| Info bank |
Updated May 2020
The quick information table below includes a list in which you can find the most commonly used doping substances, their medical use, and their desired and adverse effects.
More comprehensive articles on the doping substances and information on the fitness doping can be found from the navigation.
It is used to boost training and for its weight-loss effects.
Amphetamine has several possible adverse effects. The dosage plays a major part in the adverse effects. Some of the medicinal adverse effects of amphetamine include insomnia, the loss of appetite, anxiety, psychosis symptoms, as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Amphetamine combined with exertion may lead to heatstroke. Other potential consequences are cardiotoxicity and permanent changes in personality.
Amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant. Its medicinal use began in the 1930s. Amphetamine and its derivatives are used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and narcolepsy.
Both anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and testosterone are classified as prescription drugs permitted for use only for the treatment of diseases confirmed by public health authorities.
These diseases include, among others, Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TDS) caused by the pituitary gland or testicles, different kinds of anemia, osteoporosis, and chronic diseases of protein deficiency and prolonged tissue healing. Testosterone is also used for treatment of male menopause symptoms.
The desired effect of anabolic steroids and testosterone is to increase the hormone concentrations that cause the growth of striated muscles.
Hormonal disturbances
The consumption of AAS and testosterone above the normal need causes hormonal disturbances.
In men, the adverse effects appear as reduced hormone production, causing, for example, structural shrinking of testicles. The extracorporeal hormone suppresses the body's own hormone production.
In female users, testosterone and anabolic steroids cause excessive growth of body hair, lowering of the voice, decreased breast size, balding, enlargement of the clitoris, skin problems and menstrual cycle disturbances.
In adolescents, growth may stop, leading to short stature.
Severe diseases
According to a Finnish population-based study, the risk of AAS and testosterone abusers dying prematurely was 4.6 times higher than in the control group.
Oversized doses of anabolic steroids and testosterone will greatly distort body fat values. The continuous use of these hormones will increase the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, and the risk of infarctus cordis and apoplexy. Steroids weaken the cardiac contractile force and cause cardiac muscle degeneration that increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.
Abuse of AAS and testosterone increases the risk of developing diabetes. The sharing of syringes with other users increases the possibility of getting blood-transmitted diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Overuse also increases the risk of cancer and liver damage.
Mood disorders
Anabolic steroids and testosterone affect the central nervous system, including brain neurotransmitters and structure. During the using period, 20 to 30 percent of the people who use oversized doses have mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, and psychotic reactions with hallucinations. In addition, about 30% of anabolic steroid users experience dependence on AAS.
Aromatase is an enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors are so-called anti-estrogens. They are typically used for the treatment of post-menopausal female breast cancer and male infertility treatments.
Users seek to prevent gynecomastia (breast enlargement) as well as low gonadotrophin and testosterone levels with aromatase inhibitors by lowering the estrogen level.
If the estrogen levels lower too much, there are risks to the skeletal health. Other possible adverse effects include e.g. hot flashes and aches in the joints.
Clenbuterol is a sympathetic nervous system stimulating beta-2-agonist that is used mainly for the treatment for asthma in horses.
Clenbuterol has an anabolic (tissue growth-stimulating) and fat-burning effect. It increases the protein content of striated muscles, at the same time as the glycogen of muscles and body fat burns. Clenbuterol is one of the most common substances that is used to lose weight and burn fat, as well as for the growth of muscle mass.
The adverse effects of clenbuterol include, among others, tremors, rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias, muscle cramps and electrolyte disturbances. Arrhythmias and hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in the blood) can lead to death if not treated.
DHEA is an androgen produced mainly in the human adrenal glands. DHEA is a precursor to testosterone and estradiol. It has been widely used in medicine to treat different medical conditions. DHEA is used e.g. for the management of female menopause, and to treat ischaemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, and sexual dysfunctions.
DHEA is used to boost testosterone levels and to achieve an anabolic effect. Because DHEA levels decrease with age it has also been used to prevent aging.
Presumably, DHEA is quite safe as long as the daily doses remain moderate. Some of the adverse effects related to DHEA include potential hormone dependent cancers and acne.
2,4,-dinitrophenol (DNP) is a cell toxicant. When it gets into the human body, fat burning and body temperature increases. DNP was used in the USA as a weight loss medicine until 1938 when its poisonous effects were detected and its use was banned.
DNP is used to burn fat and lose weight.
