Creatine
Many people and sportsmen, in particular, take nutritional supplements instead of or in addition to performance- enhancing drugs. Supplements are available over-the-counter as powders or pills. The most popular supplement is probably creatine monohydrate. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound produced by your body that helps your muscles release energy.
Possible side effects of creatine supplement that can decrease performance include stomach cramps, muscle cramps, nausea, diarrhoea and weight gain. High-dose creatine use may potentially damage your kidneys and liver.
Stimulants
Stimulants are used to stimulate the central nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure. They can improve endurance, reduce fatigue, suppress appetite and increase alertness and aggressiveness. Common stimulants include caffeine and amphetamines. Cold remedies often contain the stimulants ephedrine or pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. Energy drinks often contain high doses of caffeine and other stimulants. The street drugs cocaine and methamphetamine are also stimulants.
Although stimulants can boost physical performance and promote aggressiveness on the field for athletes, they have side effects that can impair performance. These include nervousness and irritability, insomnia, dehydration, heatstroke, addiction or tolerance, meaning that athletes need greater amounts to achieve the desired effect, so they’ll take doses that are much higher than the intended medical dose.
Other side effects include heart palpitations, heart rhythm abnormalities, weight loss, tremors, mild high blood pressure, hallucinations, convulsions, stroke, heart attack and other circulatory problems.
The bottom line… No matter how you look at it, using performance- enhancing drugs is a risky affair. The health risks posed by the drug outweigh the benefits.
