When steroids are used for legal purposes such as treatment of medical complications and recommended by a qualified medical practitioner, the use is termed as ’steroid use’. On the other hand, steroid abuse is indiscriminate and unlawful use of steroids without a qualified medical advice. While steroid use provides benefits such as health complication treatment, abuse of steroids leads to severe health complications.

Steroids are abused by bodybuilders, athletes, body guards, construction workers, law enforcement officers, celebrities, and fitness-conscious people for gaining a competitive advantage. There is nothing wrong or illegal in using steroids but only if they are used under a medical advice.

Let us read about some side effects of steroid abuse to understand the concept in a clear manner.

Steroid abuse can lead to side effects such as hair loss, liver problems, insomnia, acne, headaches, jaundice, hypertension, aggression and hostility, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities, enlarged clitoris, and prostate and fertility problems. Apart from these health complications, steroid abuse can also lead to cancer, jaundice, liver damage, bleeding, hepatitis, gynecomastia, deepened voice, insomnia, and stunted growth.

After reading about the associated complications, one can easily understand that steroid abuse must be avoided at all stages. All in all, every one must stay away from indiscriminate usage of steroids so that steroid side effects do not happen at the first place.

Let us find the difference between steroid use and steroid abuse before reading about the possible side effects of steroid abuse.

Steroid use is nothing but legitimate and medical use of steroids for treating complications such as Asthma, Bronchitis, Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, and Kawasaki’s disease. This use is all about taking steroids as per the recommended dosage and usage instructions as told by a qualified medical practitioner. On the other hand, steroid abuse is a self-prescribed usage of steroids with no regard to dosage and usage instructions for promoting muscle gains and strengthening body for “cheating” to stay ahead of the competition or get a muscular appearance. It is important to note here that steroid use can very soon turn into steroid abuse in cases where legitimate instructions and dosages of steroids are altered by an individual for purposes that are not medical.

Now that we have understood about the difference, let us read about some possible side effects of steroid abuse.

Some possible side effects of steroid abuse are hair loss, male pattern baldness, dizziness, mood alterations, trembling, urinary disorders, shunted height, jaundice, paranoia, delusion, hypercalcemia, and increased level of aggression besides changes in libido levels.

It is, therefore, highly recommended that steroid abuse must never be initiated as it has damaging effects on one’s health, body, and life.