Anabolic androgenic steroids are substances that resemble naturally-produced hormones, the most common of which is testosterone. These steroids are prescribed for a number of reasons, such as to prevent muscle wasting in individuals suffering from disease. Steroids are also popular among body builders and strength trainers because the substance promotes rapid muscle and strength gains that will take years to develop naturally. However, like any other synthetic substances that is introduced to the body, steroids can cause damage when not used properly.
Know Your Steroids
Anabolic androgenic steroids are often produced in table and injectable forms. Popular names include Andriol, Proviron, Sustanon and Deca-Durabolin. There are some dealers that offer products labeled anabolic steroids that are actually produced for animals or may be labelled incorrectly. It is easy to fall for these products especially when buying online, so it is advised that users only buy steroids from reputable sellers and preferably avoid the veterinary versions of the substance.
Get a prescription.
The safest way to use anabolic steroids would be to get a prescription from your doctor. That way you have someone else monitoring the effects of the hormone on your body. However, since steroids cannot be legally given to anyone without a legitimate medical condition, you can only do this if you have a condition for which anabolic steroids are an effective treatment.
Inform Your Doctor
When using steroids it is best to inform your doctor especially if you are on other medications. For one, the doctor may notice certain side effects that are not noticeable to ordinary users. Steroids may also produce different reactions in the body when other medications are present in the bloodstream. Your doctor can also help you with manage side effects when they arise.
Follow the right dosage.
It is a common misconception that using more steroids will produce faster results. Higher doses will not make a difference if the steroid receptors in the muscle are already saturated. It is important to take steroids according to the right dose which will depend on a number of factors, such as body mass, stacking schedule, and so on.
Know the potential side effects.
It is important to know what side effects you can expect once you start using steroids. Side effects will manifest even if you are on the safest cycles. Common side effects include tenderness of the breast tissue, breast tissue enlargement, liver damage, water retention, and hair loss. Consult the doctor once you notice any of these side effects to get medical advice on whether to stop taking the steroids or start tapering off your dosages.
Never share or re-use syringes.
It is never advisable to share or re-use syringes since this could raise your risk for transmissible diseases. There is no reason to re-use or share needles since most pharmacies sell syringes along with cotton swabs and adhesive bandages as part of your medical kit. Use a clean needle from an unopened package for every injection and make sure that the injection site is clean.
When used properly, steroids can produce impressive results by increasing lean muscle mass, endurance and strength. It is therefore important to make sure that steroid administration is done safely by using the lowest dosage possible and gathering sufficient knowledge of the right kinds of steroids to use, the right dosages and the potential side effects before you start your program.
