Pseudoephedrine is chemically related to ephedrine. Despite the fact there is no research that has examined the performance enhancing effects of pseudoephedrine, this hasn’t stopped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sporting organizations from placing it on its banned substance list.
Pseudoephedrine is a weak sympathomimetic drug (stimulates the sympathetic nervous system) and an effective nasal decongestant. Consequently, an athlete suffering from a cold when competing in a drug tested event could take a cold-relief medication that contains pseudoephedrine and test positive for a banned substance. This scenario has happened on more than one occasion in international competition.
This study investigated the effect of a once-off dose of pseudoephedrine on muscle function, fatigue and anaerobic power output. Ten healthy males and females received either a placebo or 120-milligrams of pseudoephedrine in a randomized, double-blind, crossover experimental design. Each subject had their maximal voluntary contraction strength and fatigability measured for both handgrip and ankle dorsi-flexion. Following the strength measurements, a 30-second sprint cycle test was performed to determine lower extremity anaerobic power and fatigue. Plasma lactate was measured before and after exercise. Results showed there were no significant differences in any of the outcome variables between the placebo and pseudoephedrine trials.
The strength assessments used in this study are pretty lame. Also, as pseudoephedrine is a far less potent central nervous system stimulator than ephedrine, I would like to have seen a higher dose than the 120-milligrams used in this study.
However, these results support the notion that pseudoephedrine on its own is a poor performance enhancer and because it is found in so many medications, pseudoephedrine probably should not be on any banned substances list.
Source: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
