Negative effects of Ibuprofen use

[NWCycle]

One of my regular class participants is a retired cardio-thoracic surgeon. He sent me the following link about Ibuprofen use in athletes. Advil has long been my pain killer of choice but I think I'm going out today to buy some good old aspirin.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt)

[BikeFL]

Wow! Thanks for the article. I know several people who regularly use Advil before and after activities (running, tennis, etc). I always questioned (mostly in my mind) whether continuing to play the sport (or at least as intensly) was a good idea for some of these people.

This article is a little off this subject, but interesting. Older, Wiser, and Slower........

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204047504574384973660445730.html

[DoctorD13]

PHARMACIST here. The dosing pre, post and during race is all wrong. NSAID's
should be taken with food on a regular schedule, not just before exercise, when one is most likely to puke, esp with that in the stomach. I was taken 2x220mgm naproxen sodium(Aleve) twice daily, but my knees are so arthritic that I changed to ibuprofen 800 mgm, 2 or 3 times daily, with food, AFTER the gym. Aspirin is worse on the stomach than NSAID's, after I haven't touched done in years. If I really ache, I supplement with APAP (Tylenol) . There is no way presently I would stop the IBU if I want to continue to walk and work
Paul S
Amherst NY

[NWCycle]

PHARMACIST here. The dosing pre, post and during race is all wrong. NSAID's
should be taken with food on a regular schedule, not just before exercise, when one is most likely to puke, esp with that in the stomach. I was taken 2x220mgm naproxen sodium(Aleve) twice daily, but my knees are so arthritic that I changed to ibuprofen 800 mgm, 2 or 3 times daily, with food, AFTER the gym. Aspirin is worse on the stomach than NSAID's, after I haven't touched done in years. If I really ache, I supplement with APAP (Tylenol) . There is no way presently I would stop the IBU if I want to continue to walk and work
Paul S
Amherst NY
It's great to have a doctor (or pharmacist) in the house! Thanks so much for the info. Paul. So, what about those of us who only use NSAIDs for sore muscles after a tough workout or for the occasional headache? In that case would you still recommend IBU or would you suggest something else?

[EuroD]

My residents all say Tylenol, as did residents in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

[RaffCycles]

There is no way presently I would stop the IBU if I want to continue to walk and work
Paul S
Amherst NY

And continue to ride a mean bike. You all should see this man ride!!!

[like2bike]

Ralph you lucky dog that you had the pleasure. I'm hoping someday to meet Paul, and better yet, ride with him. What a terrific gentleman. And WHAT a sense of HUMOR! Cheers!

[DoctorD13]

And continue to ride a mean bike. You all should see this man ride!!!

Huge bow and blush Thanks Ralph yea bad knees and all. positively love what I do!
Paul S

[DoctorD13]

It's great to have a doctor (or pharmacist) in the house! Thanks so much for the info. Paul. So, what about those of us who only use NSAIDs for sore muscles after a tough workout or for the occasional headache? In that case would you still recommend IBU or would you suggest something else?
I live on IBU 800 Lots of people call me "Doc" in my store, strangers, regulars
so many call me "Doc" and I love it.
Back to topic, yea for soreness, bad knees (me) NSAIDS are the way to go in moderation WITH FOOD and not pre or post race.
Paul S

[veespin]

One of my regular class participants is a retired cardio-thoracic surgeon. He sent me the following link about Ibuprofen use in athletes. Advil has long been my pain killer of choice but I think I'm going out today to buy some good old aspirin.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt)

There's nothing wrong with "Vit. I" as a general painkiller, if you don't have GI/liver/kidney problems, but the article in this link addressed the fairly common practice of taking ibuprofen routinely before/during/after hard workouts in the mistaken belief that there's an actual benefit to doing this (incidentally, heavy boozers do the same thing if they've overindulged a bit on the sauce in the belief that they'll avoid a hangover......with the consequence of finding themselves in the ED with an acute GI bleed)

It's faulty reasoning as all NSAIDs (including aspirin) can reduce kidney function and taking this type of med. at a time when you're compromising the blood flow to the kidneys exaggerates the effect.

Interestingly, when I've done any distance races organised by the NYRRs, their handouts have always given a heads-up on the dangers of "prophylactic" ibuprofen use and suggested a switch to tylenol......which is still a bit illogical, if you ask me.

Vivienne