Roid Rage?

​Anabolic steroids are linked with many psychiatric problems.  Roid rage is when a person using steroids becomes aggressive and irritable.  It does not happen to everyone, but it can lead to violence and other health problems.  If you or someone you know has roid rage, it is best to get professional care for mental health.  A mental health professional can help you stop using steroids and also treat any associated psychiatric symptoms.

Roid Rage?  How Steroids Affect Emotion and Behavior
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

What is roid rage?
The term "roid" in roid rage is an abbreviation of the word "steroid."  The steroids referred to are anabolic-androgenic steroids, also called anabolic steroids.  People sometimes use these steroids to enhance athletic performance and increase lean muscle.  They are different from prescription steroids used for medical conditions.
Roid rage is a phenomenon of anger and agitation that occurs with steroid use.  Many studies have compared the behavior of people who use steroids with those who do not.  They show that people who use steroids show more irritability and unprovoked aggression.  Steroid use also increases the risk of other psychological problems.
 
Do steroids make people aggressive?
Some people use steroids and have no side effects.  However, some people have severe side effects, including violent behavior toward other people.  More specifically, people who use steroids have reported more:

• Anger
• Verbal arguments
• Violence toward significant others

But there are reasons why it is not possible to say that steroids cause aggression by themselves.  Some experts have identified other trends in aggression with steroid use.  Aggressive behavior while taking steroids could be partially explained by:

• The personality type of the average person who uses steroids
• Overlapping substance use
• Pre-existing psychiatric conditions

 
What do roid rage symptoms look like?
The most common descriptions of roid rage are unprovoked aggression and irritability.  The timing and frequency of these symptoms vary from person to person.  They can occur in just one episode after someone takes a dose of steroids, or they can take more time to develop.  They can also be ongoing in a person who routinely takes steroids.
Roid rage is similar to living with someone who has extreme anger management problems or someone who becomes violent when they drink.  You do not know precisely when or how a behavior change will happen, but you know you wish you were anywhere but near them when it occurs.
Steroids are also linked to many other psychiatric symptoms, with many of the symptoms being an underlying reason for the rage responses, as well.
Psychiatric symptoms related to steroids are:

• Anxiety
• Changes in sexual interest
• Cognitive decline, which is a decrease in the ability to remember, think, or plan
• Depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Impulse control problems
• Mania and hypomania, which are states of high energy and intense emotions, like in bipolar disorder 
• Psychosis (delusional thinking)

Not all people who use steroids have psychiatric symptoms.  However, people who use steroids are more likely to have them, to have multiple psychiatric problems, including personality disorders.
If the steroids are stopped, psychiatric symptoms may improve.  But for other people, symptoms can linger even after they do not use steroids any longer.
 
Which steroids lead to roid rage?
Anabolic steroids cause anger and aggression, known as roid rage.  These are not the same as corticosteroids like prednisone.   Corticosteroids are similar to cortisol and other natural hormones in the body.  They are used for a variety of medical reasons.  Corticosteroids also carry a risk of emotional and behavioral problems, but not in the same way as anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are similar to the body's hormone testosterone.  They build lean muscle and make some people stronger or faster.  They are also known as appearance and performance-enhancing drugs.  Doses of these drugs are in the range of 5 to 100 times the amount of natural testosterone in the body.  
Anabolic steroids come in several forms, including:

• Gels and creams
• Implanted pellets
• Injections
• Pills

Testosterone is often the active ingredient in gels, creams, and pellets.  Pills and injections have a variety of testosterone-like substances, however.
The most commonly used steroids in pill form are:

• Methandienone (Dianabol)
• Oxandrolone (Anavar)
• Oxymetholone (Anadrol)
• Stanozolol (Winstrol)
• Testosterone (Restandol)

Commonly injected steroids include:

• Boldenone (Equipoise)
• Nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin and Durabolin)
• Testosterone (Agovirin, Depo-Testosterone, and Retandrol)

 
What to do if someone has roid rage?
If someone you know is showing roid rage, do not confront them while they are angry.  Emotions and situations can change quickly.  Think about the safety of yourself and others.  Consider alerting authorities if circumstances are dangerous.  If you are close to the person, you may want to encourage them to seek the help of a mental health provider.  And it is crucial to seek help for your mental health if their behavior upsets you.
If you are experiencing roid rage, seek help from your regular health care provider or a mental health provider.  And get emergency medical care if you have:

• Any concern that your physical or mental safety is in danger
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Erratic or impulsive behavior that doesn't feel like you
• Racing heartbeat
• Severe headache
• Thoughts of harming yourself or others