Performance-enhancing drugs are used by athletes, scholars, the military and others in order to improve goal-oriented performance of tasks, as opposed to drugs used purely for recreation. Commonly used performance-enhancing drugs include androgens such as testosterone and its precursors, growth hormone, beta blockers, stimulants, erythropoietin and insulin.
Testosterone
According to MayoClinic.com, testosterone and its derivatives are male sex hormones which are used by body builders and other athletes to build muscle. These drugs have been shown to increase muscle mass and strength. Drugs that are precursors to testosterone and are used because they are theoretically converted into testosterone by the body, have not been shown to be effective, however. These include DHEA and androstenedione. Prominent side effects include virilization of women which causes male pattern baldness, facial hair and other male hair growth and deepening of the voice. Males may grow breast tissue, have suppression of natural testosterone production and decreased sperm production. These drugs also increase cholesterol and red blood cell counts, may lead to aggression or depression, and damage the liver cells.
Growth Hormone
According to a 2008 review in "Annals of Internal Medicine," recombinant human growth hormone, or rHGH, has been shown to increase lean body mass, but its effects on strength are unclear. It can also increase water absorption by tissues and levels of the hormone IGF-1, which may be associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers such as propranolol are drugs that antagonize the effects of the fight-or-flight hormones epinephrine and epinephrine, also known as adrenaline and noradrenaline. These compounds increase blood pressure, cause the heart to beat faster, and may make the hands tremble. As such, beta blockers are sometimes used in tasks requiring physical precision, such as playing the piano in front of a large crowd or archery. Side effects may include depression, low heart rate, erectile dysfunction, fatigue or dizziness.
Stimulants
Stimulants such as the amphetamines found in Ritalin and Adderall, which are commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are used by scholars and others for enhanced concentration. They can be habit-forming and cause disturbed sleep, nervousness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, fast heart rate, mania and paranoia, among other possible side effects, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin is a hormone released by the kidneys that signals the bone marrow to make more red blood cells, the main carrier of oxygen from the blood. According to a 2000 study in "Medicine & Science in Sports Exercise," it has been shown to increase exercise performance. No side effects have been noted yet, but blood clots could theoretically occur, cutting off oxygen to part of the body.
Insulin
Insulin is a protein hormone released by the pancreas that signals the liver to store glucose, the body's primary source of sugar used for energy. It also send messages to the cells in the body to take glucose up from the blood, which may support muscle building. The danger of insulin stems from its ability to precipitously drop glucose levels in the blood, depriving cells of this source of energy, which could lead to coma or death.
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