RECOVERY FROM ANABOLIC STEROIDS & PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS
Are you worried about the side effects of anabolic steroids on your body?
Are you wanting to stop taking steroids but unsure how to do it?
Are you suffering side effects from anabolic steroids, but been unable to manage them?
Finding an informed, supportive, non-judgemental doctor to talk to about your steroid use can be a challenge, but I can help.
Anabolic Steroids Harm Minimisation
There is no safe way of taking anabolic steroids & other performance enhancing drugs. But if after exploring things you decide to continue using AAS/PEDS, there are ways of minimising harm to your health. A harm minimisation plan can include:
Making sure you’re educated about the risks involved in AAS/PEDS use
Switching to less harmful AAS/PEDS
Monitoring for cardiovascular disease
Monitoring bone health
Monitoring liver and kidney health
Treating side effects, including risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gynaecomastia, hair loss and acne, mood changes
Recovery From Anabolic Steroids & PEDS Use
If you decide to stop taking anabolic steroids & other performance enhancing drugs (PEDS) we can make a comprehensive recovery plan:
Recovery of natural testosterone production using PCT if needed
Use of testosterone therapy if recovery of your own testosterone doesn’t return
Investigation of cardiovascular disease
Monitoring and support of fertility including home semen analysis
Making a holistic plan for any sexual difficulties
Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease and Anabolic Steroid Use
Whether you’ve been using testosterone alone or stacking with drugs like Winstrol, Deca or Trenbolone, one of the main risks of anabolic steroids is their impact on cardiovascular health.
Key risks are:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Cholesterol: hypercholesterolaemia & dyslipidaemia - raised LDL and reduced HDL cholesterol
Cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure
Coronary Artery Disease leading to myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Arrythmia: Irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to sudden cardiac death or increased risk of blood clots and stroke
What blood tests are needed after anabolic steroid use?
Basic blood tests include:
Full blood count
Renal and Liver profiles
HbA1C and diabetes monitoring
Full lipid profile
Hormonal profile & assessment of HPG axis
PSA
The major life threatening problem is that your bloods and blood pressure can be normal but you have underlying heart disease from anabolic steroid use. There are plenty of case reports of young men with a normal blood pressure, normal lipids, cholesterol and no diabetes, having sudden myocardial infarction (heart attack), or dilated cardiomyopathy.
Assessing heart damage after steroid use
At 9 Harley Street, we can perform in depth cardiac testing including:
24 hour Blood Pressure Monitoring
ECG & 24 hour ECG to monitor for abnormal heart rhythms
Transthoracic echo (ultrasound of the heart) - to screen for damage to the heart, including an enlarged heart or heart failure
CT calcium scoring or CT coronary angiogram (to look at the blood vessels around the heart)
Cardiac MRI
Further assessment by cardiology (heart specialist) where required
Impact of Anabolic Steroids on Fertility
A key motivator for men seeking to come off anabolic steroids is oftenwanting children. This can be challenging without medical support particularly if you have been using anabolic steroids for many years.
However it is possible and I’ve had several patients with many years of anabolic steroid use go on to have children.
Using modern semen analysis done from the convience of your own home allows us to monitor your recovery and semen health over time.
I’ve seen men die as a result of anabolic steroid use. It’s an issue which involves hard medicine, as well as compassion and understanding. Building a relationship with a doctor who has experience helping men with anabolic steroid recovery and who you can trust is crucial.
I promise a space where you can be honest about what you’ve been going through, accessing accurate and up to date medical care without judgement.