Anabolic steroids can have severe adverse side effects during use, including depression and heart failure; furthermore, two studies conducted after individuals had previously used anabolic steroids have documented its harmful effect on individuals years after quitting use.
Anabolic steroids, artificial hormones that mimic testosterone’s naturally-occurring sex hormone properties, are used for improving athletic performance and increasing muscle mass.
Anabolic steroids are performance-enhancing drugs with harmful side effects in men such as erectile dysfunction, reduced testosterone levels, hair loss and breast growth, an increase in stroke, heart disease and kidney or liver failure, among other risks. Unfortunately, not much is known about their after effects after use has stopped.
One study evaluated 64 healthy men participating in recreational strength training between the ages of 18-50 who used anabolic steroids. Of these individuals, 28 used steroids at some point while 22 previously did so and 14 never took them at any time1.
Researchers conducted a PET-CT scan with Rubidium-82 as the radioactive tracer to evaluate how much blood flowed to the heart muscle when exercising or resting, using current and former users alike as samples; their researchers observed that both current and former users exhibited poor heart blood flow.
Results indicate that individuals who had ever used steroids are at greater risk for heart disease compared to individuals who have never taken advantage of such substances.
Prior studies have demonstrated that cardiac function usually normalizes after discontinuing anabolic steroid use; however, the current study indicates that men who previously used anabolic steroids have an increased heart disease risk years after quitting as blood flow through cardiac microcirculation is persistently compromised and anabolic steroids could act as another risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Another study collected questionnaires and blood samples to measure testosterone levels from three groups of men between 18-50 years, who used anabolic steroids: 89 who currently utilized them, 61 who previously had, and 30 who never took such medications.
Researchers found that men who had ever taken anabolic steroids reported worse mental and physical health quality – such as emotional well-being, social functioning, fatigue – even years after ceasing use. Furthermore, this group had significantly lower testosterone levels compared to men who never made use of anabolic steroids.
Prior research has demonstrated that men experiencing withdrawal symptoms immediately upon cessation of steroids use, including depression and decreased motivation levels, along with reduced levels of testosterone.
These studies suggest that men who had previously used anabolic steroids continue to experience decreased quality of life years after quitting, likely as a result of withdrawal or hypogonadal symptoms brought on by sudden drops in testosterone levels in the blood. Unfortunately, this poorer quality of life could prompt men who previously took these sterroids back into using them again.
Both studies involved relatively few users and former users of anabolic steroids as well as non-users; initial results show that men who had previously used such steroids have an increased chance of heart disease; however, these conclusions need to be confirmed with larger studies.
Men who had taken steroids in the past often experience side effects much longer than anticipated.
