L’automédication du sportif

Summary: Aim: To take stock of self-medication in sports, apart from doping intent and alcohol, and to propose some advices to limit its specific dangers for sportsman and sportswomen. Current knowledge: Self-medication is a part of a more general behavior of care than a person lavishes herself on itself (or its close relations) without taking the opinion of a health professional. In practice, substances used are: (1) non-prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs included, and (2) prescription medications, i.e. prescribed in the past but not consumed entirely or bought on the Internet. Three principal types of health problems are treated by self-medication: upper respiratory disorders, pain (especially headaches) and digestive disorders. Enhancing performance is also a reason for self-medication. Generally, paracetamol is the more used molecule. The user is rather a woman, aged from 30 to 50years, holding a bachelor''s degree or higher. According to 80% of them, self-medication solved their health problem. In sports, few data are available. However, the prevalence of the use could be higher in this population, with differences according to the level of practice. The sportsmen expose themselves moreover to two specific dangers: to deteriorate their performances and to positive an antidoping analysis. Various recommendations are made, according to whether the sporting authorities wish, or not, tolerate or recommend self-medication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]