Essentials of Nutrition for Sports

Medical Drugs Antihypertensives: Diuretics, Beta-Blockers, Calcium-Channel Blockers

A sizable number of us take medicines for high blood pressure.

Although exercise may reduce the need for these medicines in some people, high blood pressure is a big factor in heart attacks and strokes—diseases that account for almost half of all deaths. Doctors take hypertension seriously, but unfortunately, many of the drugs used for hypertension worsen high-level human performance.

Beta-blockers include Inderal (propranalol) and Tenormin

(atenalol). If your blood pressure me

dicine ends in “alol,” it is

probably a beta-blocker.

Beta-blockers are also used to treat migraine and other diseases. In one study, a cyclist riding at a steady prescribed pace without

Inderal in his system became exhausted after 79 minutes. At the same pace, with 80 milligrams of Inderal in his system, it took him only 23 minutes to become exhausted. His heart rate was reduced from 163 to 129 beats per minute. A similar effect was produced by 100 milligrams of Tenormin. Many

other studies have shown that

beta-blockers worsen athletic performance.

According to

Consumer Reports on Health

, “Beta-blockers

reduce the body’s ability to regulate te

mperature, so drink up before,

during, and after workouts; exercise in the cooler hours... and consider scaling back workouts in really hot weather.”

Diuretics and some calcium channel blockers may also worsen

aerobic athletic performance.

Fortunately, most medically prescribed ergolytic drugs have

substitutes that treat the medical problem without the ergolytic effect. Be sure to ask your physician whether prescribed drugs worsen performance and whether ther

e is a substitute. For example,

in the case of hypertension, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor may be a better choice.

Other Common Ergolytic Medical Drugs •^

Antacids.

The over-the-counter availability of cimetidine

(Tagamet) and other so-called H

2 blockers has helped many with

acid problems. However, Tagame

t is also an anti-androgen—it

lowers testosterone levels, and so reduces muscle mass, reduces the red blood cell count, and worsens performance.

-^

Antibiotics.

Their ergolytic effects are probably overstated. I

recommend taking antibiotics if a

doctor feels they are needed,

rather than suffering through an illness without them.

-^

Antidepressants

. Some are associated with ergolytic effects.
-^

Oral antifungals

, including ketoconazole, now commonly

prescribed for toenail fungus, can be ergolytic.

-^

Antihistamines

can help allergies or other problems that worsen

performance, but in some individuals the drugs themselves can reduce performance.

-^

Eye drops

used for glaucoma, including timolol, are beta-

blockers, which can be absorbed into the body. Studies have shown that they can worsen performance.

-^

Sleeping pills

. May have hangover effects, which worsen

performance.

-^

Cough suppressants

, commonly codeine or other narcotic

derivatives. Often sedating. Decr

eased focus, loss of skills, and

safety may be resultant problems.

So-Called Ergogenics Caffeine

Many studies have shown that caffeine can improve

performance, but it can worsen it as well. Interrupted sleep, inadequate sleep, anxiety, and headaches are all common side effects and can worsen performance. Those dependent on caffeine are also

Nutrition for Sports, Essentials of 125