Winstrol Side Effects Every Bodybuilder Should Know

A study conducted by the American Association of Poison Control Centers found that there were zero reported cases of death directly caused by anabolic-androgenic steroids between 2007 and 2013. As more people are taking these substances every year, this is very encouraging news for bodybuilders everywhere.

However, as positive as this achievement may be for athletes worldwide, it's important to remember that anabolic steroid abuse comes with its own set of risks and potential side effects.

​Stanozolol is one such drug with some serious consequences—including increased aggression, acne development in facial areas and body, clotting problems such as increased prothrombin time (a measure of blood coagulation), decrease in HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) with an increase in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), and possible adverse cardiovascular effects like high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.

Winstrol is well known for its side effects. Common side effects include: acne development in facial areas and body, increased hair growth in women, especially on the face and torso, clotting problems such as increased prothrombin time (a measure of blood coagulation), decrease in HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) with an increase in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), headaches, nausea/vomiting often brought about by an upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, night sweats, depression.

A serious concern to men is feminization. Since the drug is derived from the female sex hormone, women may experience effects such as body hair growth, a deepening of their voice and clitoral enlargement.
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In men, Winstrol can cause genetic changes that could lead to birth defects in a developing baby if a man later decides to have children with a woman who has been using this drug while pregnant.

​In addition to these severe side effects, there are also reports of milder issues like acne development in facial areas and body, increased hair growth in women, especially on the face and torso, clotting problems such as increased prothrombin time (a measure of blood coagulation), decrease in HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) with an increase in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), and possible adverse cardiovascular effects like high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.

It's also important to know that Winstrol can be detected in drug tests by the presence of the following substances: benzodiazepines, morphine , methadone , ketamine, propofol, oxycodone, heroin, 6-Acetylmorphine (or 6-AM), chlordiazepoxide, hydrocodone, propoxyphene/paracetamol or tramadol .

Whether you are a bodybuilder participating in competitions or simply working out for recreational purposes, this knowledge allows you to make an informed decision about your use of this substance.

The most obvious way to avoid these unpleasant side effects is to avoid the use of Winstrol altogether. However, for people committed to taking these drugs, there are some things you can do to minimize your risks.

It's also important to know that Winstrol can be detected in drug tests by the presence of benzodiazepines, morphine, methadone, ketamine, propofol, oxycodone , heroin 6-Acetylmorphine (or 6-AM), chlordiazepoxide hydrocodone, propoxyphene/paracetamol or tramadol.

​Whether you are a bodybuilder participating in competitions or simply working out for recreational purposes, this knowledge allows you to make an informed decision about your use of this substance.

The most obvious way to avoid these unpleasant side effects is to avoid the use of Winstrol altogether. However, for people committed to taking these drugs, there are some things you can do to minimize your risks.

Consult with a doctor before starting any supplement or steroid regimen . It's important that they know your full medical history and current health status. This will allow them to give you an informed opinion about what supplements or drugs would be best for you and at what doses.

Start slowly and work up.

This gives the body time to adjust and lower dosages if necessary. Furthermore, it allows more time in between cycles so that the body has enough time to recover from any damage done during a cycle. More rest means less chance of injury.

Don't take more than is directed.

Always follow the directions contained in the prescription or on drug packaging. It can be tempting to try and get ahead of yourself with dosages, especially if you are feeling great after a cycle, but it will only make things worse in the long run.
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Drink lots of water.

This helps in flushing out any toxins in your system that could irritate your kidneys leading to kidney damage. Make sure to keep hydrated when working out as well by drinking water during breaks between sets.

Eat healthy foods.

Many steroids require low body fat levels for maximum benefits, so what better way to achieve this then by eating healthy fatty acids that are good for your heart? Some good examples include salmon, tuna, avocados and olive oil.

Take the right supplements.

Supplements that increase testosterone levels may help to offset some of the side effects that can come from steroid use. Without these supplements, most steroids tend to decrease natural testosterone production in the body leading to a variety of issues.

Be sure to also take a multivitamin along with other vitamin/mineral supplements as well since steroids can deplete your natural stores of certain vitamins and minerals leading to deficiencies.

Avoid alcohol intake.

Alcohol is very toxic for your liver especially if combined with drugs like Winstrol or Dianabol. Not only that but it's also terrible at increasing fat storage which is not what you want when taking anabolic steroids! *Do NOT* take alcohol if you've just finished a Winstrol cycle.

Avoid other drugs.

Mixing Winstrol with any other drug will increase your risk of side effects and damage to the body. This is especially true if you're mixing them without consulting with a doctor first.

Monitor yourself.

Keep track of things like your blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels and liver enzyme levels (AST/ALT). If you notice anything unusual after starting a new regimen it's best to consult with a doctor right away rather than trying to fix these problems by yourself.

Upcoming events also need to be taken into consideration since most steroids tend to make people more prone to injury and slow down healing rates. *Note: Be sure not to try and diagnose yourself using webMD or other sites; always consult a medical professional!*

Maintain an open dialogue with your doctor.

This is especially important if you are using Winstrol. It's a good idea to keep them updated on any new supplements or changes in your diet (for example, increasing caloric intake) since this may affect the overall effectiveness of the drug.

Conclusion:

The golden rule for Winstrol side effects is simple; don't take it unless absolutely necessary! As previously mentioned, there are much safer ways to achieve similar results without taking these risks.

However, as long as people continue taking steroids they will have to face the associated risks as well. In order to minimize those risks and stack the cards in their favor, it's essential to understand as much as possible about these drugs and what they do to the body.

If you follow all these tips and still experience problems with your cycle, consult a knowledgeable doctor immediately.