akn
Musclechemistry Member
Harm reduction is a concept among healthcare workers that seeks to reduce the negative
health consequences of drug abuse. The principles of harm reduction call for an acceptance
of the fact that, good or bad, illicit drugs exist in today’s society. Instead of ignoring drug
users, harm reduction practitioners actively work with them to promote safer use strategies
and decrease the health damage of drug abuse. The effort of harm reduction is always
helping, not judging, the individual. Although previously focused exclusively on narcotic drugs
of abuse, harm reduction principles can (and should) also be developed for steroid users, a
group that rarely has the benefit of full physician oversight in its drug programs. In an effort to
further this goal, ANABOLICS has outlined the following principles of steroid harm
reduction. If followed, these principles should measurably reduce the negative health impact
of steroid use, making it a safer (although not completely safe) practice.
Principles of Anabolic Steroid Harm Reduction
1. Avoid Counterfeit and Underground Steroids.
Anabolic steroids produced by illicit manufacturers are often of low quality, and may present additional health risks to the user
beyond what are presented by the steroids themselves. Even if they contain actual steroids in
properly labeled doses, underground drugs may contain toxic heavy metals, use dirty raw
materials, or even carry bacterial, viral, and other forms of contamination. Pharmaceutical
drug purity is assured to the public only by an extremely costly, tedious, and methodical
process of quality assurance and government oversight. There is little financial and even
logistical incentive for most underground drug makers to produce their drugs at such high
levels of purity. Counterfeit and underground drugs are not considered equal substitutes for
real pharmaceutical products, and should be avoided.
2. Avoid Toxic Oral Steroids.
Aside from Andriol, Primobolan, and Proviron, every oral steroid discussed in this reference book is a c-17 alpha alkylated compound and should be
avoided whenever possible. While there may be a number of clinical reasons to prescribe
such a drug, when used in the higher doses necessary for muscle growth these agents tend to
have significant negative impacts on certain health markers.Their most notable effect is to
increase the ratio of LDL (bad) to HDL (good) cholesterol in the body, which favors
increased plaque deposition in the arteries. Over time this may increase the risk of heart
disease. C-17 alpha alkylated steroids are also the drugs exclusively associated with strong
liver stress and (rarely) liver cancer. If injection can be tolerated, and moderate physique or
performance improvement is the goal, all of the same results can be achieved without oral
steroids. Note that injectable forms of otherwise oral steroids (such as stanozolol and
methandrostenolone) should also be avoided, as they provide a similar level of hepatic and
cardiovascular strain regardless of the differing route of administration.
3. Think of Testosterone First.
Of all the anabolic/androgenic steroids produced, testosterone esters like cypionate, enanthate, and Sustanon tend to have the lowest negative
impact on health when taken in muscle building and performance-enhancing doses.
Testosterone drugs provide a hormone identical to that already produced in the body,
presenting the same spectrum of physical and physiological effects. In addition to being one
of the most efficient muscle-builders available, testosterone generally has a positive (not
negative) effect on libido, supports a positive mood, and supplements necessary estrogen so
that cholesterol levels are less negatively shifted. The exclusive use of testosterone drugs for
body or performance enhancement is advised if possible.
4. Limit Yourself to the “Safest” Drugs.
If the exclusive use of an injectable testosterone is not feasible, limiting use to the safest group of steroids is advised. Of the injectable class,
the following drugs have the lowest cardiovascular strain and are recommended: Deca-
Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), Durabolin (nandrolone phenylpropionate), Equipoise
(boldenone undecylenate), and Primobolan Depot (methenolone enanthate). If an oral steroid
is desired, only Andriol, Primobolan, or Proviron should be used. These drugs are not c-17
alpha alkylated, and can all provide additional steroid activity without the same level of
cardiovascular and hepatic strain seen with other common oral steroids including Anadrol
(oxymetholone), Anavar (oxandrolone), Dianabol (methandrostenolone), and Winstrol
(stanozolol).
