Ultra-fit man, 32, on the brink of death after taking popular medication – experts warn more gym-goers could be affected
A bodybuilder was left fighting for his life after abusing a drug which experts warn more young men are turning to, unaware of its devastating side effects.
Zak Wilkinson, 32, spent more than two years using steroids, splashing £35,000 on the injections injecting himself up to three times daily.
The avid gym goer, like a growing number of young men, turned to anabolic steroids, a type of image and performance drug taken, to increase his muscle growth.
The drugs mimic testosterone–one of the hormones responsible for boosting muscle mass– but can have devastating side effects, including an increased risk of suffering a heart attack.
And experts warn there has been a concerning rise in their use fuelled by social media triggering body image issues.
Now, Mr Wilkinson hopes to do his part in raising the alarm about the potentially life changing effects of the drug.
On March 23 2022, the father of one’s gruelling steroid regime finally caught up with him when he started having seizures, vomiting and sweating profusely.
Mr Wilkinson was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering the side effects of years of steroid use
The father of one said he had been using the drugs since the age of 16
He was rushed to intensive care unit at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, after his sister, Chelsea Wilkinson, 37, called an ambulance.
At first, doctors thought he could be suffering from meningitis, but quickly realised the fits were caused by his steroid use.
Doctors said Mr Wilkinson was fortunate to avoid suffering long term neurological damage after being left non-verbal for days.
He was put into a medically-induced coma for a week, with his medical team saying it was a ‘miracle’ he survived.
Mr Wilkinson-a scaffolder-said: ‘I thought I’d never be able to play with my son again, that I’d never see him again.
‘After the coma had ended, one doctor said that he couldn’t believe I was speaking with him because he thought I’d have brain complications for the rest of my life.
‘I was so frightened that that could be the end of me.’
Mr Wilkinson said steroids had ‘just got hold of him’ and warned that gym goers need to be aware of the risks.
The bodybuilder says his body dysmorphia led to him turning to the drugs
‘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.
‘It’s sad because I see a lot of young lads becoming affected by it. And that’s why a lot of the bodybuilders are dying prematurely, because it’s not healthy.
Doctors have warned Mr Wilkinson that he will likely have medical issues for the rest of his life.
He has a meeting with his treatment team twice a week, and also has to take anxiety, sleeping, and epilepsy medication, as well as attend frequent appointments for brain scans and blood tests.
‘It could still all affect me later on, and I’m probably going to be on constant medication for the rest of my life,’ says Mr Wilkinson.
‘I now have PTSD, body dysmorphia, a diagnosed eating disorder, regular flashbacks, and I’m having rehabilitation for trauma. I’ve also now become epileptic due to the coma.’
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are the most common type of ‘image and performance enhancing drug’.
They are typically injected directly into the muscle, though can also be taken orally in tablet form or even as a cream.
Doctors have said that he will likely suffer lifelong health implications from steroid use
Anabolic-androgenic steroids work by mimicking the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone, tricking the body into producing more muscular tissue.
But this comes at a cost. Common side effects include: severe acne, kidney failure due, high cholesterol, and even stroke.
A landmark study published last year by Danish researchers found steroid users have an almost 300 per cent increased risk of death within two decades.
Professor Adam Taylor, an expert in anatomy at Lancaster University said: ‘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.’
Mr Wilkinson said he started taking steroids at 16 after struggling with body dysmorphia-a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about perceived flaws in their appearance.
He said: ‘The drugs were very accessible and I was weighing everything – even down to the sugar-free syrups in my coffees.
‘It started as a hobby and then it became body dysmorphia-I could barely look in the mirror, and I would put jumpers and hoodies on to avoid showing my body.
‘And that explains the tattoos. I’m so body conscious. I’ve tried every diet out there, I’ve tried protein diet, meat and eggs diet, weight loss diets, the lot.
‘It’s because social media creates competition and you’re constantly comparing yourself to others and looking at others trying to emulate them. It’s a vicious circle.’
Experts warn that steroid use is on the rise in young men fuelled by social media. Stock image
He said: ‘The steroids were selfish, I didn’t care about my son or my friends or my family.
‘But it happens ever so slowly, you start taking steroids, and the benefits you see on the outside make you want to take more, but it isolates you from your friendships and bonds with people.
‘I didn’t want to socialise and spend time with my partner. I was just striving for perfection in the bodybuilding game when everything around me was falling apart.
‘My family nearly lost someone who was important in their lives – it was a tough time for them.
‘There’s a real taboo around men and steroid use–there’s AA for alcoholics, GA for gamblers, but not really a lot on steroid use and the gym.
‘I want to show people who are struggling what I’ve been through, that these muscles are not worth the comas, seizures, constant brain scans, tubes out your mouth, possibly losing a member of your family–all because you want to look good and compare yourself on social media.’
