| Recently I was chatting with a new young friend | | | | overuse of NSAIDS. While doctors and the Kidney |
| who has a passion for running. It turns out he also | | | | Foundation both maintain that there is no |
| played high school basketball and happened to ask | | | | established link between the kidney condition |
| me what I knew about ibuprofen. It seems it was | | | | afflicting Mourning and Elliot, called focal segmental |
| common practice for his teammates to pop 800 | | | | sclerosis, and use of anti-inflammatory drugs, |
| mg before games and who knows how much | | | | players around the league remain unconvinced. |
| after. | | | | Since it is sold as an over-the-counter drug |
| The practice of taking over-the-counter | | | | without a prescription, ibuprofen is generally |
| anti-inflammatories is not uncommon among high | | | | thought of as safe. However, when taken under |
| school athletes. One survey found 75 percent of | | | | extreme conditions that may promote |
| high school football players used them to some | | | | dehydration, in excess, or for long periods of |
| extent. | | | | time, it can cause health problems. |
| Since it was approved by the FDA as an | | | | NSAIDs work by inhibiting prostaglandin, a |
| over-the-counter drug in 1984, ibuprofen has been | | | | hormone that plays a role in sensing pain, |
| thought of as a harmless yet effective way to | | | | controlling fever and inflammation. It also regulates |
| relieve pain related to such maladies as arthritis, | | | | blood flow to the kidneys. During exercise, it |
| joint pain, toothache, headache, sports injury, | | | | becomes vitally important that the kidneys |
| fever, or general muscle pain due to overuse. In | | | | receive adequate blood and oxygen in order to |
| the military, ibuprofen has been standard issue for | | | | continue normal function. As dehydration levels |
| years in first- aid kits and used extensively by | | | | rise, such as during exercise, ibuprofen becomes |
| soldiers hoping to ward off the inevitable muscle | | | | more concentrated, potentially reaching toxic |
| soreness following a long march or hump, hence | | | | levels. |
| the nickname grunt candy. | | | | Some general rules on taking ibuprofen are: |
| Ibuprofen can be your friend and is considered | | | | 1. Do not take ibuprofen before, during, or shortly |
| safe and effective if taken for a few days at a | | | | after lengthy endurance exercise, especially when |
| time or as prescribed by your doctor. When using | | | | there is potential for dehydration. |
| over-the-counter ibuprofen, take exactly as | | | | 2. Take ibuprofen with a full glass of water or |
| recommended on the container. The maximum | | | | milk, ideally with meals to avoid stomach irritation. |
| dose for is no more than 1200 mg in one 24 hour | | | | 3. Do not combine ibuprofen with alcohol. |
| period, taking one or two 200 mg tablets every | | | | 4. Do not take in combination with other |
| 4-6 hours. | | | | medicines, supplements, or herbal products |
| Professional athletes, once notorious for popping | | | | without first consulting with your physician or |
| ibuprofen and other pain killers like candy, | | | | pharmacist. |
| nowadays are wary since two of their own, Sean | | | | 5. Avoid if you have a history of any reaction or |
| Elliot of the San Antonio Spurs and Alonzo | | | | allergy from another anti-inflammatory medication. |
| Mourning of the Miami Heat, underwent kidney | | | | 6. Discontinue use immediately if you notice any |
| transplants. Mourning is convinced that his kidneys | | | | of the following symptoms: urine that is cloudy or |
| were damaged by years of taking non-steroidal | | | | bloody, pain or burning in the stomach, diarrhea or |
| anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as | | | | black tarry stools, severe nausea, indigestion or |
| ibuprofen. Another athlete, former Seattle | | | | heartburn, vomiting blood. |
| Seahawk football player Kenny Easley, thinks he | | | | 7. Do not use if you are pregnant or |
| lost a kidney because he once took up to 32 | | | | breast-feeding. |
| ibuprofen tablets a day for several months. | | | | 8. Talk to your doctor first if you have high blood |
| The National Kidney Foundation estimates that 10 | | | | pressure, liver or kidney disease, heart failure, |
| percent of kidney failures are due to substantial | | | | ulcers or other stomach problems. |