5. Use Health Support Supplements.
Anabolic/androgenic steroid users can help lower the negative health impact of steroid use with the consumption of natural health support
supplements. To begin with, the negative cardiovascular effects of these drugs can be offset
(at least to some degree) with cholesterol supplements. Fish oil is recommended as a base,
which should be stacked with a number of other clinically studied cholesterol support
ingredients including green tea, garlic powder, resveratrol, phytosterols, niacin, and
policosinol. The blended product Lipid Stabil (Molecular Nutrition) includes these ingredients
and is recommended. Cholesterol support supplements should be taken at all times during
anabolic steroid therapy. Next, those taking oral steroids should be reducing liver strain with
a liver support supplement. Recommended products include Liver Stabil (Molecular
Nutrition), Liv-52 (Himalaya Drug Company), and Essentiale Forte (Aventis). One of these
products should be taken at all times during therapy with hepatotoxic agents .
6. Always Cycle Steroids.
A steroid cycle usually consists of 6 to 12 weeks of drug use followed by an equal period of time or more abstaining from all anabolic/androgenic steroids. This practice is advised for a number of reasons. For one, as you supplement male steroid
hormones your body will reduce the production of its own testosterone. Cycling helps reduce
the risk of developing long-term fertility and hormonal issues, which are sometimes caused by
the uninterrupted use of steroids for many months or years. Cycling also lets your general
markers of health (such as cholesterol levels, hematocrit, and blood pressure) return to their
normal state periodically, reducing the impact temporary changes may have over time. Those
individuals who use anabolic/androgenic steroids for long periods of time without interruption
run a greater risk that these negative changes in health markers will result in long-term health
issues.
7. Use Reasonable Dosages.
High doses of steroids are not necessary to achieve significant muscle growth, especially if moderate physique or performance enhancement is
desired. A dosage limit of 400 mg per week on injectables is advised. In the case of
testosterone cypionate, 400 mg per week equates to at least 4 to 5 times the level of
hormone naturally produced in a healthy male body. This level of use will produce dramatic
muscle gain if combined with proper training and diet. In fact, during the 1970s and 80s the
dosage range of 200-400 mg per week was considered “standard” for the bodybuilding use
of testosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, or methenolone. There is actually little real need for
extreme doses of 750-1,000 mg or more of steroid per week, or to supplement an injectable
base with additional orals. High doses may produce a faster rate of gain, but are generally
not cost effective for the extra muscle they provide. Additionally, high doses of steroids
greatly increase cardiovascular strain and the incidence of other side effects.
8. Avoid Aromatase Inhibitors.
Aromatase-inhibiting drugs counter estrogenic side effects by preventing the production of estrogen in the body. While an effective practice, they also
deprive the body of a hormone that is important to cardiovascular health. In particular,
estrogen supports the production of good (HDL) cholesterol, which means that aromatase
inhibitors may inadvertently increase the cardiovascular strain of a steroid cycle. If estrogenic
side effects are apparent and a reduction or elimination of the offending steroid(s) is not
considered an option, the SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) drug Nolvadex
could be used instead. This drug offers partial estrogenic action in the liver, which may allow
it to counter estrogenic side effects without the same negative shift in cholesterol.
9. Get Regular Blood Tests.
Comprehensive blood testing including an examination of hormones, cholesterol, blood cell concentrations, and enzymes is the most useful tool for
assessing the negative health impact of steroid use. Changes in cholesterol, for example, can
help quantify for the user what effect a particular drug regimen is having on their
cardiovascular health. The individual then has the opportunity to better assess long-term risk
if this cycle is to be repeated. At a minimum, blood testing should be conducted before a
cycle is initiated, 3 to 4 weeks into a cycle, and a couple of months after a cycle. This allows
for 1) a baseline for later comparison; 2) a snapshot of the on-cycle health impact; and 3) an
opportunity to assess if natural homeostasis has been restored post-cycle.
10. Use Proper Injection Procedures.
Careful attention to correct injection procedures can help eliminate some of the complications associated with nonmedical steroid use.
Steroids are given via deep intramuscular injections. The most common site of application is
the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus muscle, although the drugs are also commonly
injected to the upper outer thigh and shoulder. Site injections (in smaller muscle groups like
the biceps, triceps, or calf muscles) for cosmetic purposes are discouraged, as they are
technically more difficult to navigate and more prone to complications. Comfortable injection
volumes should also be used, generally no more than 3 mL per application. Each injection
site should be rotated so that the same muscle is not injected more than once every two
weeks. A general focus should be made on cleanliness, including the use of alcohol pads on
the vials and skin before injection, and the proper disposal of all needles and empty
vials/ampules after use.
