Ask the Doc: Are narcotic painkillers performance-enhancing drugs?

[SinCitysmallGUY]

Should narcotic painkillers be classified or thought of as performance-enhancing drugs?

In the wake of Karo Parisyan's failed UFC 94 drug test due to the alleged use of a painkiller cocktail, many fans wonder why the drug's users receive such harsh punishments. Is it because painkillers are performance-enhancing drugs, as some commission executives contend?

In our latest "Ask the Doc" column, MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin weighs in.

Q. Can we get Dr. Benjamin to address what the advantage of painkillers would really be instead of everyone arguing what they know or don't know? (from reader "schwenke76")

A. Do painkillers enhance performance? Difficult question, but I'll do my best.

Painkillers may enhance preparation but would provide very little potential direct advantage during a bout. Let me explain.

MMA (not unlike boxing, football or rugby) is a violent sport. To prepare adequately for competition, full-speed contact and vigorous sparring are required. Training-induced pain and injury are common. Combat athletes will commonly comment that "if something is not hurting, you're not training hard enough".

In an attempt to push training to the limits, painkillers commonly are employed. Taking significant time off during training (with a specific fight date looming in the not-so-distant future) is deemed unacceptable for many fighters. Therefore cortisone injections, oral NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory medication) and painkillers of all varieties are considered.

If painkillers allow an injured athlete to continue training when he/she otherwise could have not, the painkiller could be construed as indirectly enhancing future performance.

During the bout, the net effect of narcotic pain medication would tend to be more harmful than helpful to actual performance. A general dulling of the senses, slowed reaction time and poorer coordination would significantly outweigh any potential increase in pain tolerance.

As a physician that regularly treats trauma patients, any medication (narcotics, etc.) that can alter brain function and other vital systems (such as respiration) can pose a significant risk for those that suffer significant injury (a spleen injury, for example), head trauma, concussion and/or brain injury. This fact is the major reason that narcotics are banned – not because they are performance-enhancing drugs (PED).

Most drugs on the banned-substances lists are not considered potential PED. They are banned because they may create a potentially dangerous situation or unacceptable level of risk during competition.

Here's an example: Coumadin (blood thinner) is a very commonly prescribed drug. Coumadin, which has virtually no illicit abuse potential or performance-enhancing benefit, is on the banned substances list. Why? Because potent blood thinners and combat sports are potentially a very dangerous combination.

And a common myth: If a fighter has a doctor's prescription for a banned substance, the fighter may take the prescribed medication without repercussion.

That's of course false. (If it were true, it wouldn't be a myth.)

Why do so many fighters and fans incorrectly believe that a doctor's prescription for a banned substance can in some way magically make that substance permissible for athletic competition?

Word to the wise: If a person obtains or a doctor writes a prescription (especially narcotics and others with street value) in an inappropriate manner, you and/or your doctor may soon receive an impromptu visit from law enforcement. Just having a written prescription doesn't make it all good.

[gracie bjj]

ive gotten addicted to opiate painkillers and have been for years now,it started by just taking afew percocets before my mma/bjj training,i was always hurting real bad when i was rolling or sparring.then i started taking them even on days i didnt train,trust me,dont even start messing with that stuff.ive been through hell with those things,when you run out you feel like bugs are crawling all over your body,you cant sleep cause your feeling hot when the ac is on,then you take turn off the ac and your freezing,its a bad bad feeling.i never needed them when i was in my 30,s,but once i hit 40 it just seemed like everything on my body started breaking down like a car with 150,000 city miles on it,i regret ever starting that stuff,ive managed to cut down to almost nothing these days with help from my family and friends,it was very hard cutting down the dosages and thank god my wife hid my gun cause i thought about ending it afew times from the pain i was in from withdrawling.plus i have a 2 year old boy now and cant risk dropping dead cause alittle kid needs a dad imo,the only thing i really use now is some xanax to help me sleep,cause i cant sleep well from cutting the opiates almost completely out.i used to sleep like a baby while i was taking percs and vikes,also i had a bunch of oxycontin,80mgs ones,but those suckers are strong as hell and i couldnt function right on that much mgs,i used to break em in half and crush up the time released ones and snort them to get a quicker response to help my pain.anyway,there you have it,i hope maybe someone whos considering using them reads this and thinks twice,they are no joke