ABSTRACT
Anabolic steroids are generally self-administered, often in large supertherapeutic dosages (Korkia and Stimson, 1993; Lenehan et al., 1996; Evans, 1997). The majority of users ‘stack’ AS, that is the taking of two or more different drugs at the same time; the number of drugs taken can be as low as two or as high as 16 (Korkia and Stimson, 1993; Lenehan et al., 1996). Lists and descriptions of AS, their effectiveness and common side-effects as reported by users themselves can be found in many of the ‘underground handbooks’ that have become commonplace in the AS-using culture over the past 10 years (Philips, 1991). The drugs are generally taken in cycles which, for men, often vary from 8 to 12 weeks on-AS followed by 8 to 12 weeks off-AS. ‘Female’ cycles tend to be shorter, often half of those reported by men (Korkia and Stimson, 1993). ‘Cycling’ AS attempts to maximize gains while minimizing their harmful effects. Anabolic steroids work through a receptor complex and once these get saturated the drug will not have any further beneficial effect but instead will contribute to the development of side-effects. Within a cycle a large number of different AS may be used but not necessarily all at the same time. Some drugs are generally preferred at different stages of the ‘cycle’ depending on what the user aims to achieve, for instance, ‘cutting’, ‘size’, ‘strength’, ‘bulking’, ‘maintenance’ or ‘muscle hardness’.