11. Sterilize.
Though never advised, should the choice be made to use an injectable steroid of underground origin, an effort should be made to sterilize the solution before use. This will reduce the likelihood of illness or infection due to microorganism.
12. Watch Your Diet.
Anabolic/androgenic steroids can allow an individual significantly more latitude with their diet than normal. The caloric demand typically increases due to the
effects of these drugs on muscle mass and metabolism, allowing more calories to be
consumed each day without adding fat mass. It is important not to let this latitude affect your
health in a negative way. Remember, the use of steroids at physique- and performance-enhancing doses is expected to cause an unfavorable shift in cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular health markers, favoring a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Simultaneously feeding your body greater amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol, and simple
carbohydrates can make the impact of these drugs even worse. Diets low in saturated fats,
cholesterol, and simple sugars are recommended, and are known to reduce cardiovascular
disease risk. Note, however, that diet alone is not effective at countering the negative
cardiovascular effects of steroid use, but dietary restrictions can reduce these risks.
13. Always Consider Reward AND Risk.
It can be easy to ignore the potential health impact of steroid use when the positive benefits are so rapid and the negative consequences
so remote. At the end of the day, however, it is very important to remember that the use of
steroids in doses sufficient to support short term muscle gain are virtually always going to
have some negative impact on your body. Your cholesterol will shift in an unfavorable
direction, your blood pressure may go up a little bit, and you may ever so slightly thicken the
ventricles in your heart. Your hormones are out of balance when you take steroids, which
will invariably cause other things to go out of balance. Steroid use is rarely dangerous over a
short term period. These hormonal drugs are acutely very safe. As use continues over the
years, however, these short-term periods accumulate, and total on-cycle time may become
very long. Always remember to consider the risks as well as the rewards of each cycle.
Choosing your drug program carefully and keeping the negative effects of steroid use in
check over the short term is the best way to reduce long term risks.
health consequences of drug abuse. The principles of harm reduction call for an acceptance
of the fact that, good or bad, illicit drugs exist in today’s society. Instead of ignoring drug
users, harm reduction practitioners actively work with them to promote safer use strategies
and decrease the health damage of drug abuse. The effort of harm reduction is always
helping, not judging, the individual. Although previously focused exclusively on narcotic drugs
of abuse, harm reduction principles can (and should) also be developed for steroid users, a
group that rarely has the benefit of full physician oversight in its drug programs. In an effort to
further this goal, ANABOLICS has outlined the following principles of steroid harm
reduction. If followed, these principles should measurably reduce the negative health impact
of steroid use, making it a safer (although not completely safe) practice.
Principles of Anabolic Steroid Harm Reduction
1. Avoid Counterfeit and Underground Steroids.
Anabolic steroids produced by illicit manufacturers are often of low quality, and may present additional health risks to the user
beyond what are presented by the steroids themselves. Even if they contain actual steroids in
properly labeled doses, underground drugs may contain toxic heavy metals, use dirty raw
materials, or even carry bacterial, viral, and other forms of contamination. Pharmaceutical
drug purity is assured to the public only by an extremely costly, tedious, and methodical
process of quality assurance and government oversight. There is little financial and even
logistical incentive for most underground drug makers to produce their drugs at such high
levels of purity. Counterfeit and underground drugs are not considered equal substitutes for
real pharmaceutical products, and should be avoided.
2. Avoid Toxic Oral Steroids.
Aside from Andriol, Primobolan, and Proviron, every oral steroid discussed in this reference book is a c-17 alpha alkylated compound and should be
avoided whenever possible. While there may be a number of clinical reasons to prescribe
such a drug, when used in the higher doses necessary for muscle growth these agents tend to
have significant negative impacts on certain health markers.Their most notable effect is to
increase the ratio of LDL (bad) to HDL (good) cholesterol in the body, which favors
increased plaque deposition in the arteries. Over time this may increase the risk of heart
disease. C-17 alpha alkylated steroids are also the drugs exclusively associated with strong
liver stress and (rarely) liver cancer. If injection can be tolerated, and moderate physique or
performance improvement is the goal, all of the same results can be achieved without oral
steroids. Note that injectable forms of otherwise oral steroids (such as stanozolol and
methandrostenolone) should also be avoided, as they provide a similar level of hepatic and
cardiovascular strain regardless of the differing route of administration.
3. Think of Testosterone First.
Of all the anabolic/androgenic steroids produced, testosterone esters like cypionate, enanthate, and Sustanon tend to have the lowest negative
impact on health when taken in muscle building and performance-enhancing doses.
Testosterone drugs provide a hormone identical to that already produced in the body,
presenting the same spectrum of physical and physiological effects. In addition to being one
of the most efficient muscle-builders available, testosterone generally has a positive (not
negative) effect on libido, supports a positive mood, and supplements necessary estrogen so
that cholesterol levels are less negatively shifted. The exclusive use of testosterone drugs for
body or performance enhancement is advised if possible.
4. Limit Yourself to the “Safest” Drugs.
If the exclusive use of an injectable testosterone is not feasible, limiting use to the safest group of steroids is advised. Of the injectable class,
the following drugs have the lowest cardiovascular strain and are recommended: Deca-
Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), Durabolin (nandrolone phenylpropionate), Equipoise
(boldenone undecylenate), and Primobolan Depot (methenolone enanthate). If an oral steroid
is desired, only Andriol, Primobolan, or Proviron should be used. These drugs are not c-17
alpha alkylated, and can all provide additional steroid activity without the same level of
cardiovascular and hepatic strain seen with other common oral steroids including Anadrol
(oxymetholone), Anavar (oxandrolone), Dianabol (methandrostenolone), and Winstrol
(stanozolol).
5. Use Health Support Supplements.
Anabolic/androgenic steroid users can help lower the negative health impact of steroid use with the consumption of natural health support
supplements. To begin with, the negative cardiovascular effects of these drugs can be offset
(at least to some degree) with cholesterol supplements. Fish oil is recommended as a base,
which should be stacked with a number of other clinically studied cholesterol support
ingredients including green tea, garlic powder, resveratrol, phytosterols, niacin, and
policosinol. The blended product Lipid Stabil (Molecular Nutrition) includes these ingredients
and is recommended. Cholesterol support supplements should be taken at all times during
anabolic steroid therapy. Next, those taking oral steroids should be reducing liver strain with
a liver support supplement. Recommended products include Liver Stabil (Molecular
Nutrition), Liv-52 (Himalaya Drug Company), and Essentiale Forte (Aventis). One of these
products should be taken at all times during therapy with hepatotoxic agents .
6. Always Cycle Steroids.
A steroid cycle usually consists of 6 to 12 weeks of drug use followed by an equal period of time or more abstaining from all anabolic/androgenic steroids. This practice is advised for a number of reasons. For one, as you supplement male steroid
hormones your body will reduce the production of its own testosterone. Cycling helps reduce
the risk of developing long-term fertility and hormonal issues, which are sometimes caused by
the uninterrupted use of steroids for many months or years. Cycling also lets your general
markers of health (such as cholesterol levels, hematocrit, and blood pressure) return to their
normal state periodically, reducing the impact temporary changes may have over time. Those
individuals who use anabolic/androgenic steroids for long periods of time without interruption
run a greater risk that these negative changes in health markers will result in long-term health
issues.
7. Use Reasonable Dosages.
High doses of steroids are not necessary to achieve significant muscle growth, especially if moderate physique or performance enhancement is
desired. A dosage limit of 400 mg per week on injectables is advised. In the case of
testosterone cypionate, 400 mg per week equates to at least 4 to 5 times the level of
hormone naturally produced in a healthy male body. This level of use will produce dramatic
muscle gain if combined with proper training and diet. In fact, during the 1970s and 80s the
dosage range of 200-400 mg per week was considered “standard” for the bodybuilding use
of testosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, or methenolone. There is actually little real need for
extreme doses of 750-1,000 mg or more of steroid per week, or to supplement an injectable
base with additional orals. High doses may produce a faster rate of gain, but are generally
not cost effective for the extra muscle they provide. Additionally, high doses of steroids
greatly increase cardiovascular strain and the incidence of other side effects.
8. Avoid Aromatase Inhibitors.
Aromatase-inhibiting drugs counter estrogenic side effects by preventing the production of estrogen in the body. While an effective practice, they also
deprive the body of a hormone that is important to cardiovascular health. In particular,
estrogen supports the production of good (HDL) cholesterol, which means that aromatase
inhibitors may inadvertently increase the cardiovascular strain of a steroid cycle. If estrogenic
side effects are apparent and a reduction or elimination of the offending steroid(s) is not
considered an option, the SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) drug Nolvadex
could be used instead. This drug offers partial estrogenic action in the liver, which may allow
it to counter estrogenic side effects without the same negative shift in cholesterol.
9. Get Regular Blood Tests.
Comprehensive blood testing including an examination of hormones, cholesterol, blood cell concentrations, and enzymes is the most useful tool for
assessing the negative health impact of steroid use. Changes in cholesterol, for example, can
help quantify for the user what effect a particular drug regimen is having on their
cardiovascular health. The individual then has the opportunity to better assess long-term risk
if this cycle is to be repeated. At a minimum, blood testing should be conducted before a
cycle is initiated, 3 to 4 weeks into a cycle, and a couple of months after a cycle. This allows
for 1) a baseline for later comparison; 2) a snapshot of the on-cycle health impact; and 3) an
opportunity to assess if natural homeostasis has been restored post-cycle.
10. Use Proper Injection Procedures.
Careful attention to correct injection procedures can help eliminate some of the complications associated with nonmedical steroid use.
Steroids are given via deep intramuscular injections. The most common site of application is
the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus muscle, although the drugs are also commonly
injected to the upper outer thigh and shoulder. Site injections (in smaller muscle groups like
the biceps, triceps, or calf muscles) for cosmetic purposes are discouraged, as they are
technically more difficult to navigate and more prone to complications. Comfortable injection
volumes should also be used, generally no more than 3 mL per application. Each injection
site should be rotated so that the same muscle is not injected more than once every two
weeks. A general focus should be made on cleanliness, including the use of alcohol pads on
the vials and skin before injection, and the proper disposal of all needles and empty
vials/ampules after use.
11. Sterilize.
Though never advised, should the choice be made to use an injectable steroid of underground origin, an effort should be made to sterilize the solution before use. This will reduce the likelihood of illness or infection due to microorganism.
12. Watch Your Diet.
Anabolic/androgenic steroids can allow an individual significantly more latitude with their diet than normal. The caloric demand typically increases due to the
effects of these drugs on muscle mass and metabolism, allowing more calories to be
consumed each day without adding fat mass. It is important not to let this latitude affect your
health in a negative way. Remember, the use of steroids at physique- and performance-enhancing doses is expected to cause an unfavorable shift in cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular health markers, favoring a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Simultaneously feeding your body greater amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol, and simple
carbohydrates can make the impact of these drugs even worse. Diets low in saturated fats,
cholesterol, and simple sugars are recommended, and are known to reduce cardiovascular
disease risk. Note, however, that diet alone is not effective at countering the negative
cardiovascular effects of steroid use, but dietary restrictions can reduce these risks.
13. Always Consider Reward AND Risk.
It can be easy to ignore the potential health impact of steroid use when the positive benefits are so rapid and the negative consequences
so remote. At the end of the day, however, it is very important to remember that the use of
steroids in doses sufficient to support short term muscle gain are virtually always going to
have some negative impact on your body. Your cholesterol will shift in an unfavorable
direction, your blood pressure may go up a little bit, and you may ever so slightly thicken the
ventricles in your heart. Your hormones are out of balance when you take steroids, which
will invariably cause other things to go out of balance. Steroid use is rarely dangerous over a
short term period. These hormonal drugs are acutely very safe. As use continues over the
years, however, these short-term periods accumulate, and total on-cycle time may become
very long. Always remember to consider the risks as well as the rewards of each cycle.
Choosing your drug program carefully and keeping the negative effects of steroid use in
check over the short term is the best way to reduce long term risks.
