Xanax on tour?

I love the palindrome of this drug, but seriously, I started playing half drunk yesterday and shot the best score I've had in years. I wasn't really drunk, just had kind of an ongoing buzz. No worries about any shot, short game was awesome, even though I usually get very nervous about many shots. I mean I'm being half sarcastic about this question, but can Tour players take Xanax and get away with it during a round? I think I would shoot consistently 10 shots a round better if I could.

...btw Xanax is a benzo, which has the same effect as alcohol.

I think xanax, adderall or any other scripts are banned on tour unless you have a special exemption. I'm pretty sure sudafed is a banned substance too FWIW.

I remember reading a golf digest WITB and I'm almost positive that a pro said they have an anxiety disorder and keep generic Xanax in their bag. Lemme see if I can find it...

Charlie Beljan from 2012: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/whats-in-my-bag/2013-06/photos-charlie-beljan-bag

I'm only familiar with ASADA regulations (the Australian doping body) but it's my understanding that they are pretty much identical to WADA regs.

Benzodiazepines aren't restricted in any form for golfers. I take Valium and Ventolin (Salbutamol) and ironically, if I wasn't asthmatic, the Ventolin would breach the anti doping regulations but the Valium would be ignored.

I can't say for absolute certainty obviously but I'd imagine that benzos are unrestricted on the PGA Tour.

Just had a look at the PGA Anti Doping Manual and Xanax, as well as other anti anxiety meds are expressly permitted by the Tour.

You've mentioned some benefits of CNS depressants related to anxiety in golf and performance. That being said, a drug that promotes sleep and generally "slows" your body and mind down isn't necessarily fantastic if you want your body athletically to fire on all cylinders. It's not ideal if you're a high level athlete. You'd do much better with calming exercises, both health-wise and performance-wise.

Unless you're taking this drug as prescribed by a Dr, don't take it unnecessarily. It's the most abused benzo and addictive. If you are only taking it to improve your game, I'd consider the long term implications of such a plan. However, if you're having frequent panic attacks and it's the only thing that gets you to/keeps you on the course, that's different.

[quote name='rbhan12' timestamp='1428560111' post='11317139']
I remember reading a golf digest WITB and I'm almost positive that a pro said they have an anxiety disorder and keep generic Xanax in their bag. Lemme see if I can find it...

Charlie Beljan from 2012: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/whats-in-my-bag/2013-06/photos-charlie-beljan-bag
[/quote]
Now he's someone who reasonably carries it around and takes it if necessary. Poor guy thought he was dying on the golf course a few years ago. Golf's hard enough as it is.

If roids and coke are acceptable then I'm sure xannies should be perfectly fine.

That's a road you do not want to take unless you truly need to take it for panic attacks or what not. Seen a few people get truly messed up on that.

Combine it with your alcohol for the full effect. Of course it may kill you, but for a 10-stroke improvement...

Tour players can take whatever they want as far as I'm concerned.....

Xanax ? I'd find a shady tree and go to sleep under it... Lol !

[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1428576280' post='11317447']Tour players can take whatever they want as far as I'm concerned.....[/quote]

That's awesome....however, I'm not 100% positive, I could be wrong, but I don't believe you personally set the rules on the PGA tour for what drugs are approved. The OP was asking about what the tour allows, not what Lumberman allows.....TIMMMMBER

[quote name='Prut' timestamp='1428574623' post='11317411']
Combine it with your alcohol for the full effect. Of course it may kill you, but for a 10-stroke improvement...
[/quote]

I use to take another form of medication to help with anxiety. I was completely stupid and every once in a while I would tie one on. I've experienced everything from black out drunk to not remembering the whole night to passing out and not knowing where I was when I got up. Clearly I drank too much but that mixed with medications was just stupid. I was clearly young and dumb but I now make sure if the topic comes up that these are the types of medication when it says do not consume with alcohol... don't.

I take xanax for panic attack.

It DOES help a little with the putter.

Real meds for real disorders. Shouldnt be abused. Those that have panic and/or anxiety issues sincerely struggle at times. Ive witnessed it - been thru it, and had to take medication to combat it. Now I take a paxil each day to keep level. My wife can tell when Ive skipped a few days. I get paranoid, anxious, and combative. The medicine doesnt help me play golf better. It just gets me to a place where I am even with everyone else.

[quote name='kiteman' timestamp='1428556496' post='11317017']
I love the palindrome of this drug, but seriously, I started playing half drunk yesterday and shot the best score I've had in years. I wasn't really drunk, just had kind of an ongoing buzz. No worries about any shot, short game was awesome, even though I usually get very nervous about many shots. I mean I'm being half sarcastic about this question, but can Tour players take Xanax and get away with it during a round? I think I would shoot consistently 10 shots a round better if I could.

...btw Xanax is a benzo, which has the same effect as alcohol.
[/quote]

I need to take a Xanax before I fly. It enables me to actually get on the plane (and I have to travel like once or twice a month). I never thought about taking one on the golf course because the golf course naturally calms me. I guess the one thing I'd be worried about is being too relaxed. Sometimes the nervous juices makes it a little more fun and engaging.

[quote name='jdg2494' timestamp='1428576893' post='11317463']
[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1428576280' post='11317447']Tour players can take whatever they want as far as I'm concerned.....[/quote]

That's awesome....however, I'm not 100% positive, I could be wrong, but I don't believe you personally set the rules on the PGA tour for what drugs are approved. The OP was asking about what the tour allows, not what Lumberman allows.....TIMMMMBER
[/quote]

I'm 100% positive that you are correct that I don't set the rules for the Tour.....However, I think they've made a big mistake in not seeking my imput over the years. I'd bring an interesting perspective to Tour Operations.

