mixing OTC pain killers

[hellokeith]

I have some severe knee pain due to recent increase in jogging. The treatment is to ease off the intensity, ice packs/heat, proper stretching and jogging/foot form, and inflammation/pain treatment. I've been following all those advice items. Also taking 3 Ibuprofen with a protein shake in the evening after my workout/jog. But I'd like to do more for the pain.

There's warnings about more than that amount (no more than 6 Ibuprofen in any consecutive 24 hour period) due to stomach/GI issues side effects. Also, there are dire warning about mixing Ibuprofen with Aspirin. So I was wondering can other different types of OTC pain killers be mixed safely?

 

[bsobel]

You can easily take 800mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours (your counting pills, but hard to determine how much your taking, Sounds like 600mg (presuming 200mg pills) once a day.

You can also take tylenol every 8 users (just dont mix alcohol into the mix). Or if your concerned about the ibuprofen you can alternate tylenol/ibuprofen every 4 hours.

 

[Mark R]

The recommended maximum dose of ibuprofen is 1200 mg per 24 hours - divided into at least 3 doses (i.e. 400 mg every 8 hours). A dosage of up to 2400 mg per 24 hours can be used under medical supervision if there are no reasons to suspect an abnormal sensitivity or risk of kidney problems or GI upset.

Tylenol may be taken up to 4 grams per day, but no more than 1 gram every 4 hours. Under no circumstances must this dose be exceeded; great care must be taken to ensure that you take no 'stealth' tylenol at the same time (it's a common ingredient in hangover remedies, cold syrups, etc.)

Tylenol and ibuprofen may be mixed freely - either taken together, or alternated every 2-3 hours. Aspirin and ibuprofen work in the same way, so you gain no real added benefit and in effect, you just overdose on them, and have greater risk of side effects.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Mark R
The recommended maximum dose of ibuprofen is 1200 mg per 24 hours - divided into at least 3 doses (i.e. 400 mg every 8 hours). A dosage of up to 2400 mg per 24 hours can be used under medical supervision if there are no reasons to suspect an abnormal sensitivity or risk of kidney problems or GI upset.

AFAIK upto 2400 per 24 hours without supervision, upto 3600 with.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: Mark R
The recommended maximum dose of ibuprofen is 1200 mg per 24 hours - divided into at least 3 doses (i.e. 400 mg every 8 hours). A dosage of up to 2400 mg per 24 hours can be used under medical supervision if there are no reasons to suspect an abnormal sensitivity or risk of kidney problems or GI upset.

AFAIK upto 2400 per 24 hours without supervision, upto 3600 with.

More info http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/docke...rofen%20Foundation.htm

 

[PlasmaBomb]

UK licensing is -

Dose - Adult and child over 12 years, initially 300?400 mg 3?4 times daily; increased if necessary to max. 2.4 g daily. More than 1200mg per day requires medical supervision.

 

[hellokeith]

Could someone translate this for me?

effects of ibuprofen and acetaminophen post-exercise

 

[Modelworks]

Have you tried naprosyn ?
It worked well for me when I had shin splints. Better than the ibuprofen did and I didn't have to take it that often.

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
Could someone translate this for me?

effects of ibuprofen and acetaminophen post-exercise

Volunteers were asked to do a particular type of exercise which tends to produce a degree of muscle damage. Some took one of the painkillers at maximum dosage, some took a placebo (dummy pill). Before and after exercise, a sample of muscle was taken and analysed to see how quickly it could build new protein.

Muscle protein building became faster after exercise in people who took the dummy pill. In people who took the real painkillers, there was no difference in protein building after exercise.

The authors of the study go on to speculate that this result might mean that people who regularly take these painkillers at maximum dosage, may not build muscles bulk as effectively.

 

[bradw]

Ibuprofen with codeine should provide far more effective pain relief than just ibuprofen. Prolonged use and exceeding the recommended dosage will most likely result in constipation. I'm not sure if it is available over the counter in America but it is in Australia.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

The quantity of codeine in OTC preparations isn't really sufficient for analgesia, plus America is nuts on narcotics so it isn't available.

 

[L00PY]

I'd like to point out that you may be asking the wrong question.

If it were me, I'd ask myself why the frak I was jogging in the first place, but that's just me. Long term usage of high doses of OTC drugs isn't an ideal solution. You don't mention it, so I'd like to suggest changing footwear, wearing knee braces (for the support, compression, and warmth), and finding a different jogging route with a minimum of pavement. Depending on the level of pain and location of it, I'd be a bit concerned you might be doing more damage to your knees than you think.

 

[hellokeith]

Originally posted by: L00PY
I'd like to point out that you may be asking the wrong question.

If it were me, I'd ask myself why the frak I was jogging in the first place, but that's just me. Long term usage of high doses of OTC drugs isn't an ideal solution. You don't mention it, so I'd like to suggest changing footwear, wearing knee braces (for the support, compression, and warmth), and finding a different jogging route with a minimum of pavement. Depending on the level of pain and location of it, I'd be a bit concerned you might be doing more damage to your knees than you think.

Oh I do appreciate the advice.

In fact, I stopped jogging and have only been doing sparse cycle/elliptical at the gym. Also yesterday I went to a pro foot shop and had them examine my feet, see how I walk, etc. Tried on about 6 different pairs of shoes and bought a new pair. The salesman told me to stay away from street jogging and only do indoor gym machines or trail (grass) for a while. And, I've also been doing straight leg lifts to bulk up my quadriceps.

Regarding the pain killers, I decided to just stick with Ibuprofen and reduce my activity level. I'm going on a long trip on Tuesday and absolutely do not want to be injured/inactive during. I won't be taking any more Ibuprofen after Tuesday.

 

[Onceler]

I think it is criminal the way they include tylenol in everything
I mean they sort of know that someone is going to take eight hydrocodone

 

[bob4432]

i take a lot of of c2 meds that have tylenol in them and have to get my liver and kidneys checked every 3-6mos (have a lab request sitting on my desk as i type this). i have numersou rather severe neurological issues along w/ severe back issues so my meds are at the maintenance stage, so this has been going on for years. i drink a lot of water and green tea to help flush stuff through as much as possible and, knock on wood, the liver and kidneys are holding in there very well. the one thing i will not do is drink any alcohol - zip, nada, no way.

in a given day i will probably take at least 2-3g of tylenol, mostly as a byproduct of it being in so many of the meds i take, and at this point w/ what i am on, i hardly think it helps.

unfortunately for me, ibuprofen ripped my stomach apart big time, but i was on 800x3/daily. so i guess ymmv.

hope you get to feeling better soon

 

[Shined]

Have you concidered something other than pain killers a topical product that I and my wife have used called goanna is excellent and unlike products like deep heat has no smell.

My wife suffers from hip displasia and muscle pains due to her disability arthrogryposis multiplex congenita with non progressive muscular distrophy and when she does suffer the effects the goanna is more effective than ibuprophen and if you wash your hands immediately after application has no side effects, otherwise your hands can tend to go numb.

Hope this helps.

 

[Emulex]

vicoprofen 7.5mg/200mg you can probably take 10+ of these a day. however keep in mind hydro and oxycodone have really nasty withdrawals. oxy is the percocet line.

 

[BadLot]

Most "narcotic' painkillers that are prescribed are more acetaminophen and ibuprofen than anything else. +1 on the vicoprofen. You can take NSAIDs for a while without any adverse side effects as long as you aren't doing the full 2400mg every day. I've found that naproxen works better on muscle related stuff and ibuprofen works on everything else. Tylenol doesn't work so well for me.


>i take a lot of of c2 meds that have tylenol in them

Your doctor needs to put you onto the ones that don't have APAP in them. Ie, oxycodone CR or just plain oxycodone. It does exist.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: BadLot
Most "narcotic' painkillers that are prescribed are more acetaminophen and ibuprofen than anything else. +1 on the vicoprofen. You can take NSAIDs for a while without any adverse side effects as long as you aren't doing the full 2400mg every day. I've found that naproxen works better on muscle related stuff and ibuprofen works on everything else. Tylenol doesn't work so well for me.


>i take a lot of of c2 meds that have tylenol in them

Your doctor needs to put you onto the ones that don't have APAP in them. Ie, oxycodone CR or just plain oxycodone. It does exist.

on stuff w/ no apap too