Over on reddit[1] a number of steroid users have pointed out that:
1. He actually took unusually high doses for a first-time user.
2. He took none of the additional drugs recommended to prevent or ameliorate the side-effects.
3. That he got every side-effect, even some rare ones, with unusually high severity, seems suspiciously like dramatic license.
Remember: this is a guy who has a novel to sell. He is not acting as a journalist. He is not a scientist. He is under no legal or ethical requirement to be honest. He is a salesman for his own work.
1. He actually took unusually high doses for a first-time user.
2. He took none of the additional drugs recommended to prevent or ameliorate the side-effects.
3. That he got every side-effect, even some rare ones, with unusually high severity, seems suspiciously like dramatic license.
Remember: this is a guy who has a novel to sell. He is not acting as a journalist. He is not a scientist. He is under no legal or ethical requirement to be honest. He is a salesman for his own work.
[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1lodxn/til_ca...