If you decide to buy anabolic steroids you must know these terms

The use of anabolic steroids can be considered a subculture all its own. And like most subcultures the practice has its own vocabulary. The following are some of the most common terms you’ll see associated with anabolic steroid usage and those who decide to buy anabolic steroids.

Acromegaly – A condition caused by abnormally high amounts of HGH.  It is marked by permanent enlargement of the hands, feet, and head.

Addiction – The state of being enslaved to a habit or practice, or to something that is physically or psychologically habit-forming; cessation of which causes severe trauma.

Anabolic – Biochemical reactions, which involve the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones.

Anabolic steroids – Synthetic derivatives of testosterone, which have both androgenic, and anabolic properties.  There are two chemical classes of anabolic steroids; the orally activated 17-alpha-alkyl group, and the 17 nor-derivative group.

Androgenic – Masculinizing properties of anabolic steroids.  They promote the development of the male sex organs and secondary sex characteristics.

Black market – The selling of goods at illegal prices, in illegal quantities, or the selling of controlled substances without legal permission. The blackmarket is where most people go to buy anabolic steroids.

Bogus – Drugs represented as being genuine when in fact they are fake in all respects (See semi-bogus).

Catabolic – The biochemical process by which complex molecules are broken down into simpler compounds.  The opposite of anabolic.

Cliff-hanger pattern – Type of cycle characterized by an overall increase in dosage during the cycle.

Corticosteroid – Class of steroids such as cortisone, produced by the adrenal cortex.  Used in the treatment of numerous medical disorders; their major clinical use being as anti-inflammatory agents.

Cycling – The alternation of periods of anabolic steroid use with periods of abstinence.  The average length of a steroid cycle is eight weeks.  The period of abstinence is usually four weeks.

Dependence – Psychological term used to describe the importance of a substance or behavior, to an individual suffering from an addiction.

Depression – A condition of general emotional dejection, often associated with drug withdrawal.

Diuretic – Substance used to increase the volume of urine, by promoting water excretion.  Athletes sue such agents to pass drug tests and to make certain weight classes.

Doping – Any use of an illicit drug in athletic competition (animal or human).

Dosage – The amount of drug taken at one time. Most bodybuilders use word of mouth to determine dosage after they buy anabolic steroids.

Endocrine glands – Group of ductless glands that secrete their contents (hormones) directly into the circulatory system.

Estrogen – Any of a group of female sex hormones responsible for the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics.

Generic name – The official, or legal name for a drug.  It is the name that is listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).

Gym dosage – The dose of drug commonly used by unsupervised athletes.  It is usually many times the recommended dose.

Gynecomastia – A condition in males in which one or both breasts develop a feminine appearance.  It is usually caused by excess testosterone being converted to estrogen.  It is a common phenomenon in both adolescent and older (60-70) males; however males of any age can experience it.  This condition is normally transitory, but can be a symptom of testicular cancer, and hence requires a prompt physical examination from a physician.

Hormones – Substances produced in cells in one part of the body, which diffuse or are transported by the circulatory system to cells in other parts of the body, where they regulate and coordinate metabolic activities.

Hypo-gonadism – Under-development of the sex glands, usually associated with a deficiency in development of secondary sex characteristics.

Hypothalamus – A region of the forebrain that contains various centers controlling such activities as water balance, temperature, and sleep.

Injectable – a drug that can be administered by injection using a hypodermic needle.

Metabolite – The breakdown product of a drug.  Most drug tests now are designed to detect specific metabolites, which can linger in an athletes system for a very long time.

Non-cyclic pattern – Type of cycle characterized by continuous use of steroids year-round without periods of abstinence.

Off-season – The time of the year in which the athlete is not scheduled to actively compete. Even though they are not competing they still buy anabolic steroids, however.

Oil-based – Drugs dissolved in an oil-based medium.

Oral – Drugs taken by mouth.

Osteoporosis – The progressive loss of calcium from bones.  This is common in post-menopausal women, and bed-ridden patients.

Pituitary gland – A small gland that lies just below the hypothalamus of the brain, to which it is attached by a narrow stalk.  It functions as the master control center for hormonal function.

Placebo effect – The false belief in the efficacy of a drug, which in reality has no real biological effect.

Progesterone – The hormone produced in the corpus luteum of the ovary and in the placenta.  It acts to regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain pregnancy.

Protein – Molecules composed of chains of amino acids.  Protein serves as the building material for body tissues such as muscle.

Puberty – The time of life in which the individual becomes sexually mature.

Pyramid-pattern – Type of cycle characterized by three phases; an overall increase in dosage, a peak dosage, and a decrease in dosage during the remainder of the cycle.

Receptors – Sites on the cell membrane that respond to specific drugs.

Roid Rage – An uncontrollable burst of verbal and/or physical violence, while under the influence of anabolic steroids.  Although roid rage is associated with those who buy anabolic steroids , the existence of the condition is very controversial, extremely rare, and has been associated with alcohol use.

Semi-bogus – Drugs that are genuine in substance, but that possess false labels, or have an incorrect dosage indicated on the label.  These are the most common form of anabolic steroids on the black market.

Sex Hormones – The hormones responsible for the development and maintenance of sex characteristics (see testosterone and estrogen).

Shot-gunning – The practice of taking high dosages, of as many anabolic steroids as possible, during a cycle.

Ski-slope pattern – Type of cycle characterized by a decrease in overall dosage during the cycle.

Side-effect – Any effect of a drug that is not the intended effect.  They can be either permanent or transitory.

Stack – The total number of performance enhancing drugs taken by an athlete during a cycle.

Stacking – After bodybuilders buy anabolic steroids, they usually follow the practice of taking more than one drug during a cycle.

Straight-arrow pattern – Type of cycle characterized by a constant dosage during the cycle.  The addition of drugs after the start of the cycle does not change this designation provided the drugs added have a constant dosage during the cycle.

Sub-cutaneous – A method of drug administration in which the drug is either surgically implanted or injected under the skin.

Sub-lingual – A method of drug administration in which the drug is placed under the tongue, and absorbed into the blood vessels of the tongue.

Supplements – Food sources that are used in addition to a well-balanced diet in the belief that they accrue some advantage to the athlete. 

Synthetic – Artificially produced, not obtained directly from a natural source.

Testes – The male gonads that produce sperm.

Testosterone – The male sex hormone responsible for the development of the primary and secondary sex characteristics.

Therapeutic Dosage – The clinically used dosage of a drug.

Trade name – The name that specifies a particular formulation and manufacturer of a generic product.  This name is a particular manufacturer’s brand name, and as such is protected by copyright.

Trans-dermal – A method of drug administration by which the drug is absorbed across the skin.

Urinalysis – The most common drug test used on athletes.  The athlete provides a urine sample under supervision, which is tested for banned substances.

Water-based – Drugs dissolved in a water medium. When most bodybuilder buy anabolic steroids, they usual buy both water-based and oil-based steroids.

Withdrawal symptoms – The behavioral and physiological affects experienced upon the cessation of drug use