5 Medications That Can Hinder Muscle Growth and Exercise Gains

March 17, 2024

by Cathe Friedrich

When you’re putting in the demanding work to build muscle and get stronger, the last thing you want is for your medications to undermine your strength-training efforts. Yet science shows certain drugs can interfere with exercise adaptations and muscle growth. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them, but you should be aware of how they affect your workouts. Let’s take a closer look at medications that affect exercise training.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

It’s common for athletes to take NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) for the aches and pains they get after intense workouts and when they have an injury. But there are downsides to doing so. According to research, high doses of these drugs, especially if you take them long term, can interfere with muscle growth and strength gains from resistance training.

The proposed mechanism is that NSAIDs inhibit the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. These enzymes drive muscle repair and hypertrophy after exercise-induced muscle damage. By blocking this inflammatory process, NSAIDs may interfere with the signaling pathways that lead to muscle growth.

A 2017 study found that young adults taking 1200mg of ibuprofen daily for 8 weeks experienced significantly less muscle hypertrophy and strength gains compared to a placebo group, despite performing the same resistance training workouts. However, other studies show mixed results, with some finding no significant effect of ibuprofen on muscle growth in younger individuals. So, the impact of these medications on strength training gains is still unclear.

While occasional, short-term NSAID use is unlikely to have a major impact, the evidence suggests that high dosages or chronic use of these anti-inflammatory drugs could potentially hinder muscle growth, especially in young, healthy individuals engaged in resistance training.

Statins

Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that work by blocking an enzyme that makes cholesterol. Although they’re effective for lowering cholesterol, there’s evidence they interfere with signaling pathways involved in synthesizing muscle proteins. In addition, some people experience muscle weakness when they take statins. Therefore, it’s not surprising that these popular medications have been associated with muscle-related side effects like weakness, cramps, and reduced exercise performance.

Based on limited evidence, statins could make it harder for some people to build muscle through resistance training. The effects would be stronger in those who take high doses and older people who have some degree of anabolic resistance.

Alcohol

And then there’s alcohol. Did you know drinking too much alcohol can negatively impact muscle growth and recovery? First, alcohol dehydrates you. Dehydration affects exercise performance and impairs muscle repair and protein synthesis. It also interferes with the body’s ability to effectively use nutrients, including protein and B vitamins for muscle building.

Furthermore, alcohol metabolism breaks down into metabolites that damage muscle cells and promote muscle breakdown. Heavy drinking reduces protein synthesis and impairs the body’s muscle recovery and growth response to exercise. So, limit alcohol, especially right after a workout.

Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids like prednisone are potent anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. While effective for reducing inflammation, these medications have catabolic effects that promote muscle breakdown and hinder muscle growth.

The proposed mechanisms include inhibiting protein synthesis, increasing protein degradation, and interfering with the proliferation and differentiation of muscle stem cells involved in muscle repair and growth.

Long-term glucocorticoid use has been associated with muscle wasting and weakness. If you’re taking glucocorticoids for a medical condition, be aware that they could potentially undermine your efforts to build muscle through resistance training, especially with prolonged use.

Beta-Blockers

Beta blockers are medications that slow the heart rate. Some people take them for high blood pressure or for certain types of heart problems. But they can interfere with exercise performance.

When you start working out, your heart usually kicks into higher gear to pump more oxygen-rich blood to the muscles you’re using. But beta blockers put the brakes on that natural increase in heart rate. So, if you’re taking those meds, your heart can’t rev up like it normally would during exercise.

That means beta blockers can make it tougher to go full throttle on aerobic activities like running, cycling, or swimming at a high intensity. Your maximum exercise capacity and VO2 max – how much oxygen your body can utilize – can drop by up to 15% with beta blockers on board compared to going med-free.

You may also find yourself feeling more winded and worn out sooner into a workout routine. That’s because the perceived rate of exertion amps up when beta blockers are in your system, so physical activities just feel harder. While you can still exercise, elite athletes or hardcore endurance junkies will notice their aerobic performance taking a dip on these meds.

The bottom line is beta blockers can put a ceiling on how hard you can rev that inner engine during vigorous aerobic training. But staying active is still possible – you may just have to downshift the intensity a bit.

Maximizing Exercise Gains

While certain medications can make it harder to build muscle, there are steps you can take to maximize your exercise gains:

If you’re taking a medication that could potentially interfere with muscle growth, explore the risks and benefits. Your healthcare provider may be able to adjust your dosage or explore alternative treatments.
If you must take NSAIDs or other drugs that could impact muscle growth, try to avoid taking them immediately before or after your workout when the muscles are primed for repair and growth.
You need proper rest, nutrition, and hydration for muscle recovery and growth. Prioritize these factors to support your body’s natural muscle-building processes.
For pain relief, acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be a better option than NSAIDs in terms of impact on exercise performance and muscle repair. Physical therapy, massage, and other non-pharmacological approaches can also help manage exercise-related pain and inflammation.
Muscle growth takes time, even if you aren’t taking medications. Be consistent and give your body the opportunity to adapt and respond.

The Bottom Line

Talk to your doctor openly about your fitness goals and any meds you’re taking. With their guidance, you can find ways to maximize your workouts while minimizing risks from prescriptions. It’s all about weighing the pros and cons with expert advice to develop a plan that helps you achieve your bodybuilding ambitions safely.

References:

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Lilja M, Mandić M, Apró W, Melin M, Olsson K, Rosenborg S, Gustafsson T, Lundberg TR. High doses of anti-inflammatory drugs compromise muscle strength and hypertrophic adaptations to resistance training in young adults. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2018 Feb;222(2). doi: 10.1111/apha.12948. Epub 2017 Sep 16. PMID: 28834248.
What statins do to muscles. Mdc-berlin.de. Published February 9, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.mdc-berlin.de/news/press/what-statins-do-muscles
LeWine HE. Do beta blockers interfere with exercise? – Harvard Health. Harvard Health. Published February 16, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/do-beta-blockers-interfere-with-exercise
‌franklinpt. The Effects of NSAIDs on Muscle Adaption to Exercise – Franklin Square Health Group. Franklin Square Health Group. Published November 2021. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://franklinsquarept.com/nsaids-effects-muscle-adaptation/
Tesch PA. Exercise performance and beta-blockade. Sports Med. 1985 Nov-Dec;2(6):389-412. doi: 10.2165/00007256-198502060-00002. PMID: 2866577.