Written by Steve Blechman and Thomas Fahey, EdD
05 October 2006
 

Research: Drugs  

By Steve Blechman and Thomas Fahey, EdD

 

Growth Hormone Fragment Cuts Fat Without Side Effects

The rest of the world is discovering what most bodybuilders have known for years: Growth hormone (GH) is an amazing fat burner. The extraordinarily buff and cut athletes at the Athens Olympics didn't get that way drinking Slim-Fast. It's an open secret that Hollywood celebrities are cutting fat with GH. The downside of GH is that it can cause insulin resistance (difficulty regulating blood sugar) and acromegaly (growth of facial, hand and foot bones). Soon, people will get the benefits of GH without the side effects. A company called Metabolic developed a GH fragment called AOD9604 that promotes weight loss, improves carbohydrate and fat metabolism, is easily tolerated and costs less than GH therapy. In phase two clinical trials, people taking the drug lost 13 pounds in 12 weeks. The company will begin phase three clinical trials later this year. If successful, the trials will lead to approval by the Food and Drug Administration. (Press release from Metabolic; Dec. 13, 2004)

 

Meth is an Aphrodisiac, but...

Why would anyone use methamphetamine- a drug that can cause extreme nervousness, insomnia, confusion, aggression, high body temperature, cardiovascular collapse and death? Meth is a powerful aphrodisiac that boosts sex drive and sexual performance- at least in the short run. Also, it's a terrific fat burner. As U.S. Attorney Paul Laymon said sarcastically, "Why wouldn't anyone want to use a drug that promotes weight loss and great sex?" Methamphetamine is the drug of choice for many shift workers because it prevents fatigue and increases self-confidence without producing an obnoxious high. It will soon pass cocaine as America's favorite hard drug. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) blamed the sudden popularity of meth on readily accessible meth recipes found on the Internet and the widespread availability of drug ingredients (over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines). The DEA broke up more than 10,000 meth labs last year compared to 8,000 in 1999. Meth users pay a terrible price. It can trigger brain damage, hallucinations and symptoms that resemble schizophrenia. University of California, Los Angeles, studies found that chronic meth users lose one percent of their brain function per year, so the large increase in meth use in the United States is alarming. (Associated Press, Dec. 3, 2004)

 

New Hope for Premature Ejaculators

Physiological differences between the sexes can cause problems in the bedroom. During sex, women often need 10-20 minutes after penetration to achieve orgasm, while many men finish in 10 to 20 strokes. Over one-third of men have trouble with premature ejaculation (PE). There is no quick fix. Some men use creams to dull sensations in the penis, but that takes a lot of enjoyment out of sex. Other men use the Woody Allen technique of thinking about the all-time great baseball lineup of the New York Yankees. But who wants to think of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, or Babe Ruth when making love to a hot babe? Help may be on the way. Johnson & Johnson is seeking approval of a drug called dapoxetine hydrochloride that regulates a brain chemical called serotonin and prevents PE. If they are successful, the drug will be the first approved treatment for this common, embarrassing condition. (New York Daily News, Dec. 29, 2004)

 

Getting Gear on eBay

eBay is a great place to buy sporting goods, paintings, furniture, books, CDs- and steroids. MSNBC.com conducted a three-month investigation and found dozens of people selling anabolic steroids on the site. An investigator from MSNBC purchased steroids that included Dianabol, Sustanon and testosterone propionate from four different vendors. Some of the steroid sales were camouflaged as sales for steroid books. The Drug Enforcement Administration regularly conducts searches of eBay to eliminate illegal sales of drugs. Selling drugs on the Internet can result in jail time ranging from months to years, depending on your state. (MSNBC.com, Jan. 20, 2005)

 

Growth Hormone Fights Fat

Growth hormone treatments in adults decrease body fat, increase muscle mass, strength and exercise tolerance, improve vitality and energy and prevent fatigue. Some researchers caution against GH injections because they can cause side effects such as insulin resistance, carpal tunnel syndrome (hand numbness) and acromegaly (enlargement of the heart and bones in the face, hands and feet). British researchers found that 12 months of treatment with GH (approximately two to three IU per day) decreased fat and abdominal circumference, and improved blood fats in men and decreased trunk fat in women. GH was more effective in men than women. This was another study showing that growth hormone supplements decrease fat and improve body composition. GH is becoming a mainstream treatment for improving health and vitality in aging adults. (Am J Hum Biol,16: 533-543, 2004)

