Anabolic steroids

Question 1

Give examples of common anabolic steroids

Answer 1

Nandrolone
Stanozolol
Oxandrolone
Trenbolone

Question 2

What are the two general main effects of anabolic steroids?

Answer 2

They have anabolic (tissue-building) and androgenic (masculinising) properties.

Question 3

What is an anabolic steroid

Answer 3

synthetic derivative of testosterone

Question 4

What are the three common ways steroids are misused?

Answer 4

‘cycling’, ‘stacking’ and ‘pyramiding’

Question 5

What is cycling?

Answer 5

the user takes the steroid for 4–12 weeks and then stops for a variable period, after which use is resumed again. Users believe that this time-off period helps to minimise side-effects.

Question 6

What is stacking?

Answer 6

use of more than one steroid at a time, to maximise increases in lean muscle mass, weight gain and strength. The drugs may be administered by different routes, for example as a combination of injectable and oral steroids.

Question 7

What is pyramiding?

Answer 7

the user follows a cycle of building up to a peak dose and then tapering back down towards the end of the cycle, in the hope of allowing the body’s hormonal system time to recuperate and maintain homoeostasis.

Question 8

anabolic steroids are a class what controlled drug

Answer 8

Class C

Question 9

Which psychiatric disorders are associated with anabolic steroid use?

Answer 9

*Aggression / irritability / moods swings (‘roid rage’ refers to frenzied violent behaviour during the high-dose cycles of steroid use)
*Psychosis
*Mania and hypomania
*Depression / anxiety