From: silver@woodstock.umd.edu (Adam Silver)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Do you want to know about STEROIDS?
Date: 31 Jul 92 17:55:39 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

This report is incomplete.  I have posted it twice to the net.  I do not
condone the use of steroids, nor do I use them.  This information has been
gathered from a study I am running on campus and from journals and other
books.  This is just to give people a general idea of what steroids and other
drugs are like.

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                              Bodybuilding 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 at the same time

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.  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 cerain 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 muscle 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 explaination.

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 the increase in metabolic rate from steroid 
use).  To reap these benefits, the steroid user must lift heavily and eat lots 
of good food (4,000 - 7,000 calories per day).  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, Sten, 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.

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.  Anadrol should have a short cycling period like 4-5 weeks.  Many side 
effects are associated with Anadrol including acne, hair loss, and lots of 
water retention.  Loss of weight and strength usually occurs after the cycle.  
Anadrol also shuts down natural testosterone production.  HCG, a drug that 
kicks natural production back in, could be used to help restore normal 
levels of natural testosterone production.  If HCG is used (2 weeks at a time 
at maximum), Nolvadex should definitely be used because HCG converts to 
estrogen easily.

Testosterone Cypionate:  This is an oil based injectable in 200mg/cc dosage.  
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.  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:  This is an injectable with a 250mg/cc dosage.  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.

Sten:  This is an injectable oil based drug.  Good size and strength gains 
can be obtained, but it aromatizes easily.

Winstrol:  This drug comes in tablet form (2mg) or injectable form 
(50mg/cc).  Winstrol has low androgenic effects but is toxic to the liver.  
Not many side effects are associated with Winstrol, and it produces quality 
gains.  It helps a lot with stamina.  Ben Johnson used Winstrol-V 
(Stanazolol)--Qthe 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 produces mainly strength gains with minimal gains in 
size.  Anavar is widely used by powerlifters, and many women like to use it 
because there aren't many side effects associated with it.


Other drugs:

Clembuterol:  This drug is classified as a beta-2 adrenergic agonist.  
Clenbuterol is a bronchiodilator.  This drug is banned by the FDA.  It is 
used outside of the US by asthma patients.  This 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 scarey 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.  
The usual dosage is 20 mcg (micrograms not milligrams), which is one 
tablet.  Dosages are normally between 20-40mcg 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 and fat burning properties after 18 days 
in a row of use.  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.  It doesn't have any side effects and can be used indefinitely.  It 
is also good at burning up fatty acids like Clenbuterol.

HCG:  This drug is used to elevate natural levels of testosterone production.  
It should be used for no more than 2 weeks at a time because it aromatizes 
very easily.  Nolvadex should be stacked with it.

Growth Hormone:  This section will be written at a later date.

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


Injection sites:

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.  This is not a detailed 
description of how to inject.  Ask a doctor or experienced drug user about 
how to inject.

Some good references on these drugs are the following:  ANABOLIC 
REFERENCE GUIDE (6TH ISSUE), UNDERGROUND STEROID HANDBOOK 
II, and UNDERGROUND STEROID HANDBOOK UPDATE 1992.  These are 
available from:

Mile High Publishing
1-800-637-1572

Mile High Publishing also has a quarterly magazine which is GREAT!  It's 
called MUSCLE MEDIA 2000.  It doesn't bullshit about drugs.  MUSCLEMAG 
INTERNATIONAL is another great magazine that doesn't bullshit about 
drugs.

-- 
     **********************************************************************
     *               Adam Silver    Powerlifter/Armwrestler               *
     *           silver@umd5.umd.edu    University of Maryland            *
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Newsgroups: misc.fitness