316 Nandrolone
damage appeared after long-term administration of nandrolone. After the
drug was given for a year or more to female monkeys they showed abnor-
malities in the uterus. Female reproductive behavior was disrupted in a rat
experiment using doses comparable to what humans take. In humans the sub-
stance can promote male characteristics in females (such as facial hair and
deeper voice), and in men it can enlarge breasts while diminishing sexual
organs. Other unwanted effects may include acne, aggressive conduct, urinary
difficulty, and fluid retention causing tissues to swell. Nandrolone is supposed
to be avoided by males suffering from breast or prostate cancer and by anyone
with porphyria, liver disease, heart failure, or kidney failure. The drug may
interfere with children’s growth and their gender differentiation.
Taking nandrolone without watchful medical supervision can be hazardous.
A bodybuilder’s use of nandrolone and other steroids is suspected of trans-
forming a routine case of chickenpox into a nearly fatal experience, requiring
over a month of hospitalization in an intensive care unit. Daily nandrolone is
suspected of leading to kidney and bone marrow disease that paralyzed a 29-
year-old bodybuilder, although eventually he recovered enough to walk with-
out help.
Abuse factors.Nandrolone can improve muscle mass, and some athletes
use it for that purpose even though sports regulatory agencies forbid use of
the compound by competitors. Among athletes tested by the International
Olympic Committee in the 1980s nandrolone was the most frequently found
illicit anabolic steroid. The sports ban extends beyond human competitions
and includes horse racing; however, an experiment testing thoroughbred rac-
ing performance found no effect from the drug.
Research demonstrates that consuming boar meat or taking the nonpre-
scription steroid androstenedione can produce false-positive tests for nandro-
lone. In theory consumption of horse meat might also produce a false positive,
as natural body processes in a horse may produce enough nandrolone to be
measurable.
Drug interactions.The substance can alter the amount of insulin needed by
diabetics. Some experimentation on rats found that nandrolone can boost heart
rate acceleration caused bycocaine; in other rat work the combination appar-
ently lowered pulse rate. Nandrolone boosts actions of anti–blood clot medi-
cines, putting patients at risk of excessive bleeding.
Cancer.Judging from decades of medical experience, the compound does
not seem to cause cancer.
Pregnancy.Due to danger of masculinization of offspring, nandrolone is
supposed to be avoided by women who are pregnant or nursing.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Gerritsma, E.J., et al. “Virilization of the Voice in Post-Menopausal Women Due to the
Anabolic Steroid Nandrolone Decanoate (Decadurabolin). The Effects of Medi-
cation for One Year.”Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences19 (1994): 79–84.
Gold, J., et al. “Safety and Efficacy of Nandrolone Decanoate for Treatment of Wasting
in Patients with HIV Infection.”AIDS10 (1996): 745–52.
Johansen, K.L., K. Mulligan, and M. Schambelan. “Anabolic Effects of Nandrolone De-