Deca-Durabolin -- also known as nandrolone or simply as Deca -- is an anabolic steroid and illegal in the United States unless administered by a licensed physician. Favored by bodybuilders, Deca-Durabolin is a bulking steroid, as opposed to those that burn fat at an accelerated rate, and it's often sold illegally.
History and Steroid Use
Anabolic steroids were developed in the 1930s as a treatment for hypogonadism, to elevate the testes' testosterone output. Today, steroids are prescribed to treat several medical conditions, including impotence, delayed puberty and HIV-related wasting. Dece-Durabolin was first developed as a treatment for osteoporosis.
Advantages of Deca-Durabolin as a Performance Enhancer
Deca is popular with strength athletes for several reasons. First, Deca lacks some of the side effects of other anabolic steroids. Deca doesn't cause acne, baldness or prostate growth nearly as much as other steroids. Deca also has several positive side effects. It increases bone density and appetite. Deca also increases red blood cell production, which translates to greater endurance. Furthermore, Deca-Durabolin binds to muscle tissue better than many other steroids.
Side Effects of Using Deca-Durabolin
Notwithstanding the advantages of using Deca-Durabolin as a performance enhancing drug, its use still carries the probability of serious side effects. The use of Deca has been linked to edema with congestive heart failure, life-threatening hepatic abnormalities and tumors, jaundice, cholestatic hepatitis, alterations in hematologic clotting patterns, the suppression of natural testosterone production and virilization in females.
Deca-Durabolin and The Law
Since the 1990 enactment of the Federal Anabolic Steroid Control Acts, all anabolic steroids have been considered Schedule III class controlled substances along with narcotics, barbiturates, LSD precursors and veterinary tranquilizers. Federal charges of possession, sale or intent to sell carry a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. State-level charges could increase the potential jail time to more than five years.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Research Report Series - Anabolic Steroid Abuse
- ClinicalTrials.gov: A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Nandrolone Decanoate in Women With HIV-Associated Weight Loss
- Bobybuilding.com: A Look At The World's Most Potent Steroid; Dane Fletcher; 2009
- Drugs.com: Deca-Durabolin Side Effects
- Imhoff and Associates: Anabolic Steroid Charges
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