From: silver@macbeth.umd.edu (Adam Silver)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: MY STEROID REPORT!
Date: 18 Nov 92 06:21:25 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

I'd just like to say that I do not advocate the use of steroids.  I am
doing this study due to personal interest in the subject.  I'd like to
submit my entire study (which really isn't very scientific) to
magazines like _MuscleMag International_ and _Muscle Media 2000_.
Most of this information was gathered during my study with real steroid
users.  I have not included any of my data because I don't want to
release anything now.  No, I have never used steroids.


                Growth and Performance Enhancing Drugs
                            by Adam Silver


"Do steroids really work?"  This is one of the most frequently asked 
questions about steroids.  The answer is yes and no.  Everyone is 
genetically different. Steroids work for some people but don't work 
for other people.  This document will try to explain what the steroid 
phenomenon is all about with useful information about their 
benefits and side effects with a discussion of the more popular 
bodybuilding drugs.  I am not an advocator of the use of steroids, 
nor do I use them.


Definitions:

Cycle:  The length of time that someone uses steroids for 
one time period (i.e., a three month cycle--not the 
total time they've used steroids)

Aromatize:  The process of converting androgens to estrogens

Stacking:  A term referring to the use of two or more drugs 
simultaneously

Anabolic:  This term refers to the process of anabolism, or the 
building of tissues

Androgenic:  This term refers to the properties of testosterone that 
are responsible for male secondary sex 
characteristics


General Information:

Anabolic-androgenic steroids, also known as "juice," are synthetic 
derivatives of the natural male sex hormone testosterone.  The term 
"anabolic steroid" is normally used because these drugs are 
designed to be more anabolic than androgenic, but it is unlikely 
that a steroid will be developed that is purely anabolic with no 
androgenic effects.  Anabolism is the actual building of tissues 
(mainly muscle).  Androgens are responsible for male secondary 
sex characteristics including the following:  body hair, sex organ 
development, sex drive, and deepening of the voice.  Most steroid 
users want drugs that are highly anabolic with as small an 
androgenic effect as possible.  The legal uses of anabolic steroids 
are for certain types of anemia, certain types of breast cancer, 
protein anabolism, and hereditary gioedema, a type of allergic 
reaction to some insect bites, foods, viruses, etc.

Steroids are also considered to be anti-catabolic because they block 
cortisol from breaking down protein.  Cortisol is naturally produced 
in the body.  Cortisol levels rise in the body during exercise.  This is 
not good for building muscle mass because it breaks down the 
protein your body needs to promote muscular development.

Steroids work by attaching to receptor sites (mainly in muscle cells).  
After the steroid complex is created, it then merges with nuclear 
DNA.  A result of this operation is the formation of messenger RNA 
which then attaches to ribosomal RNA where transcription of the 
messenger RNA takes place to allow for protein synthesis.  These 
protein molecules are then used to increase the size and strength of 
muscle tissue.  For this process to work in this fashion, the steroid 
user must stimulate his/her muscles (i.e., lift weights) or the muscles 
will not grow and may actually atrophy.  You can find articles on 
the chemical processes of steroids in the Journal of the American 
Medical Association for a more detailed explanation.

Two general types of anabolic steroids exist, orals and injectables.  
Orals are considered to be more harmful to the body because they 
travel through the intestinal tract and get processed through the 
liver twice.  Excessive doses of orals can cause liver damage because 
the orals generally have a carbon added to the 17th position of the 
steroid molecule.  These are called 17 Alpha Alkylateds which are 
used to preserve the steroid molecule from destruction by the 
digestive processes.

Injectables come in two forms, water-based and oil-based.  Oil-
based steroids tend to stay in the system much longer than water 
based, which allows for less injections over a cycling period.  These 
injections are intramuscular with the primary injection site being 
the buttocks. Injectables are generally safer to use because they 
aren't 17 Alpha Alkylateds and, therefore, are not as harmful to the 
liver.

The benefits of steroids generally include muscle size and strength 
increases with a drop in body fat (due to an increase in metabolic 
rate).  To reap these benefits, the steroid user must lift weights and 
eat lots of good food (4,000 - 7,000 calories per day).  The muscle 
pump acquired from steroid use lasts for many hours after a 
workout.  This feels good to the drug user.  Also, feelings of euphoria 
and good health develop.

