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Performance-enhancing drugs: Are they a risk to your health?
Androstenedione
What is it?
Androstenedione (andro) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries and testes. It's a hormone that's normally converted to testosterone and estradiol in both men and women.
Andro is a controlled substance and its use as a performance-enhancing drug is illegal in the United States. However, andro is still sold as a nutritional supplement and manufacturers and bodybuilding magazines tout its ability to allow athletes to train harder and recover more quickly.
Scientific studies that refute these claims show that supplemental androstenedione doesn't increase testosterone and that your muscles don't get stronger with andro use.
Risks
Side effects of andro in men include:
- Acne
- Diminished sperm production
- Shrinking of the testicles
- Enlargement of the breasts
In women, side effects include:
- Acne
- Masculinization, such as deepening of the voice and male-pattern baldness
In both men and women, andro can decrease HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), which puts you at greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
Stimulants
What are they?
Some athletes use stimulants for the perceived edge they give in stimulating the central nervous system and increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Stimulants can:
- Reduce fatigue
- Suppress appetite
- Increase alertness and aggressiveness
Common stimulants include:
- Caffeine and amphetamines (Dexedrine, Adderall)
- Cold remedies, which often contain the stimulants ephedrine or pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (Sudafed, Advil Allergy Sinus)
- Street drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine
Risks
Although stimulants can boost physical performance and promote aggressiveness on the field, they have side effects that can impair athletic performance.
- Nervousness and irritability make it hard to concentrate on the game.
- Insomnia can prevent an athlete from getting needed sleep.
- Athletes may become psychologically addicted or develop a tolerance so that they need greater amounts to achieve the desired effect, meaning they'll take doses that are much higher than the intended medical dose.
Other side effects include:
- Heart palpitations
- Heart rhythm abnormalities
- Weight loss
- Tremors
- Mild hypertension
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Heart attack and other circulatory problems
Gaining the competitive edge
Athletic performance has more to do with skill and hard work than popping a pill or downing a superdrink, says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and co-director of Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center. Concern is growing that young athletes will emulate sports figures who use substances of questionable value in a bid to gain a competitive edge.
"There's a danger that kids or young adults will think: 'If I want to be like that, I'll need to take something,' " Dr. Laskowski says. "There's a tendency to look for an external agent as a magic bullet, a magic pill that's going to help us perform better. The truth is, there isn't any."
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