Other Commonly Abused Substances

Diuretics speed the elimination of salt and water by the kidneys and are used to treat a variety of disorders, including high blood pressure High Blood Pressure and heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more . However, some people, including athletes and people with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted body image, an extreme fear of obesity, and restriction of food consumption, leading to... read more , take diuretics to help them lose weight quickly. Inappropriate use of diuretics may cause dehydration Dehydration Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, burns, kidney failure, and use of diuretics may cause dehydration. People feel thirsty, and as dehydration... read more and severe abnormalities of electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes More than half of a person's body weight is water. Doctors think about water in the body as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are Fluid... read more , such as low potassium Hypokalemia (Low Level of Potassium in the Blood) In hypokalemia, the level of potassium in blood is too low. A low potassium level has many causes but usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, adrenal gland disorders, or use of diuretics. A... read more . Such deficiencies can lead to severe illness or death.

Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidneys. It stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells Red Blood Cells The main components of blood include Plasma Red blood cells White blood cells Platelets read more . Erythropoietin is also manufactured as a medication. Darbepoetin is a medication similar to erythropoietin. Both medications are used to increase production of red blood cells in people with certain kinds of anemia. Athletes may take erythropoietin or darbepoetin because they believe that with more red blood cells, more oxygen can get to their muscles, enabling them to perform better.

Using erythropoietin or darbepoetin without medical need may change the body’s regulation of red blood cell production, so that the number of red blood cells suddenly decreases when these medications are stopped.

Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland Overview of the Pituitary Gland The pituitary is a pea-sized gland that is housed within a bony structure (sella turcica) at the base of the brain. The sella turcica protects the pituitary but allows very little room for expansion... read more to help the body control how proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are used to stimulate growth. Growth hormone is also manufactured as a medication and is sometimes given to children of small stature when their body is unable to make enough growth hormone. Some athletes abuse growth hormone because they believe it can increase muscle growth and strength while decreasing body fat.

Use of growth hormone without medical need over a long period can cause an increase in fat levels in the blood, diabetes, and an increase in heart size, which may result in heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more .

Laboratory tests to identify growth hormone not made by the person’s own body are not routinely available.

Ipecac syrup is used to trigger vomiting. It is sometimes used to treat children who have swallowed chemicals or poisons. However, people with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted body image, an extreme fear of obesity, and restriction of food consumption, leading to... read more often take ipecac syrup to help them lose weight. Inappropriate use of ipecac may cause diarrhea, severe deficiencies of electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes More than half of a person's body weight is water. Doctors think about water in the body as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are Fluid... read more , weakness, irregular heart rhythms Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are sequences of heartbeats that are irregular, too fast, too slow, or conducted via an abnormal electrical pathway through the heart. Heart disorders are... read more , and heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more .

Laxatives speed the passage of substances through the digestive tract and are used to treat constipation. However, people who falsely believe they must have frequent bowel movements as part of being healthy often abuse laxatives. In addition, people with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted body image, an extreme fear of obesity, and restriction of food consumption, leading to... read more sometimes take laxatives because they believe doing so can help them lose weight.

Laxatives used often and without medical need may cause dehydration Dehydration Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, burns, kidney failure, and use of diuretics may cause dehydration. People feel thirsty, and as dehydration... read more and severe deficiencies of electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes More than half of a person's body weight is water. Doctors think about water in the body as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are Fluid... read more . Regular use of laxatives can also interfere with absorption of other medications, causing them to stop working. Inappropriate use of laxatives over a long period can damage the muscle layers of the large intestine. Severe constipation and other intestinal disorders (such as diverticulosis Diverticulosis of the Large Intestine Diverticulosis is the presence of one or more balloon-like sacs (diverticula), usually in the large intestine (colon). The cause of diverticulosis is unknown but may be related to diet, a sedentary... read more ) may result.

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