Some of the side effects that can be associated with steroid use 
(abuse) are the following:  baldness, acne, aggressiveness ('roid 
rage), gynecomastia ("bitch tits"--the formation of breasts in the 
male), hypertension, high cholesterol, liver dysfunction, shrinkage 
of the testes, impotence, sterility, kidney failure, headaches, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  I believe the worst side effect of steroid use is 
psychological addiction.  These drugs normally don't produce a 
physical addiction.  Psychological addiction to these drugs is very 
real.  Most users like their looks and their increased strength so 
much that they just can't stop using them.


Some steroids:

The more popular steroids are the following:  Deca-Durabolin, 
Anadrol, Testosterone Cypionate, Primobolan Depot, Sustanon, 
Winstrol, and Anavar.  There are many more drugs, but these will be 
used as examples.

Deca-Durabolin:  This is considered to be the most popular of all 
steroids.  It is an oil based injectable that comes in 200mg/cc and 
100mg/cc containers.  Deca produces very few side effects.  It is easy 
on the liver and promotes good size and strength gains while 
reducing body fat.  It only aromatizes (converts to estrogen) in 
extreme dosages.  It is highly anabolic but only moderately 
androgenic.  Some people in my study had small cases of acne but 
nothing unusual.  Deca does shut down natural testosterone 
production, but it's not extreme.  Gains will minimally dissipate, if at 
all, after the cycling period if workouts are kept intense.  By the way, 
Deca is also the most counterfeited drug on the black market.

Anadrol:  This is an oral drug with a dosage of 50mg per tablet.  
This is the strongest oral on the market.  It has both high 
androgenic and anabolic effects.  Strength and weight gains are very 
significant.  Anadrol is highly toxic to the liver.  It also aromatizes 
fairly easily.  This drug has been reported to produce gynecomastia 
in users (not all, probably around 50%).  Only one person in my 
study out of 5 that used this drug developed gynecomastia.  An anti-
estrogen should be used with this drug to counteract the 
aromatization.  Nolvadex is an anti-estrogen with little to no side 
effects and is talked about later.  Many side effects are associated 
with Anadrol including acne, hair loss, and water retention.  Loss of 
weight and strength usually occurs after the cycle.  Anadrol also 
shuts down natural testosterone production.

Testosterone Cypionate:  This is an oil based injectable in 
200mg/cc dosage.  "Cyp," as it's called, comes in 10ml/vial.  This is 
highly anabolic and androgenic and aromatizes easily like Anadrol.  
Users of this drug usually have big strength and size gains.  It is 
moderately toxic to the liver.  At high doses (over 400mg per week), 
all of the bad side effects are exhibited including baldness, acne, 
aggressive behavior, etc.  This drug is highly used on my campus.

Primobolan Depot:  This drug is an injectable that comes in a 
100mg/cc and 50mg/cc dosage.  This is one of the safest steroids in 
use today.  Users usually don't report huge gains, but it won't 
aromatize, it's not toxic, and it has low androgenic properties.  Only 
one person that I know used this drug.  He had moderate gains in 
muscle mass and strength.  He gained about 7 pounds.

Sustanon 250:  This is an injectable with a 250mg/cc dosage.  
Sustenon 250 is a combination of the following four testosterones:  
30mg Testosterone Propionate/ml, 60mg Testosterone 
Phenylpropionate/ml, 60mg Testosterone Isocaproate/ml, 100mg 
Testosterone Deconate/ml.  This drug supposedly lasts long in the 
blood, so it's not necessary to take large doses.  This means less 
water retention, bad side effects, etc.  Good gains have been attained 
with Sustenon.  Unfortunately, one person in the study that used this 
drug had fake stuff.  Nothing happened to him over the 6 week 
cycling period.

NOTE:  How do you know if something is fake?  Well, sometimes it's 
hard to tell.  If you have a vial for injections and the top is a little 
loose, it's probably fake.  Also, if the printing on the box is cheesy, it 
also might be fake.

Winstrol:  This drug comes in tablet form (2mg) or a water-based 
injectable form (50mg/cc).  Winstrol has low androgenic effects but 
is toxic to the liver in the oral form.  The injectable form must be 
injected on a daily basis.  Not many side effects are associated with 
Winstrol, and it produces mild gains.  It also helps with stamina.  
Ben Johnson used Winstrol-V (Stanazolol)--the injectable 
veterinary form.

