Anabolic steroids vs. corticosteroids

[HoldBack]

Do anabolic steroids share pharmacological properties with those of corticosteroids. What exactly defines a corticosteroid?

Say, for example you had an autoimmune disease that was treated primarily with prednisone. Would a testosterone ester be able to substitute for prednisone either partially or completely to reduce inflammation?

 

[polymath]

Corticosteroids are compounds that bind to glucocorticoid and/or mineralocorticoid receptors. They can cause mood swings similar to anabolic-androgenic steroids, but their other effects are very different. For instance, glucocorticoids make your muscles shrink by slowing down protein synthesis and they make your skin become thinner and more easily wounded. And also, long term use of corticosteroids causes insulin resistence and type-II diabetes while testosterone-like drugs do the opposite to your glucose metabolism. I don't think anabolic steroids have an anti-inflammatory effect. They can do something to your immune system, though, as bodybuilders say they often get the flu when on a steroid cycle.

 

[Flynnal]

They're both hormones, but differ in that one group are anabolic and create hypertrophy, whereas the other group are catabolic meaning that they create atrophy...

Both have well defined medical uses, but one needs to be careful with either type, they are far from benign.