“Steroids” is an umbrella term that can be used to refer to corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, and sex hormone steroids.
The term “steroids” most often refers to a class of medications called corticosteroids. However, there are other types of steroids that work differently from these anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are different classes of steroids, as well as different ways of taking them. You should only take these medications if your doctor prescribes them to you.
There are numerous types of steroids available, including natural and synthetic versions. These are further classified by either their function or how they are administered in the body.
The main classes of steroids include:
- Corticosteroids: These are used to treat inflammation related to a variety of acute and chronic health conditions. Corticosteroids are split into two classes: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
- Sex hormone steroids: The three classes of sex steroids are androgens (including testosterone), estrogen, and progesterone.
- Anabolic steroids: These medications contain synthetic androgenic hormones similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. While these can be used as hormone treatments, they are commonly misused to enhance performance and for aesthetic reasons.
Different types of steroids may be taken via various methods:
- oral
- topical
- inhaled
- injectables
The majority of these steroids are available by prescription only. However, some forms are available over the counter, such as low dose topical hydrocortisone for skin rashes and insect bites, as well as nasal sprays for allergies.
Steroids may be prescribed for the following uses:
- acute illnesses
- adrenal insufficiency
- skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis
- insect bites
- chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- autoimmune diseases
- asthma and other respiratory diseases
- allergies and acute allergic reactions
- joint pain and diseases
- severe nerve pain
- delayed puberty or hormone regulation (addressed with sex steroids)
- low sex hormone levels related to medical conditions
- certain types of cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma
Most steroids are used for legitimate medical reasons. However, prescription steroids ought to only be used by the person a doctor ordered them for. Sharing your prescription or taking these medications prescribed to someone else is considered illegal.
Appearance-and-performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs), such as anabolic steroids, are often misused in the hopes of increased muscle mass and strength. When taken for these purposes, the doses are injected or taken by mouth, often at 10 to 100 times the strength of those used for medical conditions.
This use is dangerous and can have severe side effects.
It is illegal in the United States to take anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes, such as those used for muscle growth and athletic performance.
When taken as prescribed, steroids have a risk of mild short-term side effects. The risk of long-term effects generally increases the longer you are on the medication, as well as if you take higher doses.
It’s important to consider all of the following risks and to discuss any concerning symptoms with your doctor.
Short-term effects
Common short-term side effects of steroids may include:
- insomnia
- mood changes
- increased appetite
- blood sugar spikes
- infections
- acne
- upset stomach
- oral thrush (from inhaled corticosteroids)
These side effects are most common with oral corticosteroids and may ease once you stop taking your medications (under your doctor’s guidance).
Long-term risks
Long-term use of steroids is defined as taking them for longer than 2 weeks. Research also suggests that
Possible risks of taking steroids long-term include:
- adrenal suppression
- bone loss and fractures
- eye damage
- high blood pressure
- stomach ulcers
- unintentional weight gain
- increased risk of infections
- thinning skin
- delayed growth
- increased blood sugars
APEDs also carry long-term risks, including heart and liver diseases, mood disorders, and hormonal disruptions.
Anabolic steroids may also lead to:
- acne
- hair loss or growth
- sex drive problems
- hormonal imbalances
- breast development or loss
- menstrual problems
- decreased testicle size
Steroids may be especially potent in certain groups, including children, pregnant people, and older adults. It’s important to talk with a doctor about the benefits versus the risks of these medications.
Long-term use of steroids can also increase the risk of delayed growth in children, thinning bones in older adults, and a worsening of underlying health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes.
Steroids may interact with numerous medications. Talk with your doctor about any other medications, supplements, and herbal remedies you currently take to prevent possible interactions with steroids. This includes over-the-counter steroids, too.
Additionally, talk with a doctor about any scheduled immunizations. Steroids may weaken your immune system and increase your risk of side effects from live vaccines.
Steroids, including over-the-counter and prescription formulas, should only be taken as recommended by a doctor. They should also be taken at the lowest dose needed and used for the shortest time possible.
Never take steroids for reasons outside of their intended purposes. Taking any steroid medication that is not prescribed to you for a medical reason can have harmful effects.
Always talk with a doctor about any concerns you have regarding steroid medications, including severe side effects. Do not suddenly discontinue your medication unless a doctor tells you to do so, as this may cause withdrawal or rebound symptoms.
Consider the following frequently asked questions about the main types of steroids:
Anabolic steroids contain synthetic forms of testosterone, with androgen classes used to help treat delayed puberty in males. These are also sometimes illegally abused as APEDs. Anabolic steroids are taken orally or by injection.
Corticosteroids, on the other hand, are medications used to help treat a variety of acute and chronic health conditions. They decrease inflammation in the body and may also work as immunosuppressants and vasoconstrictors.
There are numerous types of corticosteroids, which may be taken topically or via inhalation, with others being administered by injection or oral tablets.
Steroids themselves are legal when taken as prescribed. However, taking steroids for other purposes is illegal, as well as taking steroids that are not prescribed to you for any underlying medical condition.
Corticosteroids quickly decrease inflammation by mimicking the effects of cortisol. While they can be beneficial for acute or severe chronic inflammatory conditions, these medications are also notorious for their negative side effects over time.
Sometimes women also misuse anabolic steroids in the hopes of better athletic performance. This can lead to a range of side effects, including hormonal imbalances and abnormal menstruation.
Not all steroids can cause muscle growth. Anabolic steroids are sometimes abused for these purposes. In some cases, corticosteroids may actually cause muscle loss when used long-term.
Steroid tests are sometimes ordered to detect the presence of APEDs in your system, but they may also detect certain corticosteroids, too.
If you need to take a steroid test, it’s important to talk with the administrators about any prescription medications you take for health conditions.
Corticosteroids work by targeting underlying inflammation that may contribute to numerous acute and chronic health conditions.
However, there are also other types of steroids, including anabolic and sex hormone steroids. Corticosteroids and sex hormone steroids are not abused in the same way as anabolic steroids for athletic performance.
If a doctor recommends steroids for your condition, it’s important that you consider the benefits and risks carefully and only take them as prescribed. Never share your medication with others, and always report side effects to a healthcare professional.