Discussion: Racing on pseudoephedrine

I am coming down with a cold and considering taking pseudoephedrine before a race. Does pseudoephedrine affect athletic performance? If so, how?

Wikipedia:

...sports athletes, for example, have reportedly used pseudoephedrine as a stimulant to increase their state of alertness/awareness.

Pseudoephedrine was on the banned substances IOC list until 2004, when the WADA list replaced the IOC list. Although WADA initially only monitored pseudoephedrine, it is once again on the banned list starting January 1, 2010.

Yes, it does. It will give you a boost. For years, it's been widely used by NHL players to get jazzed before games.

See: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1998/wee...

Pseudoephedrine is (I understand) permitted in "normal" amounts. According to the WADA 2012 app, it is only banned when in concentration in urine is greater than 150 micrograms per liter. I have not looked into the pharmocokinetics and pharmacodynamics involved, but I have been led to believe that taking this substance in typical doses will not lead to levels high enough to be banned.

In my experience (taking normal dosages for allergic symptoms), this medication can make you a little bit jittery. Similar symptoms to Ventolin (salbutamol). Doesn't seem to affect my orienteering concentration. Biggest effect was on my GI tract (it seems to speed everything up...).

If it's just nasal stuffiness, try Afrin - lasts hours and I'd imagine all the sympathetic drive brought to bear by/on a race will help keep passages clear anyway.

Do be careful running on a cold, especially in cold weather. As enlightened modern individuals, we all know that colds are caused by viruses, not cold weather right? But it turns out that sinus infections can be precipitated by those conditions.

Some time ago, I insisted on continuing my winter workouts, despite having a little cold. That was two years ago and I still haven't recovered.

Not recovered? What happened?

Sinus infection turned chronic. After 5+ courses of antibiotics, steroids, and surgery, I still have congestion and still can't work out full speed. Although I'm optimistic that things will be improving soon.

Pseudoephedrine is tops (stimulant, masks the effects of a cold pretty well). But if you need it, you're probably not in tip top racing shape anyway. Legal in regular amounts (recommended dose on packet), illegal in greater amounts. If I was going to race sick, I'd use it.

I'll be racing hopped up on sudafed and garmin. I may get banned for life.

Is Garmin on the doping list?

@Todd-Busted! :) :)

During the race, my HR seemed a little higher than normal, by 2~3 beats?

You can't ban me! I was running too fast and had no time to activate cheat mode on my garmin. :-)

by 2-3 beats?! hahhahahhahaaa its funny

It is hard to tell, but I think for the given pace of my running in the race, my HR was a little high. Hard to tell though, with the snow, mass start, all of those things affect my HR as well.