Anabolic steroid use disorder

The use of testosterone derivatives to improve athletic performance and/or to increase lean body mass and muscle size.

Athletes sometimes use elaborate schemes to avoid detection. Due to the intricate nature of medication routines, many users have a coach who helps coordinate the drugs given and the schedule.

Users take other drugs to minimize unwanted effects or mask their use.

Focus of treatment is managing complications associated with chronic use and preventing further abuse.

Cardiac complications are the major cause of sudden and premature death.

Androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) abuse refers to the use of testosterone derivatives to improve athletic performance and/or to increase lean body mass and muscle size. Abuse differs from that of other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, as the desire to use them does not generally come from effects of the drug, but rather from wanting to change appearance or improve athletic performance. They are used at doses 10 to 100 times higher than those required to treat medical conditions. Anabolic steroids are often just referred to as steroids.