Anabolic steroids are drugs with legitimate medical effects, but are best known for their use as performance enhancing drugs in sports. There are differentTypes of anabolic steroidsas oral and injectable medications, and the most common steroid is the hormone testosterone. According toDrug Enforcement Administration of the US Department of Justice, one54.000over a million people in the United States use these steroid drugs. Although half of the users are from the fitness industry, such as bodybuilders and professional athletes, the abuse of these drugs has alarmed the government, as the other half are from the classroom.8 and 10 students. Also, although steroid drugs are popular drugs for athletes and people interested in improving the body, their mechanism of action can have significant effects on the body. Therefore, one must know how anabolic steroids work and be ready to use them. As steroid drug tests are often conducted by sports authorities who prohibit their use, anyone using or considering using anabolic steroids should be aware of how long these substances remain in the system.
This article provides answers to the following questions: what steroids do to your body, how steroids work, steroid half-life, how it relates to drug testing, and how to get the best and safest steroid detox.
What do steroids do?
What everyone knows is that athletes use this drug in conjunction with training, but what do steroids do to the body? Its main function is to support the body in building new muscles in the body. Among other things, the use of anabolic steroidsincreases blood cell count, helps rebuild bones and increases nerve conduction. For those who actively participate in physical activity, they can be beneficial.Effect of anabolic steroidssuch as better performance and shorter recovery time after the stress of exercise. To answer the question how do steroids work, one needs to understand the mechanism of action of anabolic steroids such as the hormone testosterone. These drugs consist oftwo parallel processes, which sometimes makes them difficult to understand. On the one hand, when AAS molecules enter the body, cells that have receptors for the hormone testosterone recognize them as the same substance and are activated.
So for those wondering what do steroids do to the body? The result of this MOA is that some of these cells produce proteins that the body uses to build new cells. The newly produced cells form new muscles and tissues. At the same time, another part of the body's cells responds to the presence of AAS by blocking glucocorticoid absorption. These are hormones that generally speed up the process by which molecules such as proteins are broken down into amino acids for energy (catabolism). So when they are blocked, more proteins are available for new cells. The less catabolic response also means a shorter recovery period. This essentially answers the question, what do steroids do to the body?
How long do steroids stay in your system?
For everyone who usessteroid pillsAs a performance-enhancing drug, passing drug tests is probably a major concern. The first thing an athlete should know about passing steroid drug tests is how long the drugs stay in the system. One way to answer the question, how long do steroids stay in your system is the steroid half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of AAS in the blood plasma to reach 50%, which approximates how long it will take for it to be completely eliminated and gives the user an ideahow long the substanceShows up on a drug test. The half-life of anabolic steroids varies widely.
Some commonly used anabolic steroids with their respective half-lives are listed in the information below:
UP TO 8 HOURS | – Primobolan tablets (4 to 6 hours) – Testosterone Andriol Undecanoate (8 hours or less) – Oral Dianabol (6 to 8 hours) – Halotestin (6 to 8 hours) – Winstrol pills (8 hours) |
9-12 HOURS | – Anavar (8 to 12 hours) |
13-16 HOURS | – Anadrol (16 hours or less) |
2-3 SOCKETS | – Masterone Propionate (2 to 3 days) – Trenbolone (2 to 3 days) – Injectable Winstrol Depot (48 hours) – Injectable Dianabol (60-72 hours) |
4-9 SOCKETS | – Equipoise (7 to 9 days) – Masteron Enanthate (8 fases) |
MORE THAN 10 DAYS | – Primobolan Depot Injection (10 to 14 days) – Deca Durabolin (14 to 16 days) |
Based on the above information, oral anabolic steroids have a shorter half-life compared to injectables. The half-life of the former lasts only a few hours, while the half-life of the latter can last for days. Again, though, keep in mind that these are simply the half-lives of different drugs. Once the half-life of steroids is reached, levels of AAS may still be present in the system.
How long do steroids take to work?
