Any pronunciation of the word steroid will induce images of heavily build bodybuilders, speeding athletes and weightlifters. It is because they are very commonly associated with the consumption of steroids and performance enhancing drugs possibly due to the fact that many cases of drug test failures are those that of athletes and body builders. While it is true that they are susceptible to consumption of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS), even fitness models and common people incline towards using such drugs to enhance their appearance. Though steroids may have positive effects on the human body, the can have a long-lasting negative impact on a person’s health if they are not consumed as per prescription or in moderation which may people do not understand. In fact, because of their potential side-effects, they are listed under controlled substances in the schedule III and are banned by the US FDA.
Legal status of Deca-Durabolin:
Like most other AAS, Nandrolone or Deca-Durabolin is a controlled substance in the United States. Hence it is illegal to possess the steroid without a prescription from an approved doctor. However, doctors do not approve the use of this steroid for performance enhancement or muscle bulking which may lead people to the black market which may land them in trouble. The folly is that in many countries like India, the steroid can be bought with or without a doctor’s prescription.
Effect of the drug on the human body:
Although the steroid has many side-effects, it is used in the treatment of several medical conditions due to its properties. Some of the positive effects of consuming Nandrolone include muscle production, muscle growth, appetite stimulation, increase in the production of red blood cells, increase in bone density etc. Also, the steroid is known to have high anabolic properties and is in fact, one of the steroids with have a high anabolic to androgenic property ratio which means that its androgenic properties are significantly lesser than its androgenic properties.
As a result of these properties, this steroid is used in the treatment of AIDS-related diseases like Cachexia, muscle wasting diseases like cancer, patients with severe burn injuries etc and in corneal healing. For all these purposes, the steroid can be prescribed by a doctor despite it being banned by the US FDA. Further, research and studies have revealed that it can also be used in the treatment of osteoporosis, blood cancer, Anaemia and as a male contraceptive. Because this AAS steroid lacks the alkylation of 17α carbon it produces very little toxicity in the liver than other steroids and hence it is highly favoured. However, neither this nor its high anabolic to androgenic property ratio can stop the negative effects of the drug. When consumed in high doses, it may lead to erectile disorder in men, cardiovascular dysfunction, and liver damage. Also, higher doses can alter the levels of luteinizing hormone in the body leading to several other ailments. Hence it is necessary to be careful while taking a course of this steroid.
