Especially at this time of year, you’re not the only one popping medication so you can continue to workout three-five days a week. According to the Health and Social Care Information Centre, 43 percent of British men regularly take prescription drugs, including painkillers and medications to treat issues including high blood pressure. Those are massive numbers, but they don’t take into account the over the counter medications that you can get without a prescription, suggesting the total number of guys medicating themselves is higher still.

It’s also worth taking into account that the most recent data is from 2013. Yes, almost a decade and a half ago at this point, and well before Brexit, Covid, Trump, Ukraine, and season 1 of The Pitt came along to stress us out even more. In 2026, we’re highly likely to be in greater need than ever of meds to help us sleep, relax, and recover.

It isn’t all bad. More men taking medication means more men admitting they need help – be that to get off to sleep, to curb anxiety, or to fight depression. This is a very good thing, but no drug is without its side effects. Here, we place five common medications under the microscope to discover how they might impact not just your health, but your fitness too.

Beta blockers

Beta-blockers are medications that reduce the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels, and are commonly used to treat high blood pressure. “We also use them to treat anxiety symptoms (although less so now), arrhythmias, and other heart-related conditions,” explains Dr. Jeff Foster, medical director of Manual, and an expert in exercise physiology and safe use of medications.

Beta blockers work by lowering both your resting and exercise heart rate, which means the heart cannot beat as fast or as forcefully during physical activity. “Clinical studies consistently show that beta blockers reduce maximum aerobic capacity by around 5-15 percent in healthy adults,” adds Pupinder Ghatora, pharmacist and co-founder of collagen supplements brand INGENIOUS.

Because of this, Foster says that people taking beta-blockers often find that exercise feels harder, their endurance is reduced, and they’re unable to reach the same peak performance or heart-rate targets as before. The gym isn’t a total no-go. Ghatora adds that “Strength training sees little to no impact [on beta blockers] but HIIT and endurance training may feel more strenuous and your usual heart rate targets may become inaccurate.”

Yet, Foster warns that in extreme cases, you might vomit or even pass out. So it’s very much worth going slowly here and checking in with your body both during and after exercise.

Ibuprofen

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Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. It works by blocking enzymes called cyclooxygenases which are responsible for producing prostaglandins—chemical messengers that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. In English, that means it helps you feel less sore.

According to Foster, it’s an effective treatment for conditions including headache, muscle ache, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other injuries. But it isn’t all roses. “A lot of people take ibuprofen before or after workouts as it can mask pain and help you train harder, but this can have a detrimental effect,” he warns. “Firstly, if you mask an injury you might make it worse. Secondly, prostaglandins are part of the inflammatory response that helps trigger muscle protein synthesis, tissue repair, and growth.” In other words, inflammation is a normal part of the growth and repair process. Unless you’re in real pain, it might be best not to interfere.

“Regular ibuprofen use , especially in the period before and after exercise, can reduce gains in muscle strength and size, impair satellite‑cell activity (cells involved in muscle regeneration), and slow down recovery,” Foster warns, pointing to a study in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism, which found that ibuprofen and acetaminophen (AKA paracetamol) impaired long‑term muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during a 12‑week resistance‑training program.”

If you’re really in pain, go for it. If the problem persists, see your GP.

Cough and cold medicines

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Even the hardiest man has been struck down by a cold – particularly if you’re exercising outside in the wind and rain, or failing to support your sleep and nutrition during flu season.

As far as Ghatora’s concerned, exercise and cold medication doesn’t mix. “You should be resting and letting your body heal and recover if you have cold or flu-like symptoms,” he says. “Exercising when ill does two negative things, it can prolong or worsen your condition and also reduce the effectiveness of your workout.”

There are, however, two active ingredients that have little effect on your ability to workout (but keep in mind other ingredients or other medications may counteract this):

Glycerol – “This is a thick syrup to help soothe a sore throat and treat most dry coughs,” says Ghatora. “This will have little or no effect on exercise.”

Dextromethorphan – “This works on the brain to suppress the cough centre, useful for dry and tickly coughs. Again, little or no effect on exercise.”

On the flip side, there’s (at least) one active ingredient to watch out for:

Decongestants – “These cause blood vessels to constrict in the mucous producing membranes and therefore dry up mucous,” says Ghatora. “They’re related to adrenaline so can increase heart rate. Because they constrict your blood vessels, they can cause a transient increase in blood pressure. You should not use these whilst training.”

If you really want to exercise while ill, Ghatora suggests sticking to 10k steps. “Once you are well, you will be able to push yourself harder at the gym and feel better for it,” he says.

Sertraline

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Antidepressants might not be for you. Or they might be essential to your being able to function. Either way, the side effects can include tiredness, restlessness, or digestive changes – all of which can impact your enthusiasm for working out.

“Sertraline is a prescription medicine used to treat depression and anxiety, part of a group of drugs known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors),” says Ghatora, adding that SSRIs work by increasing serotonin availability in the brain. With serotonin being one of our ‘feel good’ hormones, you’re essentially tipping the odds in your own favour by giving yourself more of what you might be missing.

The research on Sertraline and exercise is a bit of a mixed bag. An ancient, 2001, study in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that Sertraline didn’t have a significant effect on strength or high-intensity exercise. Which is sort of a neutral outcome – you’re not losing strength but you’re not feeling empowered to push 1RMs, either.

Overall, Ghatora says that as the symptoms of depression lift, “people find they are more able to be consistent with training,” noting that “Several studies have found that combining antidepressants with structured training actually improves outcomes more effectively than medication alone.”

“There is a lot to be said about the release of endorphins and exercise,” he says. “It’s a natural and powerful way to help your mental health.”

Diphenhydramine

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It’s hard to get to sleep these days, right? From magnesium and melatonin pills to over the counter medicines like Nytol, there’s no wonder more of us are turning to help when it comes time to catch some zzzs.

The ingredients in sleep meds can vary, but the basic Nytol formulation contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride, which is an antihistamine. Histamine normally promotes wakefulness, so blocking it causes drowsiness and helps you sleep.

“The issue can be the next-day effect,” says Ghatora. “You might experience a residual groggy feeling, which results in slower reaction times and reduced coordination.” None of which is ideal at the squat rack.

Ghatora points to a Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology study which found that sedating antihistamines were linked with significant impairments in alertness, attention and psychomotor performance. More damningly, a 2025 study titled “Diphenhydramine: it is time to say a final goodbye” found that performance and cognitive sharpness took a dive the day after taking diphenhydramine.

If you’re really struggling with insomnia, try seeking professional help. Otherwise, Ghatora says ditch the drugs and go harder in the gym. “Good sleep plays a massive part in exercise recovery and is also when your body rebuilds muscle,” he explains. “Whilst useful for short term insomnia, a good, solid workout should be enough to get you off to sleep healthily, while improving your overall health and fitness.”