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Corticosteroids: What role do they play?

It would be a good idea if there was a sticky thread with some info on all the different types of drugs used over time in the peleton, what they do, and what years they were likely active. More for info, and not argument.

It would be good to get up to speed on lots of these issues.
 
Oct 14, 2012
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Corticosteroids

http://www.doping.chuv.ch/en/lad_ho...tions-laboratoire-liste-methodes-corticos.htm



Glucocorticosteroids
(or corticosteroids or corticoids)


Corticoids are synthetic derivatives of cortisol, the main glucocorticoid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland.

All corticoids have a common sterane (steroid) core but each derivative carries different chemical modifications designed to increase its anti-inflammatory effects and decrease its mineralocorticoid properties. The corticoids available on the market differ in their anti-inflammatory and mineralocorticoid strengths, and in the duration of their action.



Therapeutic indications :

Corticoids are used as therapeutic agents owing primarily to their anti-inflammatory properties. However, they also have immunosuppressive and antiallergenic effects. In case of inflammation, corticoids may in addition act as antalgics (pain killers) and antipyretics (fever-reducing medication). Corticoids are therefore useful in many situations, including asthma management, a very common application.

Corticosteroids are widely used in sports medicine to treat tendon injuries, ligament lesions and overuse syndromes. Thus, corticoids exert their positive effects on performance indirectly thanks to their anti-inflammatory, antalgic and potentially euphorizing properties.



Side effects :

The therapeutic effects of corticoids are accompanied by adverse side effects that are for the most part and by definition unavoidable whenever hormonal activity is present. These side effects can be effectively countered or even prevented by respecting the strict rules of corticoid use that take into account their pharmacological properties. In general terms, adverse effects are caused by an overdose or axis inhibition leading to hormonal insufficiency (in case of prolonged use).

Classical side-effect include digestive and neuropsychiatric complications, susceptibility to infections, problems with skin, locomotion and vision, endocrine complications and various other biological problems, as well as tendon rupture following corticoid infiltration. Long term corticoid use may have a negative effect on bones, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures as well as osteonecrosis. The major risk is corticotropic insufficiency with the development in extreme cases of atrophic adrenal Cushing's syndrome. Corticoids are also addictive and habit-forming. Lowering dosage, interrupting a long term treatment or over-dosing all lead to withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are brought about by partial functional hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal inertia (kidney insufficiency).

Intensive sports practice leads to different overuse syndromes that can affect soft tissues (muscles and tendons), bones and periostum tissues, and specific joints. In addition, in certain disciplines, in collective sports in particular, there is a high prevalence of capsuloligamentary trauma (mainly knee and ankle sprains)



Laboratory analyses :

Laboratory glucocorticosteroids testing is carried out on urine samples collected in-competition. The urine is first hydrolyzed to release free glucocorticosteroids which are initially in conjugated form. The sample is then subjected to liquid extraction to purify and extract the relevant compounds. To detect glucocorticosteroids the extract is analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandemmass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Ferminal said:
I heard that abuse of them messes up your knees, see Europcar.
see all the ligament and tendon injuries in Australian Rules Football.

Rarely a game passes without the club doc not knocking up a player with an "anti-inflammatory". ergo: corticos, corticosteroids, corticoids, cortisone,,, AFL never had any greenstick breaks of legs in the past. Why all the recent ones. Cos of all the damn hormones
 
blackcat said:
see all the ligament and tendon injuries in Australian Rules Football.

Rarely a game passes without the club doc not knocking up a player with an "anti-inflammatory". ergo: corticos, corticosteroids, corticoids, cortisone,,, AFL never had any greenstick breaks of legs in the past. Why all the recent ones. Cos of all the damn hormones

never happen in rugby though. The Wallabies don't have any injury concerns...
 
Mar 13, 2009
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its a different game. Less speed and less running. The bones in the legs also more coverage with kilos of muscle.

Re: tendons and ligaments. Hormones and atrophy peptides, are gonna strengthen the red tissue, and not the white tissue.


muscles = strenght, get stronger, more powerful, more kinetic and ballistic force. too much demand on white tissue which cannot get proportionally stronger.

caveat: I'm a layperson. No medical training.
 
lol sorry not sure if you know the wobblies are in the middle of an injury crisis, about 30 top players missing (which makes them basically a third XV). During the S15 season all the Aussie franchises had major injury concerns, more than a third of players on the rosters being injured long term
 

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