Adderall and running
September 27, 2014 5:40 PM Subscribe
I have a prescription for Adderall, and I find it has a significant positive effect on my distance running. What does the running world think about this? Am I doping if I run a clocked race?
I mentioned the concern to my psychiatrist, who says, "well now you're normal. You're no longer at a disadvantage" There's some logic to this (maybe I'm just used to being behind the curve... I guess) but I don't really feel quite comfortable about it somehow. I doubt I'll do anything differently, since it's problematic for me to vary the dosage... and I just got up the confidence to sign up for my first half-marathon! ... but I was looking for more guidance about the ethics of the situation.
I mentioned the concern to my psychiatrist, who says, "well now you're normal. You're no longer at a disadvantage" There's some logic to this (maybe I'm just used to being behind the curve... I guess) but I don't really feel quite comfortable about it somehow. I doubt I'll do anything differently, since it's problematic for me to vary the dosage... and I just got up the confidence to sign up for my first half-marathon! ... but I was looking for more guidance about the ethics of the situation.
"Adderall, which is banned by virtually every sports organization, provides many benefits to athletes, say medical experts. "There's no question it's a performance-enhancing drug," says Dr. Gary Wadler, a past chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List Committee."
(It's an amphetamine, which are the classic doping drug class)
posted by jaymzjulian at 5:45 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
(It's an amphetamine, which are the classic doping drug class)
posted by jaymzjulian at 5:45 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Who are you competing against? Are you running for prize money or pride? If you are competing against yourself or even just for age group winner, I say there is nothing wrong with it. Even if prize money, I would say that your overall health comes first. I know that in the NFL and baseball, you can get a waiver for a valid prescription for Adderall.
posted by 724A at 5:46 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by 724A at 5:46 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The US Anti-Doping Agency maintains a list of drug restrictions; here's the result for Adderall for Track & Field, which says that it's prohibited in competition. (That's for the 12.5 mg pill, but the answer's the same for all the formulations.) If you're running a USATF-sanctioned race, it's almost certainly against the race rules. You're probably unlikely to be caught, but if you're ethically concerned, your option is to pursue a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
If you're outside the US, the IAAF is probably your governing body, but I can't get their page to load right now so I'm not sure what their TUE policies are.
posted by dorque at 5:53 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you're outside the US, the IAAF is probably your governing body, but I can't get their page to load right now so I'm not sure what their TUE policies are.
posted by dorque at 5:53 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Are you running for prize money or pride?
Actually that's it, really. I think I'm wondering to what degree to hedge the pride I'll feel for a given degree of race-sucess (as silly as it sounds, that's what's going on in my head.) There's also a social aspect: I have running buddies and feel like I'm getting an unfair advantage.
I wasn't completely correct before: I have been taking a smaller dose, even when I'm just doing a morning training run with people, but it still feels "enhanced" to me.
posted by kroshka at 5:57 PM on September 27, 2014
Actually that's it, really. I think I'm wondering to what degree to hedge the pride I'll feel for a given degree of race-sucess (as silly as it sounds, that's what's going on in my head.) There's also a social aspect: I have running buddies and feel like I'm getting an unfair advantage.
I wasn't completely correct before: I have been taking a smaller dose, even when I'm just doing a morning training run with people, but it still feels "enhanced" to me.
posted by kroshka at 5:57 PM on September 27, 2014
Ethics? This only becomes even a possible issue if you're looking to place. Else just run your race and compare your time to your own time.
On preview: your advantage here can be measured in seconds, not
minutes. If you find yourself in a chariots of fire moment with your friend, then you can worry about it.
posted by ftm at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
On preview: your advantage here can be measured in seconds, not
minutes. If you find yourself in a chariots of fire moment with your friend, then you can worry about it.
posted by ftm at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm clearly not going to file for a theraputic exemption at my level of competition, but if I thought that professional elites in the same boat as me in terms of cognitive justification were considered appropriate candidates for those exemptions it might put my mind at ease (sort of.) Supposedly, they say, if you have the condition and take the meds, the effect is very different (calming) than for people without it.
posted by kroshka at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2014
posted by kroshka at 6:00 PM on September 27, 2014
Response by poster: For the record, information relating to theraputic exemptions for this specific case:
http://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/TUE_guidance_add-adhd.pdf
posted by kroshka at 6:18 PM on September 27, 2014
http://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/TUE_guidance_add-adhd.pdf
posted by kroshka at 6:18 PM on September 27, 2014
I mentioned the concern to my psychiatrist, who says, "well now you're normal. You're no longer at a disadvantage"
I'd consider a getting a new psychiatrist, because yours does not sound very smart. It may be making you "normal"* in a cognitive and psychological sense, but it's considered a performance enhancing drug for sports competitions because of what it does for physical effort. The mental disorders for which Adderall is responsibly prescribed do not limit physical effort such that one would become physically normal in a race by taking Adderall.
*Everyone does better with a bit of speed. If you give a classroom of people a bit of speed, they will all test better, not just those with ADHD. Adderall is also a performance enhancing drug for intellectual endeavors.
posted by OmieWise at 6:38 PM on September 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
I'd consider a getting a new psychiatrist, because yours does not sound very smart. It may be making you "normal"* in a cognitive and psychological sense, but it's considered a performance enhancing drug for sports competitions because of what it does for physical effort. The mental disorders for which Adderall is responsibly prescribed do not limit physical effort such that one would become physically normal in a race by taking Adderall.
*Everyone does better with a bit of speed. If you give a classroom of people a bit of speed, they will all test better, not just those with ADHD. Adderall is also a performance enhancing drug for intellectual endeavors.
posted by OmieWise at 6:38 PM on September 27, 2014 [7 favorites]
You have to take your medicine and you have to do your sport. I say you should do what you have to do.
