Oral Steroids or Injectable Steroids- Which is Better?

As any experienced bodybuilder will admit, it takes countless amounts of hard work in the gym- weeks, if not months, to naturally gain any level of noticeable muscle mass. Therefore, there are several reasons that some bodybuilders prefer to go natty. For those with the right pair of eyes, it isn’t difficult to identify a natty.

Usually, this means comparing a natty bodybuilder with a bodybuilder that uses steroids with some level of understanding. Generally speaking, the all-natural guy would be conceding a considerable amount of strength to the guy riding the bicycle (bodybuilding slang that means steroid cycle.)

Looking at things from this angle makes a lot of sense why several people chose to switch over to anabolic steroids. At this point, you can say steroids play a significant role in bodybuilding and several other athletic activities.

But there are different types of steroids. They can be divided into two main categories, namely:

• Oral steroids
• Injectable steroids

If you’re wondering what the pros and cons of each type are, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s forge straight ahead without any delays.

What Are Oral Steroids?

As the name suggests, oral steroids are performance-enhancing drugs that primarily exist as pills or tablets. Therefore, users must swallow these tablets or capsules whole, usually using liquid and a meal for better absorption. You take oral steroids just like you would take a vitamin supplement each morning or a painkiller when you get a terrible headache.

They are easy and convenient, and most bodybuilders who use them cite these reasons as one of the main motivating factors behind their choice. But it’s needful to state that not all oral steroids are available as solids. Some are available in liquid form. Presently, you can buy anabolic steroids under different names which are orally administered.

Although this article won’t list every single oral steroid out there, it’s worth knowing the most popular ones you can find in the bodybuilding community. The market has more than 30 AAS, which can perplex some people when searching for the ideal steroid.

Common Examples of Oral Steroids

Suffice it to state that these are the main orals you should learn about if you want to give oral steroids a try.

• Anadrol
• Dianabol
• Winstrol
• Anavar
• Turinabol
• Halotestin
• Clenbuterol
• Primobolan
• Testosterone undecanoate

Most people start their steroid cycle using orals rather than injectables since they consider them less extreme than sticking a sharp needle into their bodies. But before you get carried away by the idea, let’s take a closer look at injectable steroids too.

What Are Injectable Steroids?

Injectable steroids are perhaps the more recognized form of steroid among the masses. This method of steroid use has been popularized in movies, TV shows, and news reports, showing the possible side effects of steroid cycles. Under injectable steroids, there are two ways of administering them. There are:

• Intramuscular injection
• Subcutaneous injection

The majority of injectable steroids are oil-based and developed to have a half-life longer than their oral counterparts. Due to this single property, injectable steroids require less frequent usage, mainly if you use premium injectable steroids. In contrast, you may need to dose each day if you choose to use oral steroids.

This means injectable steroids stay in the blood longer, react much slower, and produce more noticeable gains over an extended duration. Although this might sound ironic to some, they also come with less-severe side effects when compared to oral steroids.

Common Examples of Injectable Steroids

Like everything else, they come with upsides and downsides depending on which specific injectable steroid you choose to use. For starters, here are some common types of injectable ASS.

• Deca Durabolin
• Trenbolone
• Winstrol 
• Equipoise
• Testosterone
• Primobolan (methenolone enanthate)

Due to their longer half-life and potency, it’s vital to ensure high quality and purity if you choose to source injectable Canada steroids online.

To determine the better option, let’s quickly go through the cons and pros of each, again starting with oral steroids.

Pros And Cons of Oral Steroids

Pros

• Produces quick results – Due to the relatively shorter half-life of the oral steroids, it takes less time to take effect, making gains in a matter of days. For instance, if you use testosterone undecanoate, blood testosterone levels can take only five hours to spike.
• More convenient – You only need to swallow a pill, generally with water, to start your steroid cycle. Also, they are mostly c17-alkylated, which means a large portion of the substance will go through liver metabolism unchanged.
• Shorter detection time – Normally has less detection time than injectables. Hence, it is a better option if you don’t want to fail a drug test.

Cons

• Affects the heart – Typically, oral steroids have more severe effects on the heart since they reduce HDL cholesterol levels. Most of them increase hepatic lipase levels, which lowers HDL cholesterol.
• Toxic to the Liver – They are also hepatotoxic; in other words, they stress the liver, indicative of the rise in ALT and AST.
• Less biologically available – Oral steroids have a significantly lower biological availability, especially after incorrect use.

Pros And Cons of Injectable Steroids

Pros

• Less harmful to the heart – Every steroid increases blood pressure to some degree. Hence, HDL levels will reduce as LDL levels increase with injectable steroids. However, these steroids pose less threat to the heart since they don’t increase hepatic lipase production.
• Lower liver toxicity – Although injectable steroids also present some toxicity to the liver, the risk is much lower since they enter the bloodstream directly. Hence, you may not need to take a liver support supplement like milk thistle or TUDCA.

Cons

• Improper injection could produce fatal results – The usual intramuscular injection locations are the outer thigh and buttocks. But failure to correctly inject could lead to septic shock, disability, nerve damage, or even death.
• Painful – Injection of steroids like testosterone propionate can be pretty painful.
• Coughing – Other steroids like trenbolone can induce violent coughs known as ‘tren cough.’

Conclusion

So, you have it, the distinctions between oral and injectable steroids. Knowing what separates these two puts you in a better position to make the best choice for your bodybuilding journey. With this information, you can utilize each approach to maximize your gains and reach your bodybuilding objections while ensuring safety and preventing injuries. Hence, it’s vital to analyze your situation and decide based on what’s most convenient and within your budget.

References

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/anabolic-steroids
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11366381/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3288605/
• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/330635
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3205107/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/biological-half-life