LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Steroids: Drugs
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Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. They are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases and conditions.
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Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal glands produce naturally. Corticosteroids are different from the male hormone-related steroid compounds that some athletes abuse.
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Steroids are either taken orally in tablet form or injected intramuscularly. Users rely on hearsay and gossip to determine dosage levels that may not be safe. Individuals abusing steroids take megadoses of hundreds of milligrams per day, whereas doctors prescribe only 1 to 5 mg. per day for legitimate medical uses. Under the false assumption that taking more steroids will yield better results, users typically take many types of steroids in combination with other drugs, a phenomenon known as “stacking.” Users often take steroids in “cycles” where they use steroids for six to 12 weeks at a time punctuated by periods where they do not take steroids. Steroid users do this to avoid building up a tolerance.
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Consequently, the DEA has had to initiate and fund studies to develop animal models that could quantify the effects of steroids on muscle. For example, the DEA is currently co-sponsoring a three year study in New York City using the guinea pig to evaluate the effects of steroids on skeletal muscle growth. Other participating agencies include the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and several branches of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The first phase has been completed, and the second phase is scheduled for completion in September 2004. This model will then be used to evaluate the effects of skeletal muscular growth from two substances: testosterone precursors and nandrolone precursors. Both of these steroids are now openly sold in dietary supplement products.
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A third reason for steroids cycling is to increase their effectiveness. Most users report that they made their best gains on their first cycle. This is because their systems were not used to the drugs. But with each additional cycle their steroid receptors become less responsive to the drugs. This is why heavy users stay heavy users – small amounts just don’t produce significant results anymore. This “down regulation” of steroid receptors is one of the primary reasons why the first cycle of steroids is usually the most effective.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the use of steroids in 1974 when testing was first developed. In one high-profile case, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal and world record in the 100-meter race after testing positive for steroids. In 1999 the IOC played a lead role in forming the World Anti-Doping Agency, which coordinates international efforts to police the use of steroids and other drugs by athletes. See ... Olympic Games (modern).
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