The negative effects anabolic steroids can have on the human body can be devastating. They range from a minor case of oily skin, to major long-term health complications, and potentially death. Fortunately, steroids have a variety of side effects, or changes experienced by the mind and body of a user. These changes basically fit into three categories:
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Internal changes such as high blood pressure or out of range liver values;
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More private or personal changes like testicular atrophy (significant shrinking of the testicles); and
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Noticeably external changes like severe acne or increased aggression.
Should you suspect your child, students, or friends of using anabolic steroids, you can look for a variety of short-term side effects that appear as symptoms. These include visible changes in appearance, mood and behavior.
Physical changes are typically the most pronounced short-term symptoms as they are not easily concealed by the novice user and include:
- Unusually fast muscle growth
- Unusually greasy hair or oily skin (often with stretch marks on the inner joints)
- Small red or purplish acne, including breakouts on the shoulders and back
- Gynocomastia, the abnormally excessive development of the breast tissue in males
- Bad breath
- Thinning hair throughout the head or receding hairline (male pattern baldness)
- Increased length and thickness in hair (on body parts other than the head)
- Hair loss in bed, shower, comb or brush
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin
- Skin eruptions and infections, such as abscesses and cysts
- Drastic appetite shifts (extreme hunger or lessened/loss of appetite)
- Joint pain; greater chance of injuring muscles and tendons
- Disrupted sleep patterns (not sleeping well or sleeping too much)
- Fluid level changes, bloating (face & body), and night sweating
- Dizziness, trembling, nausea or vomiting
- Rapid or progressive weight gain
- Increased muscle size (sudden or progressive)
- Hyperactivity or lethargy (too little energy)
- Trouble urinating; discoloration or blood in urine
Personality and Psychiatric changes often happen suddenly and without visible triggers or reasons. They include:
- Extreme mood swings
- Increased aggression or irritability
- Becomes disrespectful or abusive (verbally and/or physically)
- Poor decision making stemming from feelings of invincibility
- Becomes secretive and/or starts lying
- Withdraws from family members
- Depression (usually when steroids are discontinued)
- Hallucinations – seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
- Paranoia – extreme feelings of mistrust or fear
Social changes may be mistaken for natural teenage distancing or independence. These are:
- Sudden urge to work out at the gym
- Always has a towel covering the back when leaving the shower (to hide acne)
- Closes and/or locks bedroom door more often
- Changes in family, friends and personal relationships
- Very irritable
- Takes longer showers or baths (this time is often used for injecting)
- Phone conversations become more private
- Begins receiving more packages in the mail
- Asks for money more often, or has more money than usual
- Is stealing or losing belongings
- Begins taking naps and/or falls asleep in class
- Loss of focus or concentration (at work, school or home)
- Decline in grades
- Forgets plans, dates and activities
- Sneaking around on the Internet wanting no one to see them