An anabolic steroid does not show its effects in a single dose. How long do steroids take to work? According to a study published inJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and MetabolismHowever, the duration of action of anabolic steroids depends on the patient's use of the drug. For example, in patients using these substances to increase muscle mass, it would take 2 days for the drug to reach the muscles. In another study published inJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research, it has been reported that using injectable testosterone once a week can increase muscle strength and improve athletic performance in 3 to 6 weeks. Furthermore, after aclinical trial in texas, anabolic steroids can take up to 4 weeks to normalize a patient's testosterone levels.

Do steroids show up on drug tests?
The answer to this question is a little different. According to a study published inJournal of Analytical Toxicology, AAS shows up on drug tests—but not all drug tests. The standard drug test administered by employers, and also available in home kits for parents and dependents, is a 12-panel drug test. These tests look for street drugs that are commonly abused. Furthermore, anabolic steroid drugs do not show up in a standard 12-panel drug test.
However, sports authorities do not rely on these standardized tests to determine whether athletes are using performance-enhancing drugs. instead, acamerican doctorsThey use special tests. These special steroid drug tests look for metabolites produced by the drugs. These tests may only look for AAS substances or evidence of general performance-enhancing drug use, including various dietary supplements and other medications.
Also, urine and hair follicle screening tests are most commonly used for ASA detection. Although blood and saliva tests can also be used, the most accurate compared to all three is the use, according to the study of doctors from France.branch analysis. In this study, it was reported that 2 anabolic steroid substances from25 Branch analysiswhile 0 were recognized by30 Urinalysis.
Finally, it is important to emphasizeThere is legitimate medical use of anabolic steroid hormones even in athletes. If an athlete has a valid prescription for the substance they are using and a documented medical condition, the examining sport authority cannot take legal action against them. However, that doesn't mean they won't try. Athletes with a valid reason to use AAS substances must ensure they have the necessary evidence to support their use and understand the rules of the sporting authority that may test them.
Usual steroid detection times
According to a study byIowa City Doctorsthe detection period starts a few days and can go up to 18 months after the last substance use, depending on several factors.Most athletic authorities rely on urine teststo detect performance-enhancing drugs over all other types, which tend to have a smaller window of detection than blood tests and a significantly smaller window than hair tests.
As the urinalysis is the most common drug screening test, users should focus on these detection times. The most commonly searched AAS drug detection times in steroid drug testing can be found in the following information:
UP TO A WEEK | – Andriol – testosterone suspension (ester-free) – Clenbuterol |
UP TO ONE MONTH | – Anavar – Winstrol (oral) – Masteronpropionat - Testosterone Propionate -HCG – Arimidex |
MORE THAN ONE MONTH | – Anadrol – Dianabol- Halotestin – Primobolan – Winstrol-Depot - Balance - Masteron Enanthate - Decent Durabolin – trenbolone – Testosterone – Acetate – Testosterone Cypionate - Testosterone Enanthate – Clomid – Nolvadex |
Based on the above information, oral anabolic steroids have a shorter window of detection compared to injectables. The former can only be detected for one month, while the latter can be detected for more than one month.
Factors that affect steroid detection time
According toSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationHowever, many variables can alter the timeline for drug detection, and the risks are higher with steroids than most. These are some of the factors that can determine how long these substances remain in the system and are detectable.
- The special type of AAS– Some AAS drugs completely clear the body in just one day, while others can take months. This depends on how easily the drug is metabolized.
- designer or pattern– Although many athletes choose the standard options, designer AAS are more difficult to detect. In some cases, they may go undetected, making detection time a moot point.
- The test used– Some steroid drugs are easily detectable in all types of steroid drug tests. Others are easily recognizable only in hair and blood or urine and hair. Depending on the test used, the detection window can be very small.
- Dosage and duration of use– The higher the dose taken and the longer the drug is used, the higher the levels of AAS in the body. This means that AAS are more likely to show up on steroid drug tests.
- recipe method– The body processes oral steroids faster than injected ones. Therefore, injected steroids have a longer window of detection.
