Stanozolol is a man-made steroid medication similar to the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone. Doctors prescribe this medication for specific medical conditions and diseases, including muscle-wasting disorders and hereditary angioedema. When used as directed while under the care of a medical professional, stanozolol can have beneficial effects. The drug, however, can cause side effects in certain patients and among those who abuse the drug for its muscle-building properties.
Reduced Frequency of Hereditary Angioedema Attacks
Hereditary angioedema is a rare genetic condition characterized by episodic attacks of severe swelling, or angioedema, which can affect the extremities, face, tongue, throat, sexual organs and digestive system. People with this disorder have a deficiency in a protein called C1 inhibitor, explains "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." The deficiency causes the swelling episodes that occur with hereditary angioedema. Treatment with stanozolol stimulates liver production of C1 inhibitor, potentially decreasing the frequency of hereditary angioedema attacks.
Increased Muscle Mass
Like testosterone, stanozolol promotes increased muscle mass. This effect, called anabolism, can prove useful for patients with conditions that cause muscle wasting, such as HIV/AIDS and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, notes the National Library of Medicine encyclopedia MedlinePlus. The use of stanozolol in combination with a high-calorie, protein-rich diet and exercise may help patients with these and other muscle-wasting conditions regain lost muscle mass and strength.
Some amateur and professional athletes seeking to increase their muscle mass and strength abuse stanozolol for its anabolic effects. MayoClinic.com states that athletes seeking to enhance performance often take anabolic steroids such as stanozolol in doses significantly higher than those health care professionals prescribe for the treatment of medical conditions. These exceptionally high doses may contribute to the frequency and severity of side effects that occur among people who abuse stanozolol.
Male Breast Development and Testicular Atrophy
Man-made anabolic steroids are metabolized into other substances in the body, including the female sex hormone estrogen. The presence of increased estrogen levels can cause male breast development and enlargement, notes the medication information website Drugs.com. This side effect can occur in men taking stanozolol for legitimate medical indications and in those seeking to enhance athletic performance. Tenderness often accompanies male breast enlargement associated with stanozolol use.
Imbalances in the sex hormone levels in males taking stanozolol can also cause decreased testicular size, or testicular atrophy. Large doses may lead to decreased sperm production and diminished fertility.
Female Virilization
Women taking stanozolol may experience masculine changes in the body, caused by the testosterone-like effects of the drug, according to MedlinePlus. These effects, known as female virilization, may include growth of coarse facial and body hair, increased pubic hair, loss of scalp hair, diminished breast tissue, enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice and loss of the normal female distribution and amount of body fat.
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