title: The effects of acute dopamine reuptake inhibition on performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute bupropion (dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) administration significantly improved time trial performance and increased core temperature in the heat (30 degrees C).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to examine the effect of a dopaminergic reuptake inhibitor on exercise capacity and thermoregulation during prolonged exercise in temperate and warm conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy well-trained male cyclists participated in this study. Subjects ingested either placebo (PLA; 20 mg) or methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin; 20 mg) 1 h before the start of exercise in temperate (18 degrees C) or warm (30 degrees C) conditions and cycled for 60 min at 55% Wmax, immediately followed by a time trial (TT; PLA18 and MPH18; PLA30 and MPH30) to measure exercise performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPH did not influence TT performance at 18 degrees C (P = 0.397). TT was completed 16% faster in MPH30 (38.1 +/- 6.4 min) than in PLA30 (45.4 +/- 7.3 min; P = 0.049). In the heat Tcore was significantly higher at rest (P = 0.009), and throughout the TT in MPH30 (P < 0.018), reaching values above 40 degrees C. Throughout MPH30, heart rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that MPH has a clear ergogenic effect that was not apparent in 18 degrees C. The combination of a dopamine reuptake inhibitor and exercise in the heat clearly improved performance and caused hyperthermia without any change in the perception of effort or thermal stress compared with the PLA trial. This response may potentially increase the risk of developing heat illness during exercise in individuals taking drugs of this nature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Physiology and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roelands
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: Luk
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buyse
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Schutter
authors.forename: Romain R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Meeusen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate; D004298:Dopamine