Oral Steroids
Introduction
Newcomers and prospective anabolic steroid users always are very
interested to find out more information about oral steroids. This topic is
perhaps one of the most popular because first-time users are attracted by the
convenience of anabolic steroids in a very convenient easy to swallow pill or
capsule format.
There are several misconceptions about oral anabolic steroids that
needed to be clarified:
– Misconception #1: Oral steroids are safer than injectable.
– Misconception #2: Oral steroids are less effective/strong or
more effective/strong than injectable.
– Misconception #3: Oral steroids are easier to obtain.
– Misconception #4: Oral steroids are cheaper.
First of all -misconception #1: Oral steroids are safer than
injectable. Looks like that is the biggest misconception among oral anabolic
steroids, and is perhaps the second overall largest misconception in regards to
anabolic steroids in general. First one largest misconception about anabolic
steroids is the rumor that they will generate massive muscles without any hard
work, training, or diet. In reality, injectable and oral steroids both contain
various risky compounds in each category. Some of the oral steroids present a
higher risk of various dangers to the body, at the same time there are also injectable
steroids that also present higher risks. Oral steroids are both harsher on the
body's subsystems than the majority of injectable, and despite the fact that
there are one or two ‘milder' and ‘safer' oral steroids, the majority of them
present the possibility of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) and negative
cholesterol alterations that are far more impacting than most injectable.
Misconception #2: Oral steroids are less effective/strong or more
effective/strong comparing to injectable. That is not so - oral steroids are
not stronger than injectable steroids, nor are they weaker. The anabolic
strength rating of various oral anabolic steroids does match or surpass the
anabolic strength rating of many injectable compounds, while several oral
anabolic steroids fall short when compared to injectable compounds as well.
Misconception #3: Oral steroids are easier to obtain. This is also
not true. There are very popular anabolic steroids in both categories that are
very easy to obtain, but the fact is that the most popular anabolic steroid of
all time is an oral steroid (DIANAMED
10 (Methandienone)). And only after them the next two most popular anabolic
steroids are the injectable ones: DECAMED
250 (Nandrolone Decanoate) and WINIMED
10 (Stanozolol).
Misconception #4: Oral steroids are cheaper. This is also not
true. You can find expensive and cheaper compounds in both categories (oral and
injectable). The price depends on various factors such as the popularity of the
compound, ease of manufacture, ease of access, and others. That is advised to
plan anabolic steroid cycles and calculate all costs and dosages before
purchase.
Oral Steroids: What They Are and How They Work
There are only three conventionally and commercially available
oral steroids that are bioavailable orally without the need for chemical
modification: Andriol, Primobolan, and Proviron. All other oral anabolic
steroids must have previously undergone a specific modification to allow oral
bioavailability. When Testosterone (or any other anabolic steroid) is ingested
orally, too little of it will enter the bloodstream, which is not enough to
impart any significant effects on the body. This is so because all ingested
substances that are swallowed and processed through the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract must always undergo a first pass through the liver before finally
entering the bloodstream. Almost all anabolic steroids are very easily
metabolized and broken down by the liver, leaving a very miniscule percentage
that survives this liver metabolism.
Figure 1: A basic image of the basic steroid structure indicating
the numbered carbon positions
It was discovered that by modifying the chemical structure and
adding a methyl group (also known as an alkyl group) to the 17th carbon on the
steroid structure (also known as carbon 17-alpha), allows the anabolic steroid
to become more resistant to hepatic metabolism. This chemical bonding of a
methyl group onto the 17th carbon is known as C17-alpha alkylation. After an
anabolic steroid becomes C17-alpha-alkylated, it also becomes orally active and
bioavailable – without it, the anabolic steroid would not survive liver
metabolism. But there is the negative side of this process - increased
hepatotoxicity (increased liver toxicity). C17-alpha alkylation allows an
anabolic steroid to become more resistant to hepatic breakdown, and any
compound that is further resistant to hepatic breakdown will always have
greater hepatotoxicity associated with it for various reasons.
Figure 2: A methyl group, which is a central carbon atom bound to
three hydrogen atoms, with one available opening to bond to the steroid
molecule
Indicated above is the difference between Testosterone without
methylation (C17-alpha alkylation) and beside it is an image of
Methyltestosterone, which is basically, C17-alpha-alkylated Testosterone to
allow Testosterone hormone to become bioavailable orally and survive liver
metabolism.
