The effects of anabolic steroids and growth hormone on exercise training and performance.

• In vitro studies - test products and discover lead compound • Animal testing - efficacy selectivity mechanism • Clinical testing • Marketing

Phase 1 - volunteers Phase 2 - patients Phase 3 - large scale multicentre Phase 4 - Post registration monitoring

• Pharmacologists & employees (15-30 people) • Ethical approval • Healthy • Informed consent • Full resuscitation & medical backup • Monitor • Single and repeat doses • Increase dose levels

 Metabolic and excretory pathways  Variability between individuals; effect of route of administration; bioavailability  Tolerated dose range  Indication of therapeutic effects  Indication of side effects

• 150-350 ill people; informed consent’ • Needs license • Maximum monitoring; full resuscitation • Often patients where other treatment failed

• Indication for use; type of patient; severity of the disease • Dose range, schedule and increment; pharmacokinetic studies in ill people; nature of side effects and severity • Effects in special groups

• 1500-3500 ill patients • Multicentre • More certain data for the objectives of phase 2 studies • Interactions between drugs start to become measurable in the larger population • Sub-groups start to be established • Special features and problems show up

Increase in muscle and bone

Reproductive and sexual characteristics (hair, voice)

 Like the natural steroids, the synthetic steroids bind to steroid receptors cell  The steroid and the receptor are carried to the nucleus and instruct to transcribe mRNA  mRNA increases protein synthesis and causes muscle growth  In bone cells – it increases bone size

dosage is an important factor; training volume accompanies use

o Stacking – combining multiple steroid preparations in oral and injectable form o Pyramiding – progressively increasing the dosage Drug quantity used sometimes exceeds the medical does by 40 fold

 Cystic acne ‘roid rage’, increased plasma lipoproteins  In males: testicular atrophy  In females: squaring of the jaw, lowering of voice

people running trial also doesn’t know who is getting the placebo or the drug

A steroid hormone produced by adrenal glands

• Testosterone booster • Bolsters immune system • Preserves youth • Decreases fatigue and joint pain • Slows aging • Invigorates sex life

• Unregulated compound with uncertain safety - Elevated plasma DHEA might stimulate the growth of otherwise dormant prostate gland tumours

• Stimulates production of endogenous testosterone • Enables one to train harder • Increases muscle mass • Rapidly repairs tissue injury

Lithophilic drugs like to stay (hide) in the fat tissue – meaning it stays in stores for a long time.

 Often referred to as THG  Referred to as a designer drug  Very potent activator of androgen receptors  Often referred to as ‘the clear’  The drug was undetectable or invisible