Benoit's Doctor Charged With Improperly Dispensing Drugs To Patients

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Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 03 Jul 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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Dr. Phil Astin, Chris Benoit's doctor, has been charged with improperly dispensing Percocet, Xanax, Lorcet and Vicoprofen to patients. Dr. Astin has not been charged with supplying steroids to Benoit. An investigation is ongoing to find out whether Dr. Astin improperly prescribed drugs and testosterone to Benoit.

Dr. Phil Astin prescribed anabolic steroids to Benoit over a ten-month period, every 3 to 4 weeks. Benoit was apparently an 'excessive' buyer of injectable steroids.

A criminal complaint said Dr. Astin had prescribed about 1 million doses of controlled substances over the last 24 months, including large quantities of injectable testosterone cypionate. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, this is a huge amount for a practitioner working by himself in a rural area.

Benoit, a professional wrestler, killed his wife and son, and then himself last week.

What are Anabolic Steroids (Anabolic-androgenic steroids - AAS)?

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are a class of steroid hormones, derivatives of testosterone. They enhance protein synthesis within muscle cells, resulting in growth (anabolism) of muscle size.

Anabolic steroids were discovered in the 1930s. They are widely used in medicine to:

-- Stimulate bone growth
-- Improve appetite
-- Stimulate puberty
-- Enhance muscle growth

They are commonly used in such chronic wasting conditions as AIDS and cancer.

Excessive doses of anabolic steroids can result in elevated bad cholesterol (*LDL) levels, lower good cholesterol levels (*HDL), acne, hypertension, liver damage and heart problems.

*HDL = high-density lipoprotein. LDL = Low-density lipoprotein

Sportsmen and sportswomen may be tempted to take anabolic steroids to enhance their performance. They are controlled drugs in most of the developed world and many countries in the developing world. Most sporting organizations worldwide ban their use.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today