Welcome to Blueprint of an Athlete, where science meets sports. Host Dr. Robin West is joined by Dr. Brandon Welch, PharmD, president of SportPharm, to explore the rise of topical therapies in elite sports medicine. What is Sports Pharmacology? It’s the intersection of medicine and performance. Dr. Welch explains how medications interact with an athlete's unique physiology, training load, and strict anti-doping policies—from managing insulin across time zones to mitigating heat illness risks from certain medications. The Power of Topicals Athletes are shifting from oral NSAIDs to topicals to avoid systemic side effects like stomach ulcers and kidney strain. Targeted Relief: Direct application to the injury site. Active Ingredients: Focus on the "what," not the brand. Menthol/Camphor: Cooling/hybrid agents to mask pain. Capsaicin: Heating agent that blocks pain signals. Diclofenac/Salicylates: Direct anti-inflammatory action. Lidocaine: Local anesthetic to mute nerve conduction. Formulations & Compounding Gels: Fast-acting for acute, mid-game relief. Creams/Patches: Sustained release for chronic, lagging injuries. Compounding: The "custom chef" approach. It allows for higher concentrations or "cocktails" (e.g., mixing an anti-inflammatory with a nerve agent) tailored to specific injury patterns. Regulation & Safety Transparency is critical. For competitive athletes, always verify ingredients against NCAA/WADA lists. Accreditation: Look for NABP or PCAB certified pharmacies. CBD: While emerging in research, look for "NSF Certified for Sport" to avoid contaminants like THC. Visit SportPharm.com for evidence-based topical solutions.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related