Anavar:  This comes in tablet form only (2.5mg per tablet).  This 
drug is not used for mass.  It used for strength gains and muscle 
hardness.  It is low in androgens, and doesn't produce water 
retention.  This drug is considered to be very safe.  Anavar is widely 
used by powerlifters, and many women like to use it because there 
aren't many side effects associated with it.  Also, because of its 
chemical structure, Anavar won't aromatize.


Other drugs:

Clenbuterol:  This drug is classified as a beta-2 adrenergic agonist.  
Clenbuterol is a bronchiodilator.  This drug is banned by the FDA 
although it is used outside of the US by asthma patients.  The reason 
this drug is so special for bodybuilding is because of two of its side 
effects.  It is fairly anabolic, and it promotes the burning of fatty 
acids through brown fat burning.  Clenbuterol is a little scary 
because of some other side effects including the following:  tremors, 
sweating, sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat, etc.  These side effects vary 
in people.  Some people aren't affected at all.  This drug comes in 
tablets of 20mcg (micrograms not milligrams).  Dosages are 
normally between 20-120mcg for bodybuilders that use this.  It 
should be taken in a 2 days on/2 days off fashion because this drug 
becomes ineffective for its anabolic properties after 18 successive 
days of use.  The receptor sites seem to be non-responsive for 
anabolic purposes if taken continuously, but brown fat burning will 
continue past the 18 day period.  It shouldn't be used this way for 
more than 12 weeks.  After 12 weeks, the drug should be 
discontinued for a couple of months.

Nolvadex:  This drug is an anti-estrogen.  It is normally used with 
drugs that aromatize like Anadrol and Testosterone Cypionate.  It 
doesn't have any side effects and can be used indefinitely.  It is also 
good at burning up fatty acids due to brown fat burning like Clenbuterol.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG):  HCG is a glycoprotein 
that is secreted in the urine by pregnant women.  It is legally used as 
a fertility drug for women to help induce ovulation.  This drug is 
used by male athletes to elevate natural levels of testosterone 
production because it acts like luteinizing hormone (LH) to 
stimulate the testes to release testosterone.  It should be used for no 
more than 2 weeks at a time because it also raises a male's natural 
production of estrogen.  Nolvadex should be stacked with it to help 
prevent gynecomastia.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH):  HGH was first acquired by 
extracting it from the pituitary glands of cadavers.  This biologically 
active form is no longer used because it is associated with a rare 
brain disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.  The incubation 
period is sometimes decades long and leads to dementia and 
eventual death.  This lead to the introduction of a recombinant, 
manmade form.  Growth Hormone (GH) is not considered to be of 
any real value to the athlete.  It sounds like it should be excellent, 
but experience says that it's not very effective on its own.  It can be 
very effective if stacked with anabolic steroids.  High doses of GH 
can lead to a condition called acromegaly, which is a progressive 
enlargement of the hands, feet, and face.  GH is very expensive.  A 
one month cycle can cost as much as $4000.


There are many other drugs out there.  I just wanted to show some 
examples of what people are using these days.


Injection sites:

In the world of steroids, needles are sometimes referred to as 
"darts."

Three injection sites are commonly used:  the buttocks, the 
quadriceps, and the shoulder.  The best location is the gluteal 
region.  It is best because there is a lot of muscle tissue there.  The 
injections are intramuscular, so the needle should be injected deep 
in the muscle belly.  This is not a detailed description of how to 
inject.  Ask a doctor or experienced drug user about how to inject.


Psychological aspects of these drugs:

Although these drugs don't seem to be physiologically addicting, 
they can be very psychologically addicting.  When the people in my 
study were asked why they use steroids or these other drugs, the 
most common answers were the following:  enhancement of 
physical appearance, increase in size and strength for performance, 
and increase in self-confidence and esteem.

Well, what happens when these people terminate their use of these 
drugs?  They get depressed.  They can't sleep or eat correctly.  This 
is due to their psychological "withdraw" symptoms.  They become 
dependent on the drugs to produce that incredible appearance they 
had.  They have a need for that special "pumped" feeling.  These 
people lose a little self-confidence because they can't seem to get 
bigger and stronger as quickly without these enhancers.  This can 
lead to severe depression and possibly suicide.  Many teenagers get 
into this predicament.


PLEASE E-MAIL COMMENTS TO:  silver@umd5.umd.edu

							-Adam

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     *               Adam Silver    Powerlifter/Armwrestler               *
     *           silver@umd5.umd.edu    University of Maryland            *
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     *               Adam Silver    Powerlifter/Armwrestler               *
     *           silver@umd5.umd.edu    University of Maryland            *
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