[quote name='Prut' timestamp='1428574623' post='11317411']
Combine it with your alcohol for the full effect. Of course it may kill you, but for a 10-stroke improvement...
[/quote]

I used to have to explain step by step what happened the night before when my friends would load up on Xanax and have a few. Blackout city.

Its funny you bring this topic up because for the longest time i thought Tiger was taking valium to ease the nerves when he was dominating, I always thought
it would be like cheating since its quite hard to feel pressure when that stuff is in your system .

If anything, a person diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, personality disorder or learning disability will always be trying to balance themselves and medications and will always be at a disadvantage.

A person in perfect mental health taking medications like xanax and adderall is similar to MLB players taking roids, etc.

[quote name='Jonnybagadonuts' timestamp='1428590197' post='11318759']
Its funny you bring this topic up because for the longest time i thought Tiger was taking valium to ease the nerves when he was dominating, I always thought
it would be like cheating since its quite hard to feel pressure when that stuff is in your system .
[/quote]

Take Valium for 10 years?

Doesnt seem like you could get up at 5am every day and go beat the crap out of everybody week in and week out for like

300 weeks


If you took valium every day. Valium. That was like what I remember grown ups taking with martinis.

[quote name='bscinstnct' timestamp='1428637743' post='11325057']
[quote name='Jonnybagadonuts' timestamp='1428590197' post='11318759']
Its funny you bring this topic up because for the longest time i thought Tiger was taking valium to ease the nerves when he was dominating, I always thought
it would be like cheating since its quite hard to feel pressure when that stuff is in your system .
[/quote]

Take Valium for 10 years?

Doesnt seem like you could get up at 5am every day and go beat the crap out of everybody week in and week out for like

300 weeks


If you took valium every day. Valium. That was like what I remember grown ups taking with martinis.
[/quote] Exactly. Tranquilizers, even mild ones will not let you be a workhorse. Stuff can be heavy..

Well, if you're done Xanax, then you know that your golf game will likely be better whilst doing it. That's crazy.

[quote name='golfinray' timestamp='1428584306' post='11318025']
I take xanax for panic attack.

It DOES help a little with the putter.
[/quote]

Does it help your golf game?

[quote name='Jonnybagadonuts' timestamp='1428590197' post='11318759']
Its funny you bring this topic up because for the longest time i thought Tiger was taking valium to ease the nerves when he was dominating, I always thought
it would be like cheating since its quite hard to feel pressure when that stuff is in your system .
[/quote]


Tiger's drug of choice wasn't Valium, it was Ambien. Not sure of the difference between the two.

[quote name='Smith65' timestamp='1429699410' post='11413845']
[quote name='Jonnybagadonuts' timestamp='1428590197' post='11318759']
Its funny you bring this topic up because for the longest time i thought Tiger was taking valium to ease the nerves when he was dominating, I always thought
it would be like cheating since its quite hard to feel pressure when that stuff is in your system .
[/quote]


Tiger's drug of choice wasn't Valium, it was Ambien. Not sure of the difference between the two.
[/quote]

ambien is a little more selective than valium as to what receptor it blocks and it doesn't disrupt skeletal muscle function. As long as he was taking ambien early enough, I could believe that he would have no problem getting through a round of golf the next day.

Ambien is sometimes given to aid in sleep.

I'm prescribed Xanax for anxiety and supraventricular tachycardia (heart rate rising to almost triple what it should be for no real reason, I'm only 24 by the way)...although I argued with the doctor for awhile that I didn't have anxiety, it turns out I do. I think it the medicine has pros and cons for my golf game, but nothing that would ever give me an advantage over anyone else that didn't have this problem. Like Lord Helmet said, it's not a medication you want to take if you don't need it, or even for a long period of time since you can develop a dependency farily easy.

Pros:
More relaxed, not worried or anxious over any shots, doesn't letting my mind wander about what's going to happen later in the round, etc.

Cons:
Significantly less energy, really feeling like I have to labor to swing the club, not really caring about the outcome of a situation, inability to really have that focus when I would like to....things like that.

Some days I take it and just feel like I'm in the zone all day even hitting mediocre shots, and the next day I might still hit great shots all day and just feel like I have no idea what's going on. I don't ever take anything higher than my prescribed dosage (.5 mg, a really small dose compared to most), but some days it just affects me more than others.

I don't take it every day since I really don't want to have to get to the point of depending on a medication to feel right, or using it as a crutch. That being said, I agree with the comment about being at a disadvantage. It's no fun thinking about your body and what it may or may not do, instead of being able to focus on your round and the shots you want to hit.

I feel for the others that NEED to take it just to feel normal, and have actual chemical imbalances in the body that require medicines like that. It's a really frustrating and tiresome problem to have.

I doubt Jack or Arnie popped pills or smoked drugs before playing golf.

The top brass at the PGA can throw any regulations out there for athletes and they will find a way to beat the system.


Plus a change
Plus c'est la meme chose

I doubt Jack or Arnie popped pills or smoked drugs before playing golf.

 

The top brass at the PGA can throw any regulations out there for athletes and they will find a way to beat the system.

 

 

Plus a change

Plus c'est la meme chose

No, they just smoked mid round.