Difference Between Oral Steroids and Injectable Steroids

Difference Between Oral Steroids and Injectable Steroids

If there is one question that comes up on steroid forums more than any other, it has to do with oral vs injectable steroids. People want to know which compound is best in which situation, which has the least side effects, and which provides the best overall results. Here, you will learn everything you need to know about the similarities and differences with regards to oral vs. injectable steroids.

Oral Steroids

Oral steroids are those that come in tablet or liquid suspension forms. Some common examples include Anadrol, Dianabol, and Halotestin. They require daily dosing, either all at once or broken down into two or more doses throughout the day, and they are generally the most hepatotoxic (liver toxic) of all of the steroids out there. What’s more, oral steroids carry side effects that include significant bloating, high blood pressure, and headaches. However, expert steroid users all agree that there is nothing like a powerful oral steroid to promote massive gains in short order. For this reason, many bodybuilders choose oral steroids over their injectable counterparts.

Injectable Steroids

Injectable steroids are those that you must inject subcutaneously or intramuscularly. For the most part, they require less frequent dosing than their oral counterparts do, though this depends primarily on the steroid’s half-life. Some popular examples of injectable steroids include Trenbolone, Deca Durabolin, and Winstrol, to name a few. Although injectable steroids are not as hepatotoxic as oral steroids are, they can still present some risks. Side effects vary based on the exact compound. Expert users all agree that injectable steroids are best for higher quality gains over time and there is nothing at all like them when it comes to cutting cycles.

Which Should You Choose?

Oral and injectable steroids both have their benefits. Primarily, oral steroids offer huge gains in short periods, and injectable steroids offer smaller, higher quality gains over longer periods of time. Most of the bodybuilders and athletes who utilize anabolic steroids will actually use both during a cycle. They will start out with one of the oral steroids as a “kick-start” for their gains, then switch over to an injectable before the side effects become too much to handle. This way, they can enjoy quick gains from the start, then turn them into lean muscle without much water retention throughout the rest of the cycle.

The Winner: Injectable Steroids

In the grand scheme of things, anabolic steroid users almost unanimously agree that injectable steroids are the better choice. Some of the benefits include:
Fewer (or more tolerable) undesirable side effects
Better libido
Less expense
Better for the liver
Longer time to develop muscles and maintain gains
Less frequent dosing
Better overall sense of well-being

As you can see, in the debate between oral vs. injectable steroids, the injectable steroids are the clear winners. However, there is also a time and a place for oral steroids, namely at the front of a cycle to help kick-start gains. You can also use an oral in the middle of an injectable cycle to help you bust plateaus in your gains.