There are always negatives to PEDs- some of the impact can be mitigated, but you're taking a long-term risk for a short-term result. If your goal is healthy longevity, I would steer clear.

That said, one supplement (not a PED) that is widely used and well-studied in the body-building world is creatine. Just make sure you drink enough water, as it causes you to retain a bit of water (I learned this the hard way, waking up with a bloody nose it dried my sinuses out so much).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20...

Creatine has the advantage of being well supported by science, and safe for most people.

But for a beginning lifter, I wouldn't bother. Early on, literally every single workout will bring you bigger gains than creatine will. Do your 3x5 or 5x5 sets, go back a few days later, add 5 pounds. Easy.

Creatine makes the most sense once you've been lifting for a few months, and once you've figured out your diet, and your progress is starting to slow. As I understand it, it's tweaking your intramuscular energy storage just enough to turn a 9 rep set into a 10 rep set. Which is a good deal once you've exhausted your newbie gains.

But it's not going to do much for someone who's exercising casually.

Agreed on all counts- those gains when you first start on a 3x5 or 5x5 are exhilarating and, short of making sure to eat enough, I wouldn't recommend anyone waste effort complicating that magical phase.

They are all varying levels of dangerous. The most common warning I hear is that the heart is also a muscle. But there are many complex issues that come with PEDs. Anyone who had used them and is a serious person will tell you, a) don’t do it, b) if you really must, do it after you’ve reached your genetic peak as a natural with 5-10 years of heavy training.