Lasix is not a hormone compound but a diuretic. It belongs to the group of saluretics and to be exact is a loop diuretic. Its effect consists of distinctly increased excretion of sodium, chloride, potassium, and water. A very important characteristic which must be absolutely monitored with loop diuretics is the reabsorbtion of potassium ions, sodium ions, and chloride ions. This causes a considerable disturbance of the electrolyte household. Due to its intense effect on water excretion Lasix is used for treatment of edema~ and high blood pressure.
Bodybuilders use Lasix shortly before a compe-tition to excrete excessive, mostly subcutaneous, water so that they appear hard, defined, and ripped to the bone when in the limelight. The effect of tablets begins within an hour and continues for 3-4 hours. Depending on how much water is still in the athlete’s body he must have more or less frequent access to a restroom. This can cause a considerable weight loss within a very short time. For this reason, athletes often use Lasix to lose weight and to compete in a lower weight class. Athletes usually prefer the oral form of the com-pound. Bodybuilders occasionally use the injectable and intravenous version the morning of the competition since it becomes immedi-ately effective when the athlete, due to a more or less strongly re-maining water film, begins to panic. This, however, can also pro-duce the opposite effect. That is, the muscles become small and flat; the athlete loses vascularity, and has no pump during warm-up when during a very short time too much water and minerals are lost. It is thus possible that some pro or top amateur shortly before the beginning of a competition as a last countermeasure is seen with a bag of glucose solution being injected intravenously so that the blood volume rises again. In order to compensate for the potassium loss many athletes take potassium chloride tablets. This, however, involves a certain risk since an overdose of potassium can cause cardiac arrest. In our experience, Lasix is taken in the last two days before a competition.
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