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February 19, 2014
Pharmacists Need to Be Aware of Banned Substances to
Advise Athletes Montreal—When athletes participating in the Winter Olympics and other elite competitors need to fill a prescription or choose an OTC medication, a worldwide group recommends that they consult with a pharmacist to make sure they don’t run afoul of “anti-doping” rules. That’s why pharmacists need to be aware of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) prohibited substances, some of which are ingredients in common medications. Here is the 2014 list put out by the Montreal-based organization. “Anytime you need a prescription, you must remind your doctor that you are an athlete and are subject to anti-doping regulations. Your doctor should ensure that the medication prescribed does not contain any banned substances,” according to a WADA FAQ for athletes. “If your doctor is unable to determine this, then the decision should be taken in consultation with your National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) or with a competent pharmacist.” For OTC drugs, competitors are told to consult their national antidoping organization or show the prohibited list to a pharmacist for help. They are also cautioned to take exactly the formulation that is recommended after the consultation because a variation of the same product could contain a prohibited substance. The rules don’t just apply to drugs that are ingested, however. The WADA warns, “Prohibited substances come in different forms and shapes and they may enter your body in different ways: by contact with your skin (creams and ointments), by inhalation (if you breathe in the vapor or mist), by contact with a mucus membrane (eye or ear drops, suppository, etc.).” For example, the United States antidoping agency bans all inhaled beta-2 agonists unless the athlete has a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), except for albuterol (dosages under 1,600 micrograms/24 hours), formoterol (dosages less than 54 micrograms/24 hours) and salmeterol (when taken according to manufacturer’s instructions). If a prohibited substance is found during testing of an elite athlete, disqualification and even sanction or suspension can occur. |
U.S. Pharmacist Social Connect
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