Anabolic Steroid (Oral Route, Parenteral Route)

The Mayo Clinic Diet Book, learn more

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Side Effects

Tumors of the liver, liver cancer, or peliosis hepatis, a form of liver disease, have occurred during long-term, high-dose therapy with anabolic steroids. Although these effects are rare, they can be very serious and may cause death. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

For both females and malesLess common
  • Yellow eyes or skin
Rare (with long-term use)
  • Black, tarry, or light-colored stools
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Purple- or red-colored spots on body or inside the mouth or nose
  • Sore throat and/or fever
  • Vomiting of blood

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

For both females and malesLess common
  • Bone pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sore tongue
  • Swelling of feet or lower legs
  • Unusual bleeding
  • Unusual weight gain
Rare (with long-term use)
  • Abdominal or stomach pain
  • Feeling of discomfort (continuing
  • Headache (continuing)
  • Hives
  • Loss of appetite (continuing)
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unpleasant breath odor (continuing)
Incidence not known
  • Lack or slowing of normal bone growth
For females onlyMore common
  • Acne or oily skin
  • Enlarging clitoris
  • Hoarseness or deepening of voice
  • Irregular menstrual periods
  • Unnatural hair growth
  • Unusual hair loss
Less common
  • Mental depression
  • Unusual tiredness
For young males (boys) onlyMore common
  • Acne
  • Enlarging penis
  • Increased frequency of erections
  • Unnatural hair growth
Less common
  • Unexplained darkening of skin
For sexually mature males onlyMore common
  • Enlargement of breasts or breast soreness
  • Frequent or continuing erections
  • Frequent urge to urinate
For elderly males onlyLess common
  • >Difficult or frequent urination

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For both females and malesLess common
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Feeling of abdominal or stomach fullness
  • Muscle cramps
  • Trouble in sleeping
  • Unusual decrease or increase in sexual desire
For males onlyMore common
  • Acne
Less common
  • Decreased sexual ability
Precautions
DR602077 Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 1, 2011

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

Copyright © 2013 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger