Oh, it most certainly is!
Acetaminophen is a non-opiod analgesic without anti-inflammatory effects, technically not an NSAID.
It is debatable whether or not acetaminophen has anti-flammatory properties, in particular, at higher doses…with that said, I will agree it is not a pure NSAID…
If you must take a pain med during endurance events, acetaminophen is the way to go, IMO.
so is there risk to the kidneys like with ibuprofen?
(if using acetaminophen)
Renal risks with acetaminophen are considerable less than with NSAIDs…
I posted a while back just about this, and a friend of mine who runs in our group got extremely high SGOT levels from taking ADVILS when he ran: off the chart. He was having all kinds of leg problems during the work week and he went in and they did a blood test, in addition to a bunch of other tests.
We were trainng for a marathon and we’d take 3-4 advils on long runs, and we were hurt with ITBS and all kinds of shit. I don’t think that messed up my kidneys, but I wasn’t tested.
They even called him at home to come back in and do another test and he was told to stop taking that shit.
Not kidding.
Tylenol 8 Hour was a sponsor at the PF Chang’s Rock n’ Roll Marathon. They even had it at one of the aid stations if I remember correctly.
I don’t know if it will hurt or help, just an observation.
Tucker
They sponsored IMLP03 as well, that’s where I discovered the 8hr gelcaps.
(Remember, alcohol and acetominophen don’t mix!)
That is little more unusual since SGOT (along with SGPT or more currently ALT/AST) are liver function indicators, not renal (kidney) enzymes. Ibuprofen (Advil) does not usually elevate this. Interestingly, long term acetaminophen (Tylenol) can…
Isn’t it ridiculous to call yourself an Ironman and do the race on pain killers?
Okay, if it is medically indicated, if you have a huge headache, than it may be okay, but taking pain killers before and during the race because you wanna be faster, that’s pathetic and dishonorable.
Fennec
Tylenol, or it’s equivelents( acetominophen) should be OK. NSAIDs such as Advil( Ibuprofen) are more problematic do to the stomach irritation issues. Keep in mind your stomach is already under significant stress in an IM.
My girlfriend developed a severe headache during the bike at IMFL, last fall. It was a strange thing because this had never happened before. She stopped, midway through the bike and actually went into a Paramedic Van out on the course. They would not give anything to her. When she arrived back at T2, the headache was going on full bore. I was in transition at this point and directed her to the med tent, where they gave her two Tylenol. Happy ending: Headace went away and she went on to a 10:03 time and top 15 place overall.
Fleck
Saying someone popping a couple of Tylenol during an IM is equivalent to “doing the race on pain killers” is like saying someone drinking water during an IM is doing the race on blood thinners! “Ridiculous” “Pathetic” “Dishonorable” ??? Dude, you’re dropping some big bombs on such a small target. Get some perspective and lose some of the self-righteous bullshit. Just know that there is most certainly someone out there with an even more extreme set of standards than yours who would look at you and think: Pathetic. Dishonorable. Ridiculous. The poster asked a simple medical question. The morals lecture was uncalled for.
Frank
Thanks Frank for the support
I think our friend Fennec either
a) would never contemplate any long course race
b) swims with no goggles, bikes with no gears, bars or shoes
c) runs barefoot or
d) all of the above
because he is obviously a purist and could not live with himself if he chose to use anything that may aid him.
oh yes - never once did I call myself an Ironman Mr Fennec - just for the record - although I could have!!
I think everyone who answered/answers this thread should first post their age (I’m 50) and then their opinion.
I first saw tylenol being handed out at the Marine Corp marathon in 2003. Jeff Galloway, a major MCM player also suppports tylenol for “little tugs”.
It doesn’t eliminate pain entirely, it just makes existing discomfort more manageable, and the activity a little more enjoyable ( a relative term to be sure.) It will not allow you to ignore the discomfort or outright pain of racing above your conditioning limits. It will also not cure major injuries/malfunctions incurred during an event (e.g. major bike crash, ligament failure, loss of limb etc.) and allow you to continue on to a PB (or PR if you are old school like me). From my perspective, I think it is far better than large quantities of ibuprofen, and I have known people both athletes and non-athletes who ingest such large quantities, in order to function daily.
For me, a couple of tylenol half an hour before a two hour or longer training run makes quite a difference on how well I walk after the run. Similarly, a couple on the bike midway in the IM, with a couple in my pocket on the run, is reasonable insurance. It certainly didn’t kill me at IMC last year, and I really did feel great when I finished.
35yo
I will use them if I need - as per your post - I totally agree!!
Not to defend any sort of moral lecture… but, your analogy comparing water to Tylenol is incorrect…
The last I looked water is not hepatotoxic when used incorrectly… unfortunately, using Tylenol as a form of doping (i.e., enhance performance and not with a sole medical purpose) is not a correct way to use any drug… OTC or Prescription.
I prefer not to seperate the kidney damage that could be done using NSAID’s from the damage that could be done to my liver if Tylenol is use. Specially when the key issues that cause the need for a pain relever is predominately a case of poor training regimen. It’s not about masking pain so much as it is masking poor training decissions and the resulting potential permanent injury.
FWIW Joe Moya
If the van took her too the transition area and the med tent, did they also place her back on the course where they pick her up???
42 BTW
"Specially when the key issues that cause the need for a pain relever is predominately a case of poor training regimen. It’s not about masking pain so much as it is masking poor training decissions and the resulting potential permanent injury. "
Joe: Nothing personal, but get a clue. When I get out of bed in the morning I can’t even walk right until I put some shoes on. There isn’t any training regimen that will change that with the possible exception of yoga, according to my wife. Tylenol allows me to train, nice and slow. Doubling the amount does not double my speed, in fact it does nothing to my speed. One can’t substitute tylenol for training. And not training at all will only further reduce my flexibility and mobility.
The water argument is also most amusing. I could argue that drinking water only masks one’s thirst as it is well known that humans can not adequately replace fluid losses based on perceived thirst, misleading one to over perform based on perceived fitness.
If you are truly concerned about kidney damage then I would strongly suggest you don’t run at all. I have heard from sources as equally reliable as yours than high volume running, as incurred for marathon training, can and does resut in kidney damage from the excessive pounding and is easily evidenced by blood in the urine (dark color upon voiding).
Yes, I am tweaking your nose a little, but I mean no harm. You’re going to die from something, make your choice. For me, it is far more likely I’ll get hit on the bike one of these days rather than suffer incurable kidney disease from a bottle or two of tylenol taken over a two year period.
headache in an ironman could be a serious warning signal (dehydration, overheating …)!
in my opinion the paramedics have been absolutely right in not giving her pain medication.
btw - i volunteered as a race doctor at ironman germany and i haven’t been asked for pain killers once! seems to be a cultural difference in the attitude towards otc drugs
Nothing personal taken… Your situation may be different…
I think the issue is abuse vs. use… You use the drug for medical reason… nothing is wrong with that. Unfortunately, even if it is for medical reasons… the potential for Liver (hepatoxic - toxic to liver) problems are significantly compounded by long term and high dosage useage. Unfortunately, using the drug (instead of abusing the drug) doesn’t reduce the potential harmful side effect. If there were other options, I’d definately search those out (assuming you haven’t already).
In essense, I don’t begrudge anyone for using drugs correctly and within the proper limitation of expectations for what it can be accomplish. However, What I define as a bad idea is to take the drug during an endurance event because it allows them to perform “better”. I define that as abuse of the drug and cause risks for reasons that have little to do with creating a healthy lifestyle.
IMO, one of the key intentions of drugs are to help provide the opportunity of live a healthier life… and, not to threaten this opportunity. Unfortunately, harmful side effects sometime force us to weight the advantages vs. disadvantages.
FWIW Joe Moya
Add a little irony… based on todays higher standards for toxicity limitations on drugs, I have some doubts whether or not the older drugs such as Tylenol or Asprin would even be OTC drugs. From that perspective, they could be more dangerous than some prescription drugs.
Med tent EMT’s did that? Hmmm… there is something missing in this story… if not, I can see why lawyers can make a living with malpractice settlements.
Joe
“In essense, I don’t begrudge anyone for using drugs correctly and within the proper limitation of expectations for what it can be accomplish. However, What I define as a bad idea is to take the drug during an endurance event because it allows them to perform “better”. I define that as abuse of the drug and cause risks for reasons that have little to do with creating a healthy lifestyle.”
I agree with this completely. Furthermore, anyone who thinks any amount of tylenol or ibuprofen will make them go faster is only seriously kidding themselves.
Re: irony. Aspirin, as I understand, wouldn’t even get approved by FDA if it had shown up in the last 20 years as no clear mechanism of its function as a pain reliever was understood. It was fortunate that it was first developed over a hundred years ago (and for some non-medical use, if I remember correctly).