Painkillers

[u/Forumleecher]

Are painkillers beneficial while running? Do you take them before or during a race? What ingredients and brands do I look out for? Looking for both us and eu brands.

[u/Status_Accident_2819]

Only if you're in pain; I wouldn't go pre-loading. Don't take any NSAID products (Advil, ibruprofen). Stick to paracetamol based products (tylenol). We have brands and generics in the EU (you can buy non-branded paracetamol for 30-50p in the supermarket as an example; which works exactly the same as say "Panadol" which will be at least £5). You just have to read the label and look for "paracetamol". Usually comes in 500mg tabs and you take 2 every 4hrs. You can't buy supersize tubs of it in the EU/UK and often limited in a supermarket to 2x packs, this is often more at a pharmacy.

[u/CluelessWanderer15]

I carry acetaminophen in my first aid kit but only use them in emergencies like if I roll my ankle and need something to cut the discomfort as I hobble back to my car as a matter of short term/immediate safety e.g., need to make it back before it gets dark because I didn't bring my headlamp and temperatures will plummet.

Otherwise I'm trying to not using them in running or races because (1) they may mask potentially important discomfort I should not be trying to push through, (2) I sometimes view them as a crutch for inadequate preparation e.g., if I need acetaminophen to reduce leg pounding discomfort then it's probably because I didn't do enough long runs or didn't manage myself very well, and (3) if the weather is warm/hot I am potentially stacking multiple issues like fatigue, leg/joint discomfort, dehydration, and now potential liver or in the case of ibuprofen kidney issues on top of everything if I take too much.

[u/skyrunner00]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but if you need a pain killer to finish an ultra, you shouldn't be running it in the first place. That means you are not ready for the distance because your muscles or connective tissues aren't robust enough.

Besides well known health risks that others have mentioned, if you mask pain, you mask an important signal of something not being right such as a developing injury.

[u/tulbb]

I carry Tylenol with me and take mid race, if needed. Do not ever take any non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs during or immediately following an ultra, very well documented risk of kidney injury. If I am going to take an NSAID post race, I wait at least 36 hours after I’ve finished so my kidney function is somewhat back to normal. But even that is something I try to avoid and take the minimum effective dose.

[u/maspie_den → u/tulbb]

Seconding this. I took an NSAID about an hour before a 10-miler a few years ago. By mile 7 I was feeling rough. By mile 9 I was nearly crawling. Threw up immediately after the finish, and the whole two-hour car ride home. Over the course of an ultra, I imagine that suffering would have been magnified. 0/10. Do not recommend.

[u/skeevnn]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultramarathon/comments/1cpii3w/when_is_it_okay_to_take_nsaids/

[u/FigMoose]

Others have said the most important part (no NSAIDS, only Tylenol).

One small addition: I always carry a few Aspirin. While it is an NSAID and should generally be avoided during endurance events, it could save someone’s life during a heart attack. (And the kidney risk from a single dose in such circumstances is pretty low).

[u/mihoumorrison]

Health concerns aside, yes, they're beneficial for longer runs and due to that definitely not fair to other athletes during the competition.
One of the good things UTMB did was banning all painkillers on their races (though that was based on health, not moral concerns).
Kinda funny to me to see dudes popping Tylenol like Skittles and then boasting how they "pushed through that pain cave" and what amazing ultrarunners they are...