Androgen Abuse

Athletes engaging in androgen abuse usually obtain these drugs from various illicit but readily available sources.155 Some examples of anabolic steroids that are used by athletes are listed in Table 30-2. These agents include testosterone, synthetic analogs of testosterone, and precursors that are converted to ana-... 

EXAMPLE OF A STEROID DOSING CYCLE USED DURING ANDROGEN ABUSE ... 

Virtually any drugs that are taken at extremely high dosages can be expected to produce serious side effects. Exactly how harmful androgen abuse is in an athletic population remains somewhat uncertain, however.64 The illicit nature of androgen abuse and the various dosage regimens have made it difficult to... 

Therapists may also play an important role in educating patients about the dangers of androgen abuse. When dealing with an athletic population, physical therapists may serve as a source of information about anabolic steroids. Therapists should advise athletes about the potential side effects, such as liver, cardiovascular, and reproductive abnormalities. Therapists can also monitor blood pressure in athletes who appear to be using androgenic steroids. This interaction may help prevent a hypertensive crisis, as well as illustrate to the athlete the harmful effects of these drugs. 

J. D. Wilson Androgen abuse by athletes Endocrine Review 9,181 (1988). 

Dehennin L, Ferry M, Lafarge P, Peres G, Lafarge J-P. 1998. Oral administration of dehydroepiandrosterone to healthy men alteration of the urinary androgen profile and consequences for the detection of abuse in sport by gas chro-matography-mass spectrometry. Steroids 63 80-87. 

Certain medicines may not be imported under the personal importation provisions, including drugs of abuse, such as narcotics, amphetamines and psychotropic substances, and anabolic substances, androgenic steroids and treatments for alcohol and drug addiction. There are also controls over certain other medicines including erythropoietin, growth hormones and gonadotrophins. 

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) used as drugs of abuse... 

The patterns of anabolic-androgenic steroid use by sportspeople and body-builders, and their physical and psychological side-effects and dependence potential, have been very well reviewed by Brower (2002). Much of the use is by injection, and so many of this population attend needle exchanges, with the advice on reducing infection risks relevant. To increase energy, burn fat and to go through the pain barrier some will use amphetamines and opiates, either street preparations or illicit pharmaceutical supplies. In the UK the opioid nalbuphine (Nubain) has been abused in this way and, in cases where dependence becomes established, detoxification treatments can be necessary. 

Antidrug Abuse Act (1988) - This and similar state laws established criminal penalites for the distribution or possession of anabolic-androgen steroids except for the treatment of disease. Violators are subject to the penalities imposed by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (see below). 

Stanozolol is an androgenic anabolic steroid used in cases of deficiency in protein synthesis and osteoporosis. In spite of its prohibition by the International Olympic Committee since 1974, this compound has been often abused by athletes and in horse-races to enhance performance (25). In recent times, the discovery of stanozolol at injection sites revealed its illegal use as a growth promoter in breeding, despite the ban in the European Union in effect since 1988 (26). 

There is a persistent illegal market in androgenic anabolic steroids, to promote physical strength. A difficulty in determining the ultimate consequences of anabolic steroid abuse for body-building or to advance sporting achievement is that individuals who are susceptible to such abuse may well have taken several different types of substance at the same time or in succession. Indeed, an... 

EXAMPLES OF ANABOLIC ANDROGENS THAT ARE ABUSED BY ATHLETES... 

Bahrke MS, Yesalis CE. Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids and related substances in sport and exercise. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2004 4 614-620. 

Di Luigi L, Romanelli F, Lenzi A. Androgenic-anabolic steroids abuse in males. J Endocrinol Invest. 2005 28(suppl) 81-84. 

Socas L, Zumbado M, Perez-Luzardo O, et al. Hepatocellular adenomas associated with anabolic androgenic steroid abuse in bodybuilders a report of two cases and a review of the literature. BrJ Sports Med. 2005 39 e27. 

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