The steroids that are designed to be taken through the mouth i.e. orally are known as oral steroids. They are widely marketed and available as pills or capsules but a few syrups also exist in the market. Oral steroids are prescribed by doctors for a variety of reasons and many pharmacies have a stock of these steroids in order to satisfy the demands of prescription users. Oral steroids are not the usual over the counter drugs and their usage come with a certain amount of risk. It is important to inform the users on why oral steroids have been prescribed, how to go about using them, and what Oral Steroids symptoms to watch out for in case of a complication so that a report can be lodged with the doctor as soon as possible .

Oral steroids currently available in the market include: Turinabol, Oxymetholone (Anadrol), Oxandrolone (Anavar), Winstrol (Stanozolol), and Methandienone (Dianabol) among many more. They are being marketed under different brand names in the medicine market. Anavar is one of the most commonly known oral steroids and it is also the most widely used. It is used to treat inflammatory diseases like asthma, arthritis, certain skin rashes, colitis, and bronchitis.

Public opinion on oral steroids

The uneducated general public over the years have developed some wild theories about oral steroids predominantly arising from the fact that they are easily consumable orally. There is a consensus among a large group of people that oral steroids are safer and are unlikely to entail any of the side effects that come from injectable steroids. This is absolutely incorrect as both oral and injectable forms of steroids have similar compositions which can be harmful for a person if abused or consumed without proper prescription. Research actually shows that oral steroids can have a harsher impact on the cholesterol levels of individuals and can also lead to liver toxicity or hepatotoxicity.

A section of the public tends to believe that oral steroids are pretty easy to obtain just like all other over the counter drugs. Pharmacies around the world store both oral as well as injectable steroids in equal quantities and users can obtain the desired composition according to their prescriptions. There are very few steroids that are orally consumable, and injectable forms of steroids are generally more popular.

Dianabol is the most popular steroid of all times and it happens to be an oral steroid. But it does not mean that it is easily available to procure in the market. Of late, the black market has been flooded with oral steroids. In the black market oral steroids have gained popularity among addicts and abusers. The steroids in the black market are more often than likely to be adulterated with addictive agents which may cause dependence on the drug. Users are advised to stay away from the black market.

Some tend to think that because these steroids are orally consumable they differ from injectable steroids in terms of effectiveness. This is a popular misconception and is untrue. Oral steroids are neither weaker than injectable steroids, nor are they stronger than them. Some oral steroids may be stronger than certain injectable steroids while some injectable steroids may be stronger than oral steroids.

Oral steroids are understood to be cheaper like most oral forms of medicine but this is another myth which has been wrongly circulating the market. The price of oral steroids tends to differ across compositions. This means while some of them may be cheap, others can be very expensive. The same pricing logic applies to injectable steroids as well.

Why are oral steroids prescribed?

Prescribed Oral SteroidsA common medical condition that oral steroids are effective against is asthma. Patients suffering from chronic pulmonary conditions are also advised to take periodic steroid ‘bursts’ which effectively counter the inflammation causing those breathing problems. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as the Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis can also be treated through oral steroid medication. Joint and muscle diseases like arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica are also treated through oral steroids.

Doctors also prescribe them for some forms of cancer. They have been used to substitute hormones in patients whose organs cannot produce the required amount of hormones necessary for vital body functions. They are also known to be particularly effective against lower back pain problems and are being used by doctors to address the same. Generally, doctors tend to start prescribing the patient high doses of the steroid to address the medical condition quickly. With the passage of time the doctor begins to reduce the dosage until the patient is ready to be taken off the medication once and for all .