Could my steriod inhaler get me suspended from baseball?

[dalej42]

I'm not asking for any medical advice. I have an outstanding doctor and my medicine is prescribed for me.

I'm currently taking a Flovent inhaler to treat my asthma. It is a steriod inhaler prescribed for me after a consultation with my doctor. Is this the same thing that could get me suspended from Major League Baseball?

Many asthmatics have played sports at the highest level. I'd have a hard time thinking this would do anything to improve my hitting. While it treats my asthma and makes it possible for me to run my daily 5 miles, I have a hard time thinking this would give me an "edge" in the highest levels of competition.

What about medicines such as Prednisone? This medicine was prescribed for me when I was younger.

[rfgdxm]

Good question. I'd think any medicine prescribed by a US doc deemed medically necessary would be OK. What would MLB say? "Yeah, your doc went to medical school and knows what he is doing. However, obey his orders and you can't play ball."

[Neurotik]

Nah, the steroids in your asthma inhaler are corticosteroids, not anabolic. They won't help you build tissue and would be disregarded in a drug testing regimen.

[BobT]

Your bigger concern would be if your asthma inhaler contained an illegal stimulant. Most of the prescription ones now are OK, but stuff like Primatene would ding you.

I don't think MLB has agreed on a protocol for stimulants, but the Olympics does test for it.

[Squink]

Originally Posted by BobT

I don't think MLB has agreed on a protocol for stimulants, but the Olympics does test for it.

Yes, as Alain Baxter found out, you have to worry about the L-amphetamines in Vicks inhalers.

[jackemaxton]

Primatene Mist lists as its active ingredient Epinephrine 0.22mg, isn't this adrenaline? How would a test differentiate between me having a close call with a mugger the night before or using the inhaler?