Re: Steroids Are Evil Quote of the Day - Linn Goldberg

LXG — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:54:58 -0000

Androgens are not evil, however there is a greater incidence of paranoia at relatively low doses. When taken at high doses (the level required for a greater anabolic effect) reports of paranoia are present in the medical literature from all over the world. Certainly androgens do not do this in every person or most individuals. However, when studying a drug, you need to know the side-effects and whether taking them are worth the risk.

See:
1) Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-informati...
2) BritishSociety for Neuroendocrinology: http://www.neuroendo.org.uk/content/view/66/11/
3) Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base: http://www.pharmgkb.org/do/serve?objId=998&objC...
to name just a few sites

Now some of the reports from the National Library of Medicine from different countries regarding paranoia:
Acute paranoid psychotic symptoms after i.m. injection of nandrolone. Psychiatr Prax. 2003 May;30 Suppl 2:S73-4.
Psychiatric and hostility factors related to use of anabolic steroids in monozygotic twins. Eur Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;21(8):563-9.
Psychiatric side effects induced by supraphysiological doses of combinations of anabolic steroids correlate to the severity of abuse.Eur Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;21(8):551-62. Epub 2005 Dec 13.

To not list paranoia as a potential consequence of use of androgens is using blinders. You may want to take anabolic steroids, but you should at least know the potential side-effects. I prescribe anabolic steroids to patients who need them, however, it is in physiological doses.

All hormones taken at multiple times the physiological dose can have side-effects that can be very dangerous, including:
Insulin
Estrogen
Growth Hormone
Thyroxine
Corticosteroids
Erythropoetin
Glucagon
Aldosterone
Parathyroid Hormone
Calcitonin
Antidiuretic Hormone
Angiotensin
Adrenaline
and many more
Androgens at therapeutic and small increases in doses (not close to abuse levels) have been shown to cause the following:
1) increase LDL-Cholesterol
2) reduction in HDL-Cholesterol
3) High blood pressure
4) Peliosis hepatis (blood filled liver cysts that can rupture)
5) Increased blood clotting
6) cholestatic jaundice (most oral androgens)
7) stunted height in growing adolescents
8) liver tumors
9) psychological abnormalities: anxiety/depression/aggressive behavior
10) Acne
11) Male pattern baldness
12) masculinization among women

The following are some citations from the world literature, with the country reporting the side effect:

1. TUMORS/CANCERS
Liver cancer associated with anabolic steroid therapy: report of a case and review of the Japanese literature. J. Gastroenterology. 1996;31(3):450-4. JAPAN

Liver tumors associated with anabolic androgenic steroid abuse in bodybuilders: a report of two cases and a review of the literature. Br J Sports Med.2005 May;39(5):e27. GREAT BRITAIN

Blood filled liver cysts found in a young adult bodybuilder. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994 Jan;26(1):2-4. USA

Multiple liver tumors caused by long-term administration of androgenic steroids for aplastic anemia in association with familial adenomatous polyposis. J Gastroenterology. 2000;35(7):557-62. USA

Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes from plugging bile pigment in liver) Androgenic/anabolic steroid-induced intrahepatic cholestasis: a review with four additional case reports. J. Okla State Med Assoc. 1994. 1994;87(9):399-404. USA

2. Diseases of the URINARY TRACT
Kidney failure from anabolic steroids in a body builder. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1999 Sep 10;124(36):1029-32. GERMANY

Nephrotic syndrome (protein in urine) in a young man taking anabolic steroids and creatine. Orv Hetil. 2003 Dec 7;144(49):2425-7. HUNGARY

Prostate cancer Adenocarcinoma of prostate in 40-year-old body-builder. Lancet. 1986 Sep 27;2(8509):742. GREAT BRITAIN

MUSCULOSKELETAL Problems:
Bilateral rupture of the quadriceps tendon associated with anabolic steroids. Br J Sports Med. 1995 Jun;29(2):77-9. GREAT BRITAIN

Simultaneous bilateral quadriceps rupture: a complication of anabolic steroid abuse. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1995 Jan;77(1):159-60. GREAT BRITAIN

Spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon after anabolic steroids. J Hand Surg [Br]. 1986 Feb;11(1):87. GREAT BRITAIN

PSYCHIATRIC Problems:
Acute paranoid psychotic symptoms after i.m. injection of nandrolone]. Psychiatr Prax. 2003 May;30 Suppl 2:S73-4.

A case of affective (emotional) disorder associated with the misuse of anabolic steroids. Br J Sports Med. 1992 Dec;26(4):219-20. GREAT BRITAIN

Affective (emotional) and psychotic symptoms associated with anabolic steroid use. Am J Psychiatry. 1988 Apr;145(4):487-90. USA

Homicide and near-homicide by anabolic steroid users. J Clin Psychiatry. 1990 Jan;51(1):28-31. USA

Psychiatric disturbances in users of anabolic steroids. S Afr Med J. 1994. 84(8):509-12. SOUTH AFRICA

Psychiatric and hostility factors related to use of anabolic steroids in monozygotic twins. Psychiatry 2006;21(8):563-9. GREECE

CARDIOVASCULAR Problems:
Myocardial infarction and death of a body builder after using anabolic steroids. Ugeskr Laeger. 1991 Feb 18;153(8):587-8. DENMARK

Sudden cardiac death in a 20-year-old bodybuilder using anabolic steroids. Cardiology. 1995;86(2):172-3. USA
 Acute myocardial infarction in a 22-year-old world class weight lifter using anabolic steroids. Am J Cardiol. 1988 Jul 1;62(1):164. USA

Myocardial infarction with extensive intracoronary thrombus induced by anabolic steroids. Br J Clin Pract. 1996 Jun;50(4):222-3. GREAT BRITAIN

Anabolic androgenic steroids and stroke in an athlete: case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1988 Aug;69(8):632-3. USA

Acute myocardial infarction with simultaneous occlusions of two major coronary arteries in a young man. Clin Cardiol. 1998 Feb;21(2):140-2. USA

Myocardial infarction and cerebral hemorrhage in a young body builder taking anabolic steroids. Aust N Z J Med. 1993 Dec;23(6):713. AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Death caused by pulmonary embolism in a body builder taking anabolic steroids. Wiad Lek. 1990 Oct 1-15;43(19-20):972-5. POLAND

Good luck!

Re: Steroids Are Evil Quote of the Day - Linn Goldberg

LXG — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:25:50 -0000

The research on androgens show that paranoia occurs more frequently if you take them, especially as the dose increases. There are numerous neurotransmitter studies, showing the neurochemistry of aggression and paranoia. Certainly some people are more susceptible to the problems. Cigarette smoking doesn't cause emphysema in everyone and alcohol doesn't cause cirrhosis in most who abuse alcohol, however, there are risks of smoking and alcohol use. Vioxx, the anti-inflammatory drug has been shown to cause heart attacks in a higher level of individuals who take them vs those who take a placebo. The fact that I took Vioxx when it was on the market and am fine, without having a heart attack does not mean that Vioxx does not promote heart attacks.

We have case reports of paranoia and have neurochemical evidence in experimental animals of the genesis of these behavioral changes. It is not that steroids MAKE you anything, it promotes changes in neurochemistry that make the susceptible more likely to suffer these effects. To believe that powerful hormones don't cause these changes are to deny both behavioral evidence and evidence of neurochemistry. It is causal! It just requires the susceptible individual.

Re: Steroids Are Evil Quote of the Day - Linn Goldberg

LXG — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:38:31 -0000

A side-effect in a single individual is not the problem. It is an occurrence and supported by neurotransmitter research. Thus there is a clinical finding and evidence of support on a molecular level.

You can't say that paranoia has been seen in 1 in 100,000 users of anabolic steroids, as people use them at different doses and there are multiple types of anabolic steroids with different properties (water soluble, fat soluble, oral, injectable, transdermal, buccal), all have varied elimination and absorption properties. That paranoia has been well described by clinicians and that there is a basis for this paranoia gives warning.

The topic of this discussion is the presumption that paranoia is NOT a side effect. Well, the evidence, both clinically and neurochemically is that it indeed is a side-effect and is more likely to occur in those who use androgens than take a palcebo. The premise of this discussion is wrong, as the writer has only their belief, which is base (I suppose) on only their limited personal experience, not the world's medical literature.

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Re: Steroids Are Evil Quote of the Day - Linn Goldberg

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Re: Steroids Are Evil Quote of the Day - Linn Goldberg