Many athletes live within strict social and dietary guidelines.
To cope with stress, general fatigue and weight, many athletes turn to stimulating, relaxing and weight controlling drugs. Stimulants Stimulants are generally used to help athletes stay alert, reduce fatigue and maintain aggressiveness. They act on the body to make the heart beat faster, the lungs breathe faster and the brain work faster. Stimulants include caffeine , amphetamines , ephedrine , phenylephrine , phenylproanolamine , strychnine and cocaine . Possible side effects include nervousness, shaking, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, convulsions and even sudden death.