The poisonous effects caused by DNP include, among others, harsh nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, feeling like being suffocated and having breathing problems, sweating, high fever, increase in heart rate, heart originated chest pain, headaches, restlessness, and writhing.
The difference between the dose that has a fat burning effect and the dose that leads to death is small. Sensitivity to DNP also varies widely.
Prolonged use may lead to cataracts or perilous agranulocytosis (lowered white blood cell count). Users can resist DNP for months without apparent adverse effects but can die suddenly because of DNP poisoning.
Diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, spironolactone, triamterene and amiloride. They are medical substances that increase the secretion of water and salts to urine. Diuretics are used for the treatment of increased blood pressure, cardiac failure and swelling.
Diuretics reduce the amount of water and salt in the body and increase the secretion of urine. Thus, outside competitive and high performance sports, diuretics are used mainly to lose weight.
Diuretics cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances, such as hypokalaemia, decreased potassium content in blood. Hypokalaemia causes muscular weakness and may increase the possibility of getting of arrhythmias.
The most important adverse effect of potassium sparing diuretics is hyperkalemia (an excessive level of potassium in blood) that may also cause muscular weakness and heart function disturbances.
Other adverse effects of diuretics include dehydration, excessive decreases in blood pressure, aggravation of diabetes, and increased predisposition to gout. Adverse effects may be dangerous, especially with abundant perspiration. The use of diuretics as doping substances has caused deaths.
Ephedrine is a sympathetic nervous system stimulant that is used for treatment of asthma, coughs and coryza.
Ephedrine is used in sports to increase exercise tolerance, prevent exhaustion, accelerate metabolism, and enhance power in exercises.
The adverse effects of ephedrine are tremors, rapid heartbeat and increases in blood pressure. It can cause confusional and paranoid states and severe heart arrhythmias in sensitive individuals, or if taken in too large doses.
Large amounts of medicine in concert with exertion can lead to heat stroke, dangerous heart arrhythmias and death.
When using growth hormone in medical doses, the most common adverse effects are joint and muscle pains and different types of swelling because of fluid retention. Swelling can lead to an increase in intracranial pressure or swelling of the eyeground. It can also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acute overdosing can lead to hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar) initially and even to coma. Later on, the consequence is hyperglycemia (too high blood sugar). Long-term use can cause heart muscle degeneration, diabetes and acromegaly (excessive growth of gristles, fingers and chin).
The use of human-originated growth hormone is reported to increase the appearance of Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease 10,000 times in comparison with the non-using population.
Growth hormone is the body’s own product secreted from anterior pituitary, and it has many kinds of functions that affect growth and metabolism.
In medicine, growth hormone is used for children with severe conditions of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and for the treatment of the so-called Turner syndrome.
The purpose of growth hormone abuse is its anabolic effects, because it is thought to increase muscle mass and strength, and to help the body adjust to harsh physical exertion. Growth hormone is also thought to accelerate the healing of sports injuries. Growth hormone also has a fat-burning effect.
Insulin made by recombinant DNA-technology is used for diabetes treatment by injections.
The aim of short-term insulin use is to enhance the growth the muscle mass. It is also used simultaneously with other doping substances to decrease insulin resistance, the decreased effect of insulin on tissue in liver, muscle and fatty tissue caused by anabolic steroids and growth hormone.
Overdosing of insulin can lead very quickly to hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar). Severe hypoglycemia can cause unconsciousness and spasms and can lead to permanent brain injury or death.
Insulin-like growth factor or IGF-1 (rhIGF-1), which is manufactured for medical use by recombinant DNA-technology, is used in Finland for long-term treatment of growth disturbances in children and youth who have severe IGF-1 deficiency. RhIGF-1 is also being researched for use in anorexia treatment and for treatment of severe insulin resistance.
The purpose of abuse is to enhance the growth the muscle mass, increase the burning of fat and speed up recovery after injuries. RhIGF-1 improves the muscle-growth stimulating effects of growth hormones and anabolic steroids. It is also found to decrease the breakdown of proteins.
RhIGF-1 may cause hypoglycemia (decreased sugar content in blood). Hypoglycemia caused by oversized doses can lead to unconsciousness or even death.
Other adverse effects can be allergic reactions, headaches, cramps, nausea, increasing intracranial hypertension, increased growth of malignant tumors and excessive growth of heart muscle.
Long-term use with oversized doses can cause acromegaly (excessive growth of gristles, forehead, nose, chin, hands and feet), heart muscle changes and arrhythmias.
