Hey guys!

My name is Mark. I've been a member of this forum for about a month, but I opt to lurk instead of post or reply to posts. I generally don't have anything to say that someone else hasn't already expressed or anything to ask that someone hasn't beat me to. This works out perfectly for me most of the time, so thank you all for being articulate and thorough.

However, I haven't yet found an answer for one question. I know I should ask my doctor, but (shock) I forget. I've searched, but the majority of posts regarding stimulants and exercise don't address my particular query.

I know that working out on stimulants is fine as long as you don't overdo it. I also know that the key to cardio exercise is your heart rate. So, if your heart rate is elevated due to stimulants, it takes less activity to achieve 65 or 85 or whatever percent of your maximum that is optimal for cardio exercise. For example (and this is completely math-free and inaccurate): say your resting rate is 85 on stimulants and your target heart rate while working out is 140. To reach 140 on a stationary bike while on stimulants would take less resistance and a slower speed than without stimulants.

Does that mean, in theory, working out while on stimulating medication requires less effort to achieve the same results as if you were not on the medication?

Thank you for taking time to reply! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Does that mean, in theory, working out while on stimulating medication requires less effort to achieve the same results as if you were not on the medication?

Good question. I would suggest that you remember to ask your Dr or pharmacist this question.

If I had to take a guess based on what I know about how stimulants effect me, I would doubt that the results would be the same even though the heart rate would be the same, since stimulants typically cause several different effects in the body.

For instance, in addition to the effects they have in our brains, stimulants can also constrict blood vessels, which could limit the amount of blood reaching a given area of the body. So, even if the heart rate was the same, I would wonder if the same amount of blood would be able to reach the muscles, the brain, etc., as it normally would without the stimulants constricting any vessels.

Please keep us posted on this when you finally get an answer from your Dr or pharmacist.