If the use of anabolic steroids without real medical need is harmful to health, the consumption of these substances becomes even more harmful if they were produced clandestinely. The warning comes from experts and health authorities, in the wake of a police operation in Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, which dismantled a gang specialized in the manufacture and sale of these products throughout Brazil.
The action ended with 15 people arrested and more than 2 thousand bottles of anabolic steroids seized last Tuesday (14). Criminals sold products online. According to the investigation, the manufacturing process was not supervised and even contained a substance used to kill lice, methyl benzoate.
The director of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology, Clayton Dornelles, regrets that the use of these illicit substances has become very common. “There is an underground market”, he notes.
“These substances may have wrong doses, undeclared ingredients, contaminants. All of this can increase the side effects that are already typical of anabolic steroids”, highlights the doctor, in an interview with Brazil Agency. Among the main harmful effects, he cites unknown toxicity. “These products can contain substances that are highly toxic to the liver, kidneys, heart… we have even seen cooking seasonings and absurd oils in the manufacture of these compounds.”
According to Dornelles, the production of these fake medicines is carried out without quality control, in an unhealthy location – often in a garage or backyard – and with the risk of contamination. “This can cause serious infection,” he says.
The doctor adds that the user of clandestine substances is subject to therapeutic failure, that is, the patient who has a medical indication to use the product will not receive the proposed benefit. The consumption of these steroids can leave the patient subject to unpredictable adverse effects, such as allergic reactions. “There is a mixture of various substances, additives, chemical compounds.”
Dornelles highlights that most of these medications are of veterinary origin, literally huge doses, which “greatly increases” the risk.
Restricted indication
Medicines classified as controlled use, anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic (manufactured) substances derived from the hormone testosterone, the so-called “male hormone”, which gives characteristics such as beard, hair and fur. It is also characterized by its anabolic capacity. “It stimulates the synthesis of any protein, especially muscle protein, which is why muscles grow”, explains Dornelles. Popularly, these substances are also called “bombs”.
THE law determines that only a doctor or dentist can prescribe anabolic steroids.
The medical indication for consuming anabolic steroids is quite specific. The main one is in the case of men who have testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism). There are also indications for cases of severe burns and some types of cancer.
“An exceptional indication, not a routine one”, emphasizes the doctor. Another specific use is in people with gender incongruity.
“The approved indications for anabolic medications are those stated in the leaflets. Other indications have not been analyzed and are not authorized”, reinforces the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), a body linked to the Ministry of Health, in a statement sent to Brazil Agency.
Clandestine sale
According to Anvisa, the sale of anabolic steroids is only permitted in duly regulated pharmacies and drugstores and upon presentation of a special prescription. Any anabolic medication that is not authorized by Anvisa is an illegal product. Gangs try to circumvent the ban on the over-the-counter sale of steroids. In 2023, a Federal Police operation traveled through six states.
To prevent patients from being deceived when purchasing properly prescribed steroids, Anvisa makes the following recommendations:
– Be suspicious of products received outside of their original packaging. All medicines are supplied in paper boxes;
– Be suspicious of products that are sold in websites that are not from regulated pharmacies and drugstores. Avoid websites in general and marketplacesstreet vendors, sound cars or other establishments that cannot sell medicines. The products sold in these places have uncertain origins and may be counterfeit;
– Pay attention to signs of counterfeiting, such as Portuguese errors on the packaging; failures in printing information; differences in manufacturing and expiration dates and batch number between the primary packaging (ampoule, blisterbottle) and secondary packaging (paper box); scratch card that does not display the company logo; and absence of a security seal or failure to glue the secondary packaging.
Misuse and damage
Doctor Clayton Dornelles points out that even legally manufactured products should only be used under conditions specified by doctors. “Never for aesthetic purposes, performance gains, recreational use, improved sexual performance, muscle mass growth, anti-aging, none of that.” For him, the risks are greater than any benefits.
A resolution from the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) prohibits the medical prescription of hormonal therapies with androgenic and anabolic steroids for aesthetic purposes, gaining muscle mass or improving sports performance.
According to Dornelles, the risks caused by unindicated use are so great that they “fill a book”. He cites illnesses such as heart attack, arrhythmia, heart failure, changes in insulin resistance, which favors diabetes, thrombosis, embolism, medical hepatitis, liver tumors, infertility, impotence and reduced libido, masculinization in women, deepening of the female voice (irreversible ), menstrual irregularity and fetal malformation.
Men and women can experience severe acne, oily skin, hair growth and hair loss. Predisposed individuals are at increased risk of breast and prostate tumors.
There are also psychological brain issues such as irritability, anxiety, depression and aggression. “We even see cases of feminicide, domestic violence due to very high doses of testosterone in the brain”, concludes Dornelles.