 

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Boosts GH, Cuts Fat

The pituitary gland, sometimes called the master gland, is located in the base of the brain and is linked to the hypothalamus, which controls appetite, temperature regulation and release of pituitary hormones. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) from the hypothalamus controls the release of growth hormone in the pituitary. Mayo Clinic researchers found that giving older men injections of GHRH increased growth hormone, IGF-1 (an important muscle growth factor) and muscle mass, and decreased fat and abdominal circumference. Many of the subjects suffered skin reactions from daily injections, but other side effects were rare. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 89: 6325-6330, 2004)

 

Saizen Approved for Adult GH Deficiency

The FDA approved growth hormone to treat growth hormone deficiency in children with short stature. Saizen, produced by the Swiss company Serono, is a popular brand of GH because it's administered via a needle-free device. The Food and Drug Administration approved Saizen to treat adults with growth hormone deficiency. This is a potentially giant market. At least five studies have found that growth hormone supplements increase muscle mass, vitality, bone mass and exercise capacity, while decreasing fat, waist circumference and blood fats (total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides) in middle-aged and older adults. (PR Newswire, Jan. 10, 2005)

 

New Anti-Pain Drugs Have Fewer Side Effects

The anti-pain drug Vioxx was withdrawn from the market last year because it increased the risk of heart attack. Many Vioxx users were so vexed by the loss of the drug that they said they were willing to risk a heart attack to reduce their chronic pain. New "smart pills" that target specific nerves may soon give pain relief to many of these people. In December, 2004, the FDA approved Prialt (Elan Corp.) and Lyrica (Pfizer). Unfortunately, these drugs have been granted only limited approval. Prialt is permitted only for people who do not respond to morphine, while Lyrica can only be used for pain associated with shingles and diabetes. (Business Week, Jan. 17, 2005)

 

Should We Legalize Drugs?

The Volstead Act of 1920 made the sale or consumption of alcohol illegal in the United States. Excessive consumption of alcohol causes many physical and social problems, so the law seemed reasonable and noble. Unfortunately, it triggered the development of organized crime in America and unprecedented lawlessness. The law was repealed because the disadvantages overshadowed the benefits. Social commentator Stanley Crouch proposed that we legalize drugs for the same reason we repealed prohibition: the consequences of legal drug use are less dangerous and expensive than banning them. Drug money fuels the criminal world. Illegal drugs burden society with widespread violence in poor neighborhoods, health care costs of treating victims of violence, prison costs and foreign and domestic drug eradication programs. Legalizing drugs would provide a significant source of tax revenue and remove an important source of funds for the underworld. Criminalizing drugs has not curtailed recreational drug use, but it has placed a crippling financial and social burden on the country. (New York Daily News, Dec.13, 2004)

 

Steroid Use Increasing in Kids

Anabolic steroids can have serious effects in teenagers that include premature closure of bone growth centers, psychological disturbances, acne and abnormalities in the sex organs. Sports writer Brian Costello discussed steroid use in children. Three to six percent of teens have tried anabolic steroids, which is far less than the 60 percent of kids who drink alcohol and the 35 percent of kids who smoke cigarettes. Steroid use is inappropriate for kids because we don't know the long-term effects of the drugs. Signs of steroid use in teens include unusual increases in muscle mass, severe acne, abnormal behavior (depression, withdrawal, hostility), changes in eating or sleeping habits, sudden secrecy and drop in school attendance and performance. These drugs are readily available on the Internet and black market, which creates a challenge for keeping these drugs away from children. While preventing steroid use in children is desirable, criminalizing steroid use in adults who want to improve appearance and performance is inappropriate in a free society. (New York Post, Dec. 19, 2004)

 

Elite Athletes Almost Never Charged with Steroid Use

Anabolic steroids are classified as Schedule III substances under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act. Taking these drugs without a prescription is punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first offense. According to politicians, the main reason for the law is to keep children from using the drugs and maintaining drug-free elite athletes as role models for our youth. Steroid use is widespread in professional and Olympic sports. Yet, no elite athlete has ever been prosecuted for using them. Gym rats- people who take steroids to improve appearance- are the only ones who have been prosecuted under the law. Why is it okay to allow risky plastic surgery procedures (i.e., liposuction, breast augmentation) to improve appearance and not allow the relatively harmless use of anabolic steroids for the same reason? (The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 14, 2004)