Types of Steroids
Starting with the basic testosterone, there are now many different kinds of steroid drugs available. Each one is tailored for a different need. Steroid drugs are also available in varying delivery systems, though the most effective are the injectable ones.
Variations in steroids
Steroid drugs are classified in different ways. They can be classified as legal ones which are available via prescriptions or illegal ones which are available in the underground market or the internet. They can be differentiated by their delivery systems: pills, creams, injections, powders and gels. And they can be differentiated by the effect that they have on the body as most steroid drugs are taken in combinations for particular reasons. Then each generic drug is available in innumerable brand names.
Most drugs are variations of testosterone which are manufactured with a changed molecular structure to have more effect on the body while evading doping tests. Chemists also try and make designer steroids from powders for this reason.
Other variations in steroids are the effects that they have on bodybuilding. Some steroids are used as bulking agents, to build muscle and achieve a beefy look. These include drugs like Anabol, Dianabol or Sustanon which give rapid muscle mass in a short time. Others are steroids like Anavar and Primobolan which are cutting steroids and used to harden muscles. Then there are steroids which are used preliminary for contests, increasing endurance and reducing fat. Steroid drugs like Halotestin, Trenbolone and Masteron belong to this category.
Why steroids cause problems
For steroid users, apart from the negative side effects of steroid use the problem arises that nobody can really take only one steroid drug. The drugs have to be taken in various combinations. Die-hard users may use some injectables combined with oral steroids for maximum effect. The steroid use then builds up in the body, which becomes more tolerant to the steroids.
Then the side effects of steroids force the user to turn to other drugs to counteract the harmful effects of the steroids and keep the body hormones in balance. For instance acne will call for anti-acne treatment. Hair fall with need other treatment. In order to keep liver and kidney damage to a minimum, more drugs will have to be taken. And so on.
As steroids are addictive, they also predispose a user to take other psychotropic drugs. In fact when injectable steroids are used, there are greater chances that the user will turn to injectable psychotropic drugs which cause even more problems and increase the addictions. Thus a vicious cycle starts and this often leads to psychological and behavioral problems. There have even been numerous cases of suicide among steroid users. Steroid use is dangerous to mental, physical, emotional and financial health (steroids are expensive).
What starts off as an attempt to build a good body or excel in sports then turns into something ugly, with serious health consequences, at times even fatal. Do you really want to experiment with something so dangerous in the guise of being ‘good’ for you? Steroids may not have the ‘bad’ reputation of psychotropic and hallucinogenic drugs, but they do have addictive properties and are dangerous to health.