He is puzzled by this quote from Rambo. Did Sly Stallone go to Burma? I thought the film was shot right here in Chiang Mai ...

"Doing 'Rambo' is hard work," he said. "Where do you think I'm going to get this stuff in Burma?"

Where indeed? And where would he find a supply of sterile syringes and needles?

[him] moderator

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Doctors slam 'Rambo' for drug comments
Thursday, January 31, 2008
By David Templeton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The star of "Rambo" admits his bronze-sculpture physique isn't exactly natural.

Fueling the controversy, Sylvester Stallone also encouraged the use of human growth hormones and testosterone.

His splashy comments and rippling muscles have spawned criticism from physicians who call his statements reckless.

"It's appalling for someone that kids look up to to come out and say something like that," said Dr. Edward Snell, director of primary sports medicine at Allegheny General Hospital.

Mr. Stallone's statements don't "come from a knowledgeable place," he said.

Dr. Johnny Benjamin, chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla., also had a slam for Rambo.

"Everyone is so concerned about baseball stars and the alleged use of these substances," he said. "Here's a star at the same level as [star pitcher] Roger Clemens who is proposing their use. Where's the outrage?"

Doctors fear his words will persuade young men to try HGH and steroids.

"It's very upsetting to me," said Dr. Tanya Hagen, a sports medicine physician with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "People in the spotlight, whether an athlete, rock star or movie star, have responsibility to young folks who see them as role models and sometimes as heroes."

Anyone interested in hormone therapy, regardless of the reason, should consult with a physician, she said.

In a recent interview in Time magazine, the 61-year-old actor said he used HGH and testosterone to sculpt his body. Last May, he was arrested then fined $2,975 for smuggling 48 vials of HGH and four vials of testosterone into Australia.

"HGH is nothing," he told Time. "Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed.

"This stuff gives your body a boost and you look and feel good," he's quoted as saying in court documents.

He also noted he had large quantities of HGH because he was going to Myanmar, formerly Burma, to shoot "Rambo."

"Doing 'Rambo' is hard work," he said. "Where do you think I'm going to get this stuff in Burma?"

Actually Mr. Stallone was correct on one front: HGH is not a steroid. But doctors note he also admitted to using testosterone. Synthetic testosterone is an anabolic steroid.

HGH is used legitimately to help people who have problems with normal growth and to help people with AIDS regain muscle mass. It also is used to treat multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, among other ailments, doctors say.

It works by adding lean body mass, reducing weight, creating a sense of euphoria and even helping people to sleep better.

"It makes you look and feel younger than your stated age, so people go into it as a fountain of youth," Dr. Snell said, noting its effects are "a double-edge sword."

With added HGH in the blood stream, natural production of HGH from the pituitary gland declines, eventually prompting the gland to atrophy, which hinders production of other important hormones.

Synthetic testosterone in the system reduces natural production of the hormone, which can cause atrophy of the testicles. Steroids cause psychological problems that can lead to suicide. It also leads to heart disease, decreased sexual function and feminization of the male body, including growth of breast tissue, Dr. Hagen said.

Those who use HGH to slow the aging process actually can experience the opposite effect over time, Dr. Snell said.

HGH also can lead to Type 2 diabetes. While research on HGH's effects is limited, there's theoretical concern it may cause or accelerate colon, prostate and breast cancers. So doctors agree: People who misuse HGH face sizable risks.

David Templeton can be reached at dtempleton@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1578.
First published on January 31, 2008 at 12:00 am

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08031/853623-114.stm#