Long chain insulin-like growth factor (LR3IGF-1) is an IGF-1 derivative that is in research use. It is not in use as a medicine.
The purpose for the abusive use of long chain insulin-like growth factor (LR3IGF-1) is to grow muscle mass, increase the rate of fat burning, and speed up the recovery from injuries.
All of the adverse effects of long chain insulin-like growth factor to human are not determined. Its adverse effects are probably similar to that of ordinary IGF-1 (mecasermin).
Acute overdose probably causes high-level hypoglycemia, decreased sugar content in the blood, that can lead to unconsciousness and death. Other adverse effects can be allergic reactions, headaches, cramps, nausea, increased intracranial pressure, increased growth of malignant tumors and excessive growth of heart muscle.
Long-term use with oversized doses can cause acromegaly (excessive growth of gristles, forehead, nose, chin, hands and feet), heart muscle changes, and arrhythmias.
Modafinil is a stimulant. Its structure and effects are different from amphetamine, ephedrine and other stimulants. Modafinil is used for treatment of narcolepsy and other conditions that cause daytime sleepiness. In addition, it is sporadically used for the treatment of memory and attention deficit disturbances, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.
Modafinil improves cognitive performance and concentration. It prolongs the capacity for sports that are performed until exhaustion, especially long duration sports. It is also believed that modafinil improves explosiveness in exercise and decreases appetite.
Modafinil can cause pleasure and addiction but to a much lesser degree than amphetamines. It is well tolerated when used in medical doses, but side effects can include insomnia, headaches, nervousness, anxiety, aggressiveness, increased blood pressure, and heart symptoms.
The placental hormone is present in the mother’s body during pregnancy. The placental hormone in medical form is used in fertility treatments for women. For men, the placental hormone can be used medically for fertility and delayed puberty.
By using the placental hormone, people who abuse anabolic steroids aim to prevent the decrease in hormones and to restart their body’s testosterone production. On the other hand, the placental hormone is thought to have a moderate anabolic (muscle-growth and strength increasing) effect, because it increases testosterone secretion in testicles in a way similar to the body’s own luteinizing hormone.
Adverse effects of placental hormone can include hormonal disturbances. For that reason, it’s recommended that the placental hormone is administered only under the supervision of a medical specialist or a doctor that works in a hospital specializing in the field.
For women, the placental hormone increases the risk of having multiple pregnancies. If a man getting placental hormone treatment has latent or overt cardiac failure, renal failure, epilepsy or migraines, the patient should be monitored closely because increased androgen production can cause the worsening of these conditions or their reactivation.
Other possible adverse effects are swelling, breast tenderness (also in men), and in some cases deep-vein thrombosis.
The effects of SARMs resemble those of anabolic steroids. SARMs are not yet widely used in the field of medicine because their safety hasn’t been researched sufficiently. SARMs are used and their potency is studied, for instance, in the treatment of osteoporosis, cancers and hypogonadism.
SARMs are used to get similar effects as with the use of testosterone and anabolic steroids, i.e. maximized muscle growth.
Adverse effects are not very well known. Reported risks include hepatotoxicity and various heart issues.
In medicine, SERMs are used to treat female menopause, breast cancer and osteoporosis, as well as male infertility.
SERMs are used to reduce the adverse effects caused by the aromatization of testosterone into estrogen. They’re used to prevent or treat gynecomastia (growth of breasts) and to increase the body’s testosterone levels.
Some of the adverse effects in men can include a weakening of the libido, hot flashes, mood swings, gynecomastia and phlebothrombosis.
Thyroid hormones have an important function in the regulation of normal growth, development, metabolism, body temperature, and blood circulation. Both insufficiency and excessive amounts can cause problems. Thyroid hormones are permitted to be used as drugs only by a doctor’s prescription.
The aim is to shape body composition by accelerating metabolism and burning body fat by abusing thyroid hormones.
Oversized doses of thyroid hormone cause symptoms that are similar to hypothyreosis, such as heart palpitation, arrhythmias, diarrhea, emaciation, decrease in temperature tolerance, insomnia, agitation, and even psychoses.
Prolonged thyroxine overdosing increases the risk of osteoporosis. Acute large thyroxine doses lead to thyrotoxicosis. The symptoms are high body temperature, failing heart functioning and coma. For people with latent heart diseases, adverse heart-related effects can be perilous.