levels (you still need some estrogen to increase testosterone levels and build muscle).
As gyno prevention, take anastrozole at 0.5-1mg twice weekly from week 4. To treat gyno symptoms, take anastrozole at 1mg daily for 1 week.
Letrozole works and is used similarly to Anastrozole for prevention during strong cycles or intercepting symptoms before they escalate.
Using Letrozole for preventing gyno on cycle will involve 1.25-2.5mg taken twice weekly from week 4 of a cycle.
In emergency cases where gyno symptoms are getting severe, Exemestane can be used to shut down estrogen production entirely, in the hopes of blocking the full development of gyno.
To block symptoms of gyno, take exemestane at 25mg per day for 1 week, then allow another week for symptoms to start to disappear.
19-Nors can cause progesterone-induced gyno resulting from increased levels of prolactin, so steroid cycles involving Nandrolone or Trenbolone should be supplemented with Cabergoline – a prolactin inhibitor.
Caber is often taken on cycle at 0.5mg twice per week from around the 6th week until the end of a steroid cycle.
Many oral steroids are 17α-Alkylated which means they are processed through the liver after consumption. Some can be harsh on the liver when taken in high doses or for longer than advised.
Below are some ways to prevent damage to the liver when taking hepatotoxic steroids in a cycle.
The stories of steroids causing liver damage will mostly have come from those who live unhealthy lifestyles. Taking oral steroids while drinking alcohol is a big risk for the health of your liver.
Mixing two substances that put stress on your liver is not a wise choice. Never take more than 1 oral steroid per steroid cycle to avoid overworking your liver.
Keeping the body hydrated is one of the most important parts of steroid use, including for liver protection. This helps relieve stress on the liver by making it easier to remove waste and toxins from the body. Drink water before and after sleep, meals, and exercise while taking oral steroids.
There are several liver care supplements on the market, such as Liv.52, that contain a combination of herbal ingredients to protect the liver. Take 1 tablet of Liv.52 during an oral steroid cycle to protect damage.
Due to the ability of steroids to increase red blood cell production, overdoing the dosages or cycle lengths can result in high blood pressure.
Other than sticking to the recommended guidelines for using steroids, there are a few ways you can prevent or reverse high levels of blood pressure during a steroid cycle.
Once again, hydration is up there as one of the main preventions against side effects like high blood pressure. Increasing fluid intake helps to thin the blood and lower pressure.
If necessary, certain blood pressure medications like spironolactone (Aldactone) are used to prevent water retention and lower blood pressure in the process. Take no more than 50—100mg daily for decreasing blood pressure on cycle.
As stated earlier, Winstrol (Stanozolol) is a steroid with unique diuretic-like effects. It practically sucks water from the body, which can cause dryness in areas of the joints and ligaments, leading to soreness or even pain in some cases.
Here are some ways in which you can avoid this discomfort while using Winstrol in a steroid cycle.
Various fish oils, like cod liver oil, can help to reduce inflammation in the body. Consuming fish oil supplements during a Winstrol cycle can help to relieve joint pain.
Yep, you guessed it. Maintaining high levels of hydration in the body will help to prevent dryness and joint pain during Winstrol use.
When we say that combining steroids in a cycle can reduce side effects, we mean it. Stacking Winstrol with other steroids, especially NPP, can produce additional synovial fluid to the joint and ligament areas. This improves mobility and relieves pain.
Inflammation or pain following a steroid injection can be common, especially with improper use.
Although this side effect doesn’t usually last too long, it can still be inconvenient, so we’ll list some ways to avoid it.
To prevent infection, make sure you use sterilized equipment and wash your hands or use sterile gloves during the procedure. You should also use separate needles for extracting solution from vials or amps and injecting it into the skin.
Using a needle that is too big can cause more pain during injections. Needles should be 27g minimum, and ideally with a length of 1-1.5mm for intramuscular injection.
Injecting too much solution into the body at once can cause build up and may be uncomfortable until it is eventually absorbed by the body. It’s generally recommended to inject no more than 2ml of solution per injection.
Injecting steroids under the skin layer rather than into the muscle is a less painful way to administer injectable steroids. However, this method is not as effective as the intramuscular route.
Since anabolic steroids are considered male hormones, females who take these hormones run the risk of developing man-like features such as a deeper voice, facial or body hair growth, and others.
But don’t worry ladies, there are a couple ways in which you can attempt to dodge these occurrences.
Since DHT steroids don’t aromatize, this group is generally safer for women to use to avoid severe signs of virilization.
Steroids like Anavar, Primobolan, Anadrol and Winstrol, are often used safely by females without experiencing nasty side effects.
The female anatomy is different and arguably more complicated than a male. This means that for females to take steroids without causing an imbalance, much lower amounts should be used and for shorter periods of time.
You could say that this is beneficial for women taking steroids, since they can spend less time and money to get similar results compared to men.
Post-cycle therapy (PCT) is an important part of preventing long-term side effects after steroid use. Its purpose is to return natural hormonal function back to normal after it is altered during a steroid cycle.
PCT is also beneficial for preventing users from losing the gains they have received from a cycle. There are several substances used for PCT, each with a different purpose during the recovery stage.
Taking exogenous testosterone will affect the natural production of the hormone in the body. But this can be easily restored with various drugs during PCT.
Clomid is another SERM that is arguably the best PCT drug for increasing LH and FSH levels to kickstart natural production of testosterone.
When using Clomid for PCT, it is generally recommended to take 50mg daily for 2 weeks, and then 25mg daily for another 2 weeks, depending on the severity of the cycle.
Although not quite as effective as Clomid, Tamoxifen can also be used alone during PCT, unless 19-Nors were used in the cycle. Even though these two drugs are both SERMs, they act in slightly different ways for increasing testosterone levels. Therefore, combining Clomid and Tamoxifen can also be an effective PCT option.
Nolvadex for PCT is often taken at 40mg per day for the initial 2 weeks, and 20mg per day for the last 2 weeks of the 4-week PCT.
Specifically, users that often take potent steroids in longer cycles, or users who want to maintain their fertility at an older age, should use fertility aids during PCT.
These drugs also aid in creating hormonal balance, but their main purpose during PCT is for increasing libido, sperm production and erections. So, things like “Deca Dick” don’t need to be a worrying issue.
Proviron is a versatile steroid that can be used on cycle or during PCT for protecting male fertility and libido.
Combined with other PCT drugs, Proviron is taken in a dosage of 50-100mg per day for 3 weeks of the recovery stage.
HCG is a hormone used to effectively increase the size of the testes and kick them back into producing sperm at normal levels. It will also help to preserve muscle after a steroid cycle.
In a PCT stack, HCG is used at a dosage of 500-5000iu per week for up to 3 weeks.
Since the use of 19-Nors can cause high prolactin levels, if no preventative aids are used on cycle, certain drugs that reduce prolactin should be used during PCT.
After Nandrolone or Trenbolone cycles, PCT should include Cabergoline to reduce high prolactin levels.
Caber for PCT is taken at 0.5mg twice weekly for the full 4 weeks.
Although there are possible side effects of steroid use, like there are with almost any drug, there is also widespread data about the prevention and treatment of them. Our aim is to make this kind of information more easily accessible to new users who are rightly concerned about their health.
We hope we have cleared up some of the misconceptions about steroid use and prevented some of the hesitation that stops people from building the life and body they’ve always dreamed of.
Testosterone Physiology
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526128/
Estrogen & Male Body Weight Regulation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5835337/
Estrogen on testicular function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1262773/
Estradiol on reproductive function in men
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4854098/
Progesterone & progestin
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277737#what-does-progesterone-do
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-dihydrotestosterone-4684657
Nandrolone Decanoate
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7696474/
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid use
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8683244/
Androgens
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22002-androgens
Testosterone & blood pressure
https://mantalityhealth.com/testosterone-and-blood-pressure/
Finasteride
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/finasteride-oral-route/description/drg-20063819
Liver effects of oral anabolic-androgenic steroids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11366381/
Staying Hydrated for Better Liver Health
https://www.amsety.com/livermatters/healthy-habits/liver-health-staying-hydrated/
Fish Oil for Joint Pain
https://www.verywellhealth.com/fish-oil-for-arthritis-5092351