In early expedition accounts, climbers carried amphetamines and other stimulants to help when something bad happened or when they were extremely exhausted. Is this a good idea?
The above points about “doping” with steroids apply here. Use of stimulants is hazardous, especially in critical situations requiring good judgment. Studies at low altitudes demonstrate users having poor judgment and being more likely to have a serious automobile accident. Amphetamines have caused death through a variety of mechanisms and produce tunnel vision, which can be hazardous in mountain environment. Modafinil, which has been touted as a modern drug to ward off sleepiness, appears to be difficult to self-monitor (how well you perform) after sleep deprivation. These agents might increase pulmonary artery pressure and lead to HAPE, but there are no studies of any such agents at altitude. The so-called Triple D (dexamethasone, dextroamphetamine, and Daimox) is used by some climbers, just as heroin used to be taken by famous surgeons. I used to carry dextroamphetamine in my medical kit years ago and never used it. Now I don’t carry it at all. Use of such agents has been presumed to
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