View Full Version : Ibuprofen vs. Naproxen Sodium
Earl Grey
09-27-2006, 11:47
I hear alot of hikers take vitamin I instead of aleve or some other sort of that kind of medicine. Is there a reason to take ibuprofen over naproxen sodium?
Blissful
09-27-2006, 11:57
Both are in the category called NSAIDS. - non steroidal, anti inflammatory drugs. Aleve you're only supposed to take every 12 hours or twice a day. I don't find it as effective for me, personally. I prefer Advil liquigels (not generic either). Goes to the pain quicker as its in a more liquid form in an easily digestable capsule. I might be inclined to take Aleve at night if I need pain relief for a longer period of time. Also, there have been questions raised in the past about long term use of Aleve. Another reason maybe not to take them every day, twice a day, for six months.
Since it does not seem to harm my stomach I generally stick with Bayer Aspirin, the 500 mg dosage for "back and body". It seems to dull my body pain as well as anything else OTC I have tried and keeps the blood thinned, too, since I am 'of that age'. I have tried many of these drugstore remedies and I find them all about the same so i decided to stick with aspirin. But, for those with delicate stomachs it may not work. Mine, thankfully, is not. I guess it is because of all the hot sauce and jalapenas I have eaten:D
Hammock Hanger
09-27-2006, 12:17
I have some really bad arthritis and have a script for naproxen, to be taken every am and pm. Sometimes the pain is so bad that the meds don;t really help. My doctor said at times like that I can take some Tylenol. As there is no asprin in the Tylenol there is no contraindications. Some people double up on the NSAID's and that is bad. -- So when hiking I usually take my naproxen in the morning and then at night I take a naproxen and a tylenol pm.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-27-2006, 12:26
Naproxin Sodium (Aleve) does not take as much time to build up and relieve pain as Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). You have to take Vitamin I every 4 to 6 hours for about 24 hours for it to actually work. For NS it is more like 6-12 hours to build up enough in your system to work.
I prefer Vitamin I because it causes me less gastrointestinal problems, but I start it the day before a hike and continue taking it regularly. For pain I wasn't expecting at home, I use NS as it works much faster. While it has fallen in disuse these days, good old aspirin works well while Vitamin I or NS are building up in my system. While acetaminophen (Tylenol) is comparable to aspirin for pain relief, it does not address the inflammation that is generally a part of the aches and pains felt by hikers.
white rabbit
09-27-2006, 12:38
Aleve does nothing for me. I take a