[Trombone-l] Beta-blocker info requested

[Carole Nowicke]

Quoting james meador <jamesmeador at hotmail.com>:

> So THAT'S what did it?!?  I thought it was my 'daily routine'...
>

It's a common side-effect of beta blockers. In a previous day job at 
the Kinsey Institute we had frequent questions about medications 
prescribed for hypertension. At much higher levels than prescribed for 
state fright. Since you can't get high on them, we don't hear much 
about them in my current day job.

I'm wondering when solo and ensembles festivals will start 
urine-testing students to find out if they are taking them before 
competitions.  I have no doubts that they're able to score them from 
older friends, college students they study with, etc.

They're banned in Olympic competition for sports where lowered heart 
rate and fine motor control is an advantage.  Banned in NCAA golf, too.

One of my former professors has a beta blocker prescription for 
hypertension. I didn't ask him about "other" performance but he said he 
didn't like the way they tamped down the feeling of excitement--he 
liked being "up" and playing on the energy.

Carole Nowicke
cnowicke at indiana.edu