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:16 PM on September 27, 2014
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:16 PM on September 27, 2014
Supposedly, they say, if you have the condition and take the meds, the effect is very different (calming) than for people without it.
That was an older idea that's been debunked.
If it were me, I'd avoid competing for money (even informal bets among friends) but not worry about it more than that.
posted by jaguar at 9:27 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
That was an older idea that's been debunked.
If it were me, I'd avoid competing for money (even informal bets among friends) but not worry about it more than that.
posted by jaguar at 9:27 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
The TUE guidance you linked seems to say that if a runner has a valid ADHD diagnosis and is using the stimulant medication to treat that condition, they'll allow the runner to compete while on their prescribed medication dosage.
posted by jaguar at 9:37 PM on September 27, 2014
posted by jaguar at 9:37 PM on September 27, 2014
Question: are you new to adderall? It sounds like it from your question, but just wanted to be certain. If so, some of that onset adderall 'euphoria' that may aid your long distance running will begin to dissipate after a few weeks or months of use. You'll still get the focusing benefits, of course, but less so the euphoria. The euphoria will give you more of that 'doping' feeling because it creates a disconnect between what your mind is telling you and what your body wants to tell you. In other words, you stop knowing what your limits are and thereby can run longer and harder, but are now at a greater risk of injury (again, the objective of doping). So keep in mind that a lot of this may fade away after continued use - you'll still be able to focus at normal or 'neurotypical' levels, which will continue to make you feel like you're running better because it's different than what you knew before you were running and without any medication for your ADHD. However, you won't feel so much like you're 'doping'. I honestly believe that even now, you've been brought up to the ''neurotypical' level of focus that other neurotypical runners have, and so seeing the positive impact it has on your running is causing you an unnecessary concern.
If the adderall use while running continues to perturb you, even if you're not participating in races, I would recommend switching to Vyvanse. That's what I take (I also have a low dose adderall rx that I use, as needed, in the evening once Vyvanse has worn off and I still need to focus and get through evening activities) and it has a much smoother, more subtle feeling than adderall. I think adderall, no matter what mg tablet, has a tendency to make some (not all, but some) ADHDers feel more "turned on" or "electric/bouncy" than it makes them feel neurotypical/normal focus level. Vyvanse is basically adderall (or the dextroamphetamine salts used in adderall) that is bound to an animo acid that makes it less potent, but also longer lasting. It gradually enters your system, stays for longer than adderall (I get about 7-8 hrs), and gradually exits your system so that you don't crash as hard. (Adderall crashes suck.) Vyvanse is also less subject to abuse than adderall, for the very reason that its potency is stretched out over a longer period of time. I feel much more 'neurotypical' on Vyvanse than I ever do adderall.
Only problem with Vyvanse is that it's only available in name brand, so it's le pricey. But your psychiatrist should be able to get you a deductible reduction card. It lowered my name-brand drug deductible from $50 on Vyvanse to $15.
posted by nightrecordings at 9:52 AM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
If the adderall use while running continues to perturb you, even if you're not participating in races, I would recommend switching to Vyvanse. That's what I take (I also have a low dose adderall rx that I use, as needed, in the evening once Vyvanse has worn off and I still need to focus and get through evening activities) and it has a much smoother, more subtle feeling than adderall. I think adderall, no matter what mg tablet, has a tendency to make some (not all, but some) ADHDers feel more "turned on" or "electric/bouncy" than it makes them feel neurotypical/normal focus level. Vyvanse is basically adderall (or the dextroamphetamine salts used in adderall) that is bound to an animo acid that makes it less potent, but also longer lasting. It gradually enters your system, stays for longer than adderall (I get about 7-8 hrs), and gradually exits your system so that you don't crash as hard. (Adderall crashes suck.) Vyvanse is also less subject to abuse than adderall, for the very reason that its potency is stretched out over a longer period of time. I feel much more 'neurotypical' on Vyvanse than I ever do adderall.
Only problem with Vyvanse is that it's only available in name brand, so it's le pricey. But your psychiatrist should be able to get you a deductible reduction card. It lowered my name-brand drug deductible from $50 on Vyvanse to $15.
posted by nightrecordings at 9:52 AM on September 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm a beginning runner. I wouldn't hold anything against you for taking your prescribed medication. Even if you edged me out by a few seconds. It's not like you went doctor shopping to get a performance enhancing drug; you got it for your ADD.
As this is a restricted drug, I'll say that if you are potentially placing then it's ethically questionable. Look for a therapeutic dispensation as mentioned above. But if you're anywhere under the top five or ten percent, I think you should have no qualms.
posted by nobeagle at 12:13 PM on September 28, 2014
As this is a restricted drug, I'll say that if you are potentially placing then it's ethically questionable. Look for a therapeutic dispensation as mentioned above. But if you're anywhere under the top five or ten percent, I think you should have no qualms.
posted by nobeagle at 12:13 PM on September 28, 2014
My dad did long distance running. He ran professionally as in he was sponsored by big name companies to go out and win races. Unless you are one of those folks the don't worry about it and have fun.
Do be careful about your heartrate. As it is a stimulant and doing exercise can affect your max heartrate. Depending on how healthy you are this may pose a problem. It may not.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:25 PM on September 28, 2014
Do be careful about your heartrate. As it is a stimulant and doing exercise can affect your max heartrate. Depending on how healthy you are this may pose a problem. It may not.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:25 PM on September 28, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you're not engaged in pro-level competition, I wouldn't sweat the ethics of it.
posted by killdevil at 5:44 PM on September 27, 2014 [3 favorites]