- Fettlöslichkeit– AAS drugs are lipid, which means they are fat soluble. This means they are fed into the body's fat stores, making it easier for the fat to store the metabolites for months in some cases, and even over a year in the case of Deca Durabolin.
All of these variables mean that passing steroid drug tests requires a lot of planning and research into the drugs under consideration. It's all too easy to make a mistake and fail an important drug test.
Detox steroids and safely remove them from the system
Many athletes are driven to use steroids by the desire to get better and better. But this puts them in a very difficult position. If they test positive for use without a valid prescription for them, everything they work for could be lost. For this reason, athletes are concerned about the levels of steroids in their bodies when taking a drug test.
The first thing to notice is thisStop steroids abruptlyit's not the right solution. Not only can it be dangerous, but highly likely depending on the drug used.will not help. Afterdoctors from poland, Anabolic steroid withdrawal symptoms such as mood disturbances, insomnia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts may occur. Hence a correctdetox processo A treatment strategy must be implemented if a patient wishes to stop using these medications. Please note that a safe steroid detox treatment can be given to reduce the anabolic steroids in the systemdrug detox centers.
stay steroid free
In fact, anabolic steroids are useful for people with specific steroid needs. Although they have beneficial effects, the misuse of these drugs can cause adverse health reactions. For example, use or excessive intake of anabolic steroidssteroids with alcoholmay cause the substance to remain in the system longer. Therefore, the metabolites of these anabolic steroids can give false positive results in people undergoing drug testing.
While steroids may not be addictive in the same way as many other drugs, users can feel addicted to them and fear life without them.drug rehab centersIt can help athletes stop using AAS and live a healthier life. entitledSubstance Abuse Treatment, your performance will not be affected and your life will be better in general.
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- Brodsky, I.G., Balagopal, P. & Nair, K.S. (1996). Effects of testosterone replacement on muscle mass and muscle protein synthesis in hypogonadal men: a clinical research center study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 81(10), 3469-3475.
- Gaillard, Y., Vayssette, F. & Pépin, G. (2000). Comparative interest between hair analysis and urine analysis in doping controls: results of amphetamines, corticosteroids and anabolic steroids in racing cyclists. Forensic Science International, 107(1-3), 361-379.
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- Medras, M. and Tworowska, U. (2001). Strategies for the treatment of withdrawal from prolonged use of anabolic androgenic steroids. Polish Medical Merkuriusz: Organ of the Polish Medical Society, 11(66), 535-538.
- O'Hagan, A. & Walton, H. (2015). Bigger, faster, stronger! An overview of anabolic androgenic steroids and their uses and effects in the sports industry. International Journal of Forensic Investigation and Criminology, 1(3).
- Perry, P.J., MacIndoe, J.H., Yates, W.R., Scott, S.D., & Holman, T.L. (1997). Screening for anabolic steroid administration: ratio of urinary testosterone to epitestosterone versus ratio of urinary testosterone to luteinizing hormone. Clinical Chemistry, 43(5), 731-735.
- Rogerson S, Weatherby RP, Deakin GB, Meir RA, Coutts RA, Zhou S, & Marshall-Gradisnik SM (2007). The effect of short-term use of testosterone enanthate on muscle strength and power in healthy young men. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(2), 354-361.
- Steroid abuse in today's society. (2004, March). United States Department of Justice - DEA. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/brochures/steroids/professionals/
- Yuan X & Forman BM (2005). Design steroid detection. Nuclear receptor signaling, 3(1), nrs-03002.
Posted on: August 16, 2019
Updated: January 24, 2022
About the author
Sharon Levy, MD, MPH
After graduating from Boston University, MA, Sharon earned a master's degree in public health. Since then, Sharon has dedicated herself entirely to the medical niche. Sharon Levy is also a certified addiction recovery coach.
Clinically examined by
Michael Espelin APRN
8 years of nursing experience in a variety of behavioral and adjuvant settings, including inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services for adults with substance use disorders, as well as geriatric care and long-term palliative care. His particular interests are psychopharmacology, nutritional psychiatry, and alternative treatment options using certain vitamins, dietary supplements, and the use of auricular acupuncture.