# Is it legal or doctors to prescribe steroids for bodybuilding purposes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195 "2015-07-15T01:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/1 "2015-07-15T01:04:58Z")
Title says it all, really. Don’t need answer fast. Thanks, hh ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/2 "2015-07-15T02:02:45Z")
Not in the United States. Now, like anything, there’s a legal workaround. If your natural testosterone levels are low - as measured by a blood test - doctors can prescribe testosterone. Some doctors feel that giving you enough testosterone to raise your levels to the 90th percentile for an 18 year old is the correct dosage. As long as a licensed physician comes to this conclusion, and has some evidence to support his position, the medical boards will probably allow it. As you can imagine, for most men, (90 percent of them, technically), raising their testosterone levels to that of the most muscular 18 year olds can have a significant effect if they combine the shots with a solid bodybuilding routine. Search for “testosterone replacement therapy” or “hormone replacement therapy”. It’s legal for physicians to prescribe such drugs remotely, and so there seem to be these “pill mill” clinics in Florida that are eager for your business. Frankly, it sounds a little shady - but as long as you have a legitimate prescription when you go to the pharmacy and take the drugs home, _you_ probably will be in the clear. You know, technically, if you had low testosterone on a blood test, you could just go to several doctors with the same blood test results and get them all to prescribe you testosterone… I mean, I’m just saying. _That_ might actually be illegal - not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/3 "2015-07-15T02:21:31Z")
Aren’t the dosages of T replacement about 100mg/week? Dosages for bodybuilding purposes are closer to 600-800mg a week. [This doctor](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2521881) went to prison for prescribing steroids to professional athletes. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/4 "2015-07-15T02:30:27Z")
Yes and no. The most commonly used anabolic steroid is sold under the brand name Megace, and it’s usually prescribed by oncologists to stimulate the appetites of terminal cancer patients. Whenever I saw an order for it, I could safely assume that the patient didn’t have much time left. It has no abuse potential, because it doesn’t develop muscles, increase the sex drive, etc. I’ve been told by older colleagues that some of those “banned substances” were sometimes prescribed for this reason, or even late-stage AIDS, but I’ve never seen it. That’s what they were invented for in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/5 "2015-07-15T03:28:17Z")
Bodybuilders (on steroid friendly bodybuilder boards and youtube etc) sometimes comment on how expensive steroid/GBH etc regimens are to maintain. What are we talking here… hundreds of dollars … thousands? One guy said “a cup of my piss is worth more than your watch”. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/6 "2015-07-15T04:27:23Z")
I’ve seen them priced online at a price that comes to about $10-$20 a week, depending on the exact regimen. So about $500-$1000 a year. Almost anyone can afford the financial cost. Now, there’s a rumor and some evidence that suggests that abusing testosterone might damage your heart/cause premature cardiac death. (cardiac enlargement). And, of course, if you get caught by the cops with the drugs in your possession, you could face fines and jail time. But, for those wanting to abuse steroids, obtaining them on the black market via the internet or “knowing a guy” is not particularly difficult or unaffordable. It’s the other costs that make them expensive, and even if a doctor prescribes them, you still face the health risks. (a white coat and a prescription pad don’t make a drug safe, currently prescription drugs kill more people than illegal drugs) I’m currently talking about ‘standard’ steroid regimens. That’s usually about 500-750 mg of testosterone based drugs a week (there are a variety to choose from), an oral steroid, and at the end of each “cycle”, an estrogen inhibitor to reduce the negative side effects of quitting the drug. That’s enough to develop the “roided out” musculature to make you competitive with other muscular dudes at the gay nightclub. (or the straight one) Bodybuilders wanting to actually compete have to take more like 10 different drugs and 20 different supplements, all very expensive, for even a chance at placing in the contest. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/7 "2015-07-15T06:26:50Z")
How about baseball players? I hadn’t noticed (don’t follow sports) until the mid-90’s. Is the cocktail the same among all who abuse them, or are there different flavors for each muscle type/desired effect?? ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/8 "2015-07-15T14:32:56Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How about baseball players? I hadn’t noticed (don’t follow sports) until the mid-90’s. > > Is the cocktail the same among all who abuse them, or are there different flavors for each muscle type/desired effect?? There’s a standard cocktail that is effective with probably only moderate risk. I’m actually not sure if any science went into the cocktail or if it’s just “bro consensus”. It would work for baseball players, but they have the additional consideration that they don’t want to get caught, so that must dominant their drug choices. The “standard” kind can be detected for months after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/9 "2015-07-15T14:37:35Z")
Is it actively illegal to take steroids if you’re not a professional athlete, or does it just violate the rules of the game if you’re a baseball player? Suppose somebody works out and just wants to get bigger faster. Still illegal? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/10 "2015-07-15T14:43:15Z")
It’s illegal if you don’t have a prescription from an appropriately licensed physician. It’s not illegal if you do. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/11 "2015-07-15T14:54:26Z")
This is one of the reasons why the laws against anabolic steroids are unfair. The reason Congress made them illegal was part of a bill to prevent cheating on sports, yet most people who use them want to be more attractive to potential sex partners. Steroids carry risks - but the cosmetic surgery to make someone’s muscles appear larger is probably much riskier. (that’s where they stuff silicon implants to create the appearance of fake large muscles, and then liposuction out the fat) ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/12 "2015-07-15T16:27:12Z")
It’s also unfair because the guys who legitimately have low testosterone have to fall within certain established guidelines or it’s not happening. If a woman wants hormone replacement therapy, all she has to do is ask for it. Estrogen = Good - Testosterone = Bad ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/13 "2015-07-15T16:36:13Z")
> [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > It’s also unfair because the guys who legitimately have low testosterone have to fall within certain established guidelines or it’s not happening. If a woman wants hormone replacement therapy, all she has to do is ask for it. Where on earth did you get that idea? Women who go onto HRT have either had blood tests done to demonstrate that their hormone levels are within certain ranges; and/or they are in peri-menopause (and are having negative symptoms); and/or they are obviously menopausal (and having negative symptoms). Women can’t just walk into the doctor’s office and “get hormones” any more than men can. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-or-doctors-to-prescribe-steroids-for-bodybuilding-purposes/725195/14 "2015-07-15T19:05:15Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Women can’t just walk into the doctor’s office and “get hormones” any more than men can. What I meant is that the decision is solely between the patient and doctor - estrogen is not a Schedule III controlled substance and her doctor isn’t in danger of being prosecuted as a drug dealer for prescribing it.