Clinical Repercussions of Self-Medication With Corticosteroids for Aesthetic and Sports Purposes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20173326Keywords:
Corticosteroids, Self-Medication, Sports Medicine, Cushing Syndrome, Metabolic ComplicationsAbstract
Introduction: Self-medication with corticosteroids for aesthetic and sports purposes has increased significantly in recent years, especially among young adults and physically active individuals. The search for muscle hypertrophy, rapid weight loss, and body enhancement has encouraged the indiscriminate use of these substances, often without proper medical supervision. Despite temporary perceived benefits, glucocorticoids may trigger important systemic clinical repercussions. Objective: To analyze the main clinical repercussions associated with self-medication with corticosteroids in aesthetic and sports contexts. Methodology: This is a qualitative and descriptive narrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases between March and May 2026. Studies published between 2016 and 2026 addressing indiscriminate corticosteroid use and its systemic complications were included. At the end of the selection process, 8 studies composed the final analysis. Results: The main complications identified included insulin resistance, secondary diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, iatrogenic Cushing syndrome, immunosuppression, osteoporosis, psychiatric disorders, and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Increased cardiovascular risk, dermatological alterations, and worsening of musculoskeletal injuries due to masking of pain and inflammation were also reported. The concomitant use of other ergogenic substances intensified systemic adverse effects. Conclusions: Self-medication with corticosteroids represents an important public health issue due to the progressive and often silent clinical repercussions associated with indiscriminate use. Educational strategies, prevention, and increased awareness are essential to reduce risks related to this practice.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rebecca Alves Dávila, Gabriela Hitomi Ohara
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