Dangerous side effects of misusing common drug bodybuilder, 32, took that left him fighting for life

Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.

Almost every drug in the world can be dangerous when misused, whether it be Class A cocaine or a one-a-day hayfever tablet.

But in the case of UK bodybuilder Zak Wilkinson, it was anabolic steroids which nearly cost him his life, as he was put in a medically induced coma after developing an addiction to the testosterone-boosting drug.

We know that injecting steroids on a regular basis can be extremely harmful, especially when it comes to potentially developing diseases in the future.

Wilkinson, a 32-year-old scaffolder from Middlesbrough, was left fighting for his life after reaching a point where he was injecting himself with steroids around three times a day.

(SWNS)

After 13 years of spending around £100 a month on the drug, he upped his intake between 2023 and 2025, spending over £750 each month.

This led to problems such as seizures and vomiting, with his sister eventually calling an ambulance after a number of seizures left the lad unable to talk.

These are just two of the many side effects associated with anabolic steroids, all of which you need to be aware of if you ever take the drug, which is only legal when prescribed by a doctor and sold to you by a pharmacist.

Side effects include:

• Acne or oily skin.
• Swelling in your ankles from mild fluid retention.
• Stimulation of your prostate, which can cause urinary symptoms such as difficulty peeing.
• Breast enlargement or tenderness in men.
• Decrease in breast size in women.
• Worsening of sleep apnea.
• Smaller testicles.
• Vaginal dryness, burning, itching or bleeding.
• Menstrual cycle changes.

Fortunately for Zak, he was able to regain his speech just a few days after being admitted to hospital, in what was described as a 'miracle recovery' by medics.

He said: "I just thought if I was going to take things I would do it properly. I put 100 percent into it - diet, training, drugs - and I didn't even drink alcohol for a year and a half.

"It was an all or nothing approach - it's frightening. It just gets hold of you. I thought I was the fittest, strongest, healthiest person, but on the inside I wasn't."

(SWNS)

Professor Adam Taylor, an expert in anatomy at Lancaster University, told the Daily Mail that anabolic-androgenic steroids happen to be most common type of 'image and performance enhancing drug'.

He explained: "The growth in people self prescribing steroids for performance reasons is of real concern.

"There is a danger of suffering serious side effects if you are using these drugs, from heart attacks, and brain damage to long term mobility issues.

"Cases like this show the danger of anabolic steroids, and people need to be aware of the consequences when they see people promoting the drugs on their social media feeds."

If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week