Mephentermine use and adverse effects among athletes: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Mephentermine is a sympathomimetic drug widely used by professional athletes and bodybuilders for muscle-building and enhancing physical performance. This study evaluated the evidence of adverse effects associated with mephentermine use among athletes.Methods A systematic search was performed in PubMed and Embase from inception to December 2022. The bibliographies of the included studies were examined for additional studies. Quality assessment of the included studies were done using an appropriate scale.Results From 905 studies, 13 met the eligibility criteria. Fourteen male athletes aged 20 to 35 years experienced adverse effects. Parenteral administration of mephentermine was the most preferred route among users. The daily administered dose of mephentermine varied from 30 mg to 1200 mg. All athletes consumed mephentermine at the advice of their trainers or peers. The most common adverse effects experienced by athletes were dependence and psychosis, which developed among chronic users (used for more than 1 year). Other adverse effects were decompensated heart failure, hepatic and renal injury, and resistance to ephedrine therapy.Conclusions Mephentermine use is associated with numerous health complications. The lack of data supporting its performance-enhancing effects, combined with its substantial toxicities, questions the usefulness of this drug in athletes.