Is there such thing as too much ibuprofen?

I don't think there are any problems with taking low doses over the long term (although I think the bottle says talk to your doctor if you're taking for more than 10 days). This being said, I was up to 14 advil a day for two weeks trying to make it through the end of track season last year. I'm still alive, but I would stay off the booze if you're going to go that route.

Why not explain to you're doctor that you're a highly competitive runner and ask his or her opinion.

Highly competitive runner? By what means? Per se a highly competitive letsrunner perhaps? I'd say best case scenario for you, is to buy a stationary bike, rig up a computer desk with broadband internet access so you can fulfill your true destiny as an elite letsrunner. No post will go unscathed by you (not that it doesn't already), so go ahead come back with some dry half-witted attempt at a quick response, but you know your true destiny as a elite LetsRunner.

a pole vaulter i went to school with talked about getting ulcers from too much ibruprofen while competing at a previous school. another guy i trained with talked about how a teammmate of his at michigan had liver problems from prolonged ibruprofen use

i was gonna say that prolonged daily use of ibuprofen could cause stomach problems and, more importantly, liver problems.

I don't know what the latest studies have concluded but I have read that some NSAIDS might inhibit repair of certain soft tissues. The first abstract I came across when I did a quick google talks about anti-inflammatory drugs effect on bone formation also.

Something to consider when you have a history of stress fractures for sure.

google search:

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&q=nsaid+effect+tissue+healing

From: J Am Acad Orthop Surg, Vol 12, No 3, May/June 2004, 139-143.

© 2004

"Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs continue to be prescribed as analgesics for patients with healing fractures even though these drugs diminish bone formation, healing, and remodeling. Inhibition of bone formation can be clinically useful in preventing heterotopic ossification in selected clinical situations. In this regard, naproxen may be more efficacious than the traditional indomethacin, and short-term administration is as effective as long-term. When fracture healing or spine fusion is desired, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a positive effect on soft-tissue healing; they stimulate collagen synthesis and can increase strength in the early phases of repair during skin and ligament healing. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors have an adverse effect on bone healing and may have an adverse effect on ligament healing. Therefore, further investigation is necessary to confirm that traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be preferable for the healing of collagenous tissues."

From: J Am Acad Orthop Surg, Vol 12, No 3, May/June 2004, 139-143.

© 2004

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I have chronic tibial stress reaction/shin splints/former stress fracture. And by chronic, I mean it's always there no matter how much I take off from running (it goes away when I rest, but always has come back). Taking pain medicine helps some, but I'm wondering if taking ibuprofen everyday is all that healthy? Would taking a different pain reliever like aspirin be safer? On a side note, I have discovered that frozen Flavor-Ice Pops (several connected to each other) work well for icing shins.

Flavor-Ice

http://www.jelsert.com/products_flavor_ice.asp

As a quick side-note, you can always combine your addictions by dissolving about 1600 mg of Ibuprofen in 8 ounces of your favorite fruit drink. Freeze the juice in your ice tray and then you have yourself a little vasodilatory popsicle. It tastes great and it stops the swelling.

Yes, of course.

Absolutely you can take too much ibuprofen!!! That shit can wreck your stomach if not taken carefully, so do some research on side effects, and always take it with a meal.

That's basically what I have heard as well. A friend of mine has had a couple of stress fractures and his doctor told him to minimize the use. I haven't had any stress fractures and am not so concerned. My biggest concern would be staying hydrated.

You are an addict. I am not kidding.

Go to rehab and don't say no no no.

Instead of swallowing ibuprofen, you should lather BenGay all over your body.

Ben Gey wrote:

Instead of swallowing ibuprofen, you should lather BenGay all over your body.

I read this today:

I used to pop ibuprofen like candy. I stopped after seeing reports linking high, long-term dosages of ibuprofen to kidney failure.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I didn't think it could be all that safe. My dad suggested aspirin instead. I think I'll try to get around to seeing a doctor about it, who will probably tell me not to run.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I think I'll try to get around to seeing a doctor about it, who will probably tell me not to run.

That is the only funny thing you've ever written.

Remember what happened to Paula Radcliffe in the 2004 Olympic Marathon? She got injured two weeks before the race and began taking TONS of ibuprofen which, of course, resulted in stomach problems. She could not digest food properly, could not absorb energy, and was running on empty in the most important race of her life. I'm not sure if aspirin is classified as an anti-inflamatory, but I do know it can cause the same kind of stomach problems. Be careful.

Brilliant!!! wrote:

I'm not sure if aspirin is classified as an anti-inflamatory.

It is. But I agree that aspirin can also have some pretty significant side effects. I always opt for ibuprofen over aspirin, simply because the combination of hard running and aspirin causes me significant gastrointestinal distress, but I no longer take either of them as a matter of routine.

Taking any of these drugs long term is going end up giving you problems, be it kidney, liver, stomach, whatever.

Get new shoes instead. Or better yet, take up cycling. Or, even better yet, be like the coolest man on TV, Dr. Greg House, and just switch to vicodin.

(As an interesting and somewhat related side note, my anatomy professor, who spends a lot of time in the medical school with cadavers, says that the med students are always surprised by the high percentage of specimens with cirrhosed livers. Not necessarily due to excessive drinking, but just long term prescription drug use and other buildup effects of our lovely modern life. It's hard work breaking down pills year after year.)

I'm stunned by this thread.

As someone else said, doesn't ibuprofen slow bone healing, which is exactly what you don't want to happen?

Also, you're interrupting your body's natural processes. Inflammation happens for a reason.

Taking anything long term like that isnt good.

I disagree with taking drugs to be able to get through running - you need to truly get to the root of the problem rather than trying to mask pain. It'll never work out long term. If you need pain relief (on a long term basis) to run I would argue you shouldn't be running.

I had chronic shin problems for years. You need to change your training and diet.

Also try these things:

Exercise the shin through more than one plane of direction - unfortunately a lot of the exercises only exercise the shin through one plane of direction. You can do this by applying resistance with your hand.

Try switching to a lower profile shoe.

Try massage with dry oil every day on your lower legs.

Try this routine:

1. Large circles with toes X 5 both ways + alphabet with each toe.

2. Walking on heels - 3*50

3. Stretch calves and shins.

4. Toe taps - as fast as possible - 3*30 on both feet.

5. Paint can toe lifts action - 2*10 on both feet.

6. Foot rotations by ankle every way, holding foot for medium resistance - 2*15 seconds.

7. Wall shin raises - 15 normal, 15 pulses.

8. Heel step downs - 15*1.

9. Stretch calves and shins again.

Don't run on very uneven offroad/grass.