The added methyl group is then indicated by the broken-up red
lines forming an arrow-like point at the 17th carbon position, indicating that
the methyl group is resting behind the visible orientation of the molecule
shown (a solid line forming an arrow-like point indicates the methyl group is
situated in front of the visible orientation of the molecule). The C17-alpha
alkylation of an anabolic steroid, therefore, places select limitations on how
it can be utilized, how long it can be used, and the dosing schemes of an oral
steroid. These limitations surround its hepatotoxic effects on the liver and
its deleterious effects on cholesterol levels in the body.
The most popular and most common C17-alpha-alkylated oral steroids
are (in order of popularity):
Oral Steroids and Hepatotoxicity (Liver Toxicity)
It is very important to realize that not all C17-alpha-alkylated
oral steroids exhibit the same amount or level of hepatotoxicity. Various oral
steroids are existing that are known to be significantly hepatotoxic (such as ANADROMED
50 (Oxymetholone)), while there are oral steroids that are known as being
fairly mild (such as ANAVAMED
10 (Oxandrolone)). That is so because various anabolic steroids are
naturally more resistant to hepatic metabolism before they undergo the
methylation, and following the methylation, their hepatic metabolism resistance
is furthered to even greater degrees.
Studies have shown that all C17- alpha-alkylated oral steroids
have displayed some level of hepatotoxicity. The doses utilized in many of
these studies were medical therapeutic prescription doses that are generally
doses of oral steroids that are far lower than those the doses of oral steroids
required for performance and physique enhancement. Those therapeutic prescription
doses in the aforementioned study are much lesser compared to bodybuilding
doses. Meaning that liver toxicity could potentially become an issue because
the minimum beginner dose for bodybuilding purposes for something like DIANAMED
10 (Methandienone) is no less than 25mg per
day on average.
The most common form of hepatotoxicity as a result of excessive
oral anabolic steroid use is known as a condition called Cholestasis. This is a
condition whereby bile flow in the liver becomes either completely halted or at
the very least disrupted. This happens as the result from either a physical
blockage or a chemical one - the blockage or chemical impairment results in a
build-up of bile salts and bilirubin in the liver and bloodstream. In large
quantities, this build-up can become very toxic to the hepatic cells of the
liver and kill them. The severity of this condition can range from very minor
and discomforting and even life-threatening. Minor cases are recoverable in
weeks while in case of more severe condition may require months of recovery
time. All users must be aware that the excessive abuse of oral steroid doses,
as well as oral steroid cycle lengths, can potentially cause very serious liver
problems that can become life-threatening. Many users have developed liver
cysts, hepatocellular necrotic lesions (liver cell death and scarring of liver
tissue), and, although in rare cases, hepatic angiosarcomas and hepatocellular
carcinoma (liver cancers).
Oral
steroids and Negative Cholesterol Changes
It is a widely-known fact that anabolic steroids can exhibit
negative cholesterol changes on the body, some anabolic steroids exhibit this
to a lesser extent, while some to a greater extent, and very rare, but still
some anabolic steroids have displayed the ability to alter cholesterol levels
positively. If we are talking about oral steroids, this negative impact on
cholesterol levels is the worst of all types of anabolic steroids. These
changes involve the reduction of HDL (the good cholesterol) and increases of
LDL (the bad cholesterol). The result of such changes involves an increased
risk of arteriosclerosis, and the degree to which these changes occur for the
worse are usually dose-dependent (with higher doses increasing the negative
changes and the risks). Other factors that affect these negative cholesterol
changes are the duration of use, and route of administration.
This is where oral anabolic steroids hold a negative reputation
for exhibiting a far worse negative impact on cholesterol in comparison to
injectable anabolic steroids. This happens because the liver serves to function
as the cholesterol processing center for the human body, and the increased
hepatotoxicity associated with anabolic steroids will result in even worse
negative cholesterol changes. The use of anabolic steroids has a profound
effect on increasing an enzyme in the liver known as hepatic lipase, which is
the enzyme that actively metabolizes and breaks down the ‘good' HDL
cholesterol. This results in less HDL cholesterol in circulation in the body
during the anabolic steroid cycle. There is evidence that the negative impact
on cholesterol by oral steroids is significant enough to warrant concern.
Limitations
of Oral Steroids
That is advised to run oral steroids for short periods no greater
than 6 – 8 weeks at any given time in a cycle. This should be done to ensure
healthy liver function and proper liver recovery following the cycle. Several
oral steroids that are known to exhibit liver toxicity than others are advised
to be used in the range of 4 – 6 weeks, while others can be utilized in the
range of 6 – 8 weeks and some perhaps slightly longer (10 weeks maximum).
