About Joshua Cappuccilli Expertise I can answer most questions involving medication use, side effects, adverse effects, interactions and how drugs relate to specific disease states. Noone can answer all questions; I will respond as such if I cannot provide an answer. I will provide resources / references for the information that I use to formulate the answer given.
Experience I am a PharmD with my degree from the University of FLorida - currently I am preparing to take the state boards in Florida.
Organizations California Phamacist Association
American Pharmacy Assocaition
Education/Credentials BA University of South Florida
PharmD University of Florida
Expert: Joshua Cappuccilli Date: 7/12/2008 Subject: What is a drug?
Question Mr.Cappuccilli, my question derives from hearing about athletes being penalized for taking "performance enhancing" substances. I believe that if I took a dose of sugar before a race, my performance would be enhanced, but sugar is not classified as a drug. So my question is, Is sugar a drug? And if not, what is the defining characteristic of a drug that excludes sugar?
I would be very grateful for an answer.
from Michael Robinson, Dublin, Ireland
Answer I believe that if I took a dose of sugar before a race, my performance would be enhanced, but sugar is not classified as a drug. So my question is:
Is sugar a drug? There is a legal and technical point to be made here - first, if I were to sell you the sugar and claim that it treats or cures anything (meaning I sold it with the description of a drug) then I would legally be selling you a drug and open to sanction from the FDA. Technically, the intent and the activity of the compound are generally both important in the determination of the class of a compound. Dietary supplements are not considered "drugs" but they can chemically impact the body - as long as they do not claim to treat or cure they are not required to be tested or processed as a drug. This would change if GATORADE started to advertise that it cured heat stroke or treated fatigue - that is why dietary supplements do not make these kinds of claims.
And if not, what is the defining characteristic of a drug that excludes sugar? Intent of sale or use, claims of activity, and the fact that it is a naturally occuring - not chemically sythetic compound that is both considered safe and is also legal (which rules out marijuana from this same discussion).
