Transcript Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic Steroid – Steroid hormones
that increase muscle mass and also
have masculinizing, or testosteronelike, properties
 Not to be confused with
corticosteroids – anti-inflammatory
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Anadrol (oxymetholone)
 Dianabol (methandrostenolone)
 Winstrol (stanozolol)
 Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone)
 Oxandrin (Oxandrolone)
 Depot-Testosterone
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Occasionally used to help AIDS patients
gain weight and to treat some types
of severe anemia
Used by athletes to boost performance
Used by ordinary people to enhance
appearance
Since 1996, use in children has increased
39% among 8th graders, 67% among 10th
graders and 84% among seniors in high
school
1 out of 16 high school students have used
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They come in
various forms:
› Pills
› Creams
› Patches
› Tablet or drops
placed under
the tongue
› Injectables
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_nat.html
$100,000
All structurally
similar to
testosterone
• Were developed
to help build
muscle mass and
enhance athletic
performance
• Designer Steroids
– enhance
anabolic,
minimize
androgenic
effects
• Also chemically
designed to
minimize 1st pass
metabolism to
retain adequate
bioavailability
•
Soviet Union using testosterone
 Dr. John Ziegler – American Physician
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› Didn’t like strong androgenic effects
› Ciba – Dianabol – orally active compound
with enhanced anabolic properties
› Breakfast of Champions
› Ziegler regretted helping to create monster
Mid 1980s – Steroids were reaching high
school level
 U.S. Congress (1988 & 1990) – Anabolic
Control Act of 1991
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› Classified 27 anabolic steroids as Schedule III
› Also, banned by many amateur and pro
sports organizations
 NFL, MLB, NCAA, & International Olympic
Committee
Endurance athlete and sprinters – low
doses
 Bodybuilding and strength athletes –
high doses
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› May take up to 100 times more than
therapeutic dose
Often used in patterns called cycling
 Cycles – typically 6-12 weeks in duration
with periods of abstinence between
successive cycles
 Use cycles (based on anecdotal
information):
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To minimize development of tolerance
Reduce occurrence of adverse side effects
To maximize performance at an athletic event
To avoid detection of a banned substance
Cycling sometimes combined with
pyramiding
 Pyramiding – steroid dose is gradually
increased until the midpoint of the cycle,
then gradually decreased as the cycle is
completed
 Thought to reduce possible withdrawal
effects resulting from sudden termination
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Simultaneous use of two or more
anabolic steroids
 Often done by combining a short-acting
oral steroid with a long-acting injectable
preparation
 They think it enhances effectiveness, but
not true
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Mechanism of Action not fully
understood
 Testosterone and other androgens are
agonists at androgen receptor
 Receptor is located in the cytoplasm of
cell in inactive state
 Androgen molecules diffuse across cell
membrane, bind and activates receptor
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Activated hormone-receptor complex
translocates into cell nucleus, where it
regulates the transcription of specific
genes, depending on cell type
› Haven’t yet identified specific muscle cell
genes that are turned on by androgens
› But overall effect is to increase protein
synthesis and growth of the muscle
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Testosterone converted enzymatically to two
other bioactive hormones
In some tissues – 5α reductase converts T to
dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which also has
potent androgenic effects
› Some synthetic AS were designed to avoid this
metabolic reaction because it decreases ratio of
anabolic to androgenic activity
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Aromatase converts T to estradiol in a
chemical reaction called aromatization
› Extremely undesirable – leads to feminizing side
effects
› Some synthetics modified to resist aromatization
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Recent evidence that AS treatment can induce
androgen receptor expression in muscle
Increasing the # of androgen receptors in the tissue
would allow steroids to produce greater anabolic
effects than they would in the presence of normal
receptor expression
At high levels, androgens act as antagonists to
glucocorticoid hormones
› In muscle, GCCs are catabolic – produce an overall
decrease in protein synthesis and an increase in protein
breakdown
› A 2nd M of A for AS could be their anticatabolic effects via
glucocorticoid antagonism
Oral Steroids →
Liver Toxicity
 Which side
effects occur
depends on:
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› Sex
› Age
› Type of Steroid
Used (Oral or
Injectable)
› Dose
› Pattern and
Duration of Use
muscleenhancers.com
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For Girls:
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For Both:
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Facial hair
Deep voice
Increased body hair
Irregular periods
Increased appetite
Enlarged clitoris
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Severe acne
Baldness
Liver abnormalities and
tumors
Angry outbursts (“roid
rage”) or aggressive
behavior
Paranoia
Hallucinations
Psychosis
Blood clots
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For Boys:
Breasts
Shrunken testicles
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http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/8/0.1.
full.pdf
Do steroids
cause
increased
irritability and
aggression?
Do users
develop
dependence
on anabolic
steroids?
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utube.com/wa
tch?v=DiU5AAjb40
Dependence Criteria
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› Withdrawal when stopped
› Taking more than originally intended
› Inability to cut down or control usage despite a
desire to do so
› Pre-occupation
› Continued Substance use despite problems
› Replacement of other activities with substance
abuse
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Withdrawal Symptoms
DSM commonly reported signs of
dependence
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Fatigue
Depressed Mood
Insomnia
Restlessness
Anorexia
Decrease libido
Dissatisfaction with body image
Cravings
Absence of large-scale controlled
studies hamper the evaluation of AS
dependence
 No published reports of selfadministration by animals of testosterone
or any other anabolic steroids
 Can produce rewarding effects
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› Positive Reinforcement – performance
boosting, better body image
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Cravings are relatively weak
Dangerous physical and psychological
effects
 Can stop growth and have voice
changes
 After stopping, people can experience
depression and moodiness
 Injectable steroids have an AIDS risk by
sharing needles
 Steroids without prescriptions may be
faulty or not be steroids at all
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getmascular.blogspot.com
bodybuilding.elitefitness.com
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89
/8/0.1.full.pdf
 bodybuilding.elitefitness.com
 getmascular.blogspot.com
 http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssp
orts/2009/05/central_fla_man_implicates
_nat.html