Taking into account the risk of hepatotoxicity, the main function of oral
steroids in any cycle should be to primarily serve as a supplementary compound
to a solid base of injectable compounds or as a supportive kickstarting
compound. All users, especially beginners, must understand that no oral steroid
should ever be run solitarily on its own. Injectable compounds are the base
compounds of any cycle.
Testosterone in some form no lower than a TRT (Testosterone
Replacement Therapy) dose should always be run with an oral steroid. Oral
steroids will exhibit suppression of endogenous Testosterone production as
severely as any other anabolic steroid, even the oral steroids such as Anavar
that are regarded as ‘mild' compounds. Testosterone should always be utilized
in some form or another in every single cycle to maintain normal physiological
functions during a period in which exogenous hormones are used that will
suppress and/or shut down the body's HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular
Axis) and endogenous Testosterone production.
Examples
of Oral Steroid Cycles
Oral Steroid Cycle as supplementary components or a kickstart to a
base of injectable compounds:
Oral Steroid Cycle Example #1
Weeks 1 – 12:
– TESTOMED
E 250 (Testosterone Enanthate) at 300 – 500mg/week
– DECAMED
250 (Nandrolone Decanoate) at 400mg/week
Weeks 1 – 4:
– DIANAMED
10 (Methandienone) at 25mg/day
Oral Steroid Cycle Example #2
Weeks 1-12:
– TESTOMED
E 250 (Testosterone Enanthate) at 100mg/week
– DECAMED
250 (Nandrolone Decanoate) at 400mg/week
Weeks 1-6:
– ANADROMED
50 (Oxymetholone) at 50mg/day
Oral Steroid Cycle Example #3 (high-dose short-term advanced level
cycle of 4 weeks)
Weeks 1 – 4:
– TESTOMED
P 100 (Testosterone Propionate) at 150mg daily (1,050mg/week)
– TRENBOMED
A 100 (Trenbolone Acetate) at 150mg daily (1,050mg/week)
– ANAVAMED
10 (Oxandrolone) at 100mg/day
Examples
of Oral- Only Cycles
That is a very bad idea to run such cycles. Without any form of
exogenous Testosterone, the body will be incapable of maintaining its normal
physiological functions that are normally governed by Testosterone. Other
anabolic steroid analogues and derivatives such as oral steroids might be
several times as anabolic as Testosterone, but those are all the benefits most
of these compounds possess. For example, DIANAMED
10 (Methandienone) is a very strong oral
steroid with fairly low androgenic effects and very strong anabolic effects –
however, it is not a proper androgen for normal bodily function. The human body
and endocrine system are not simple. ‘Normal bodily function' means much more
than just functions such as libido or other superficial functions that are
often over-focused upon by many individuals. Testosterone hormone is vital for
proper libido function, it is a regulator of cognitive and physical energy, it
regulates the population of thromboxane A2 receptors on megakaryocytes and
platelets, and hence platelet aggregation in humans. It is also essential for
proper mental and psychological function, and many other essential. Even if a
particular oral steroid is ‘better' than Testosterone in one or two areas and
the fact that it might be more convenient to administer, does not mean that it
is better than it in every single aspect and function.
The compounding of two or more oral anabolic steroids is very
improper decision than the liver is concerned. No more than one oral steroid
should be stacked at any one given time, even within properly structured
anabolic steroid cycles. Because of the limitations in oral-only cycles, no
individual can ever possibly expect the proper physique changes and gains that
could be accomplished with a properly structured anabolic steroid cycle.
Instead, the potential for gains is limited or gains are often lost very
shortly after the end of the cycle.
Here are some examples of oral-only cycles:
Oral-only Steroid Cycle Example #1
Weeks 1 – 8:
– Andriol (non-C17AA oral Testosterone) at 300mg/day
– ANAVAMED
10 (Oxandrolone) at 75mg/day
Oral-only Steroid Cycle Example #2
Weeks 1 – 8:
– DIANAMED
10 (Methandienone) at 50mg/day
Oral-only Steroid Cycle Example #3
Weeks 1 – 6:
– ANADROMED
50 (Oxymetholone) at 50mg/day
Oral-only Steroid Cycle Example #4
Weeks 1 – 8:
– WINIMED
10 (Stanozolol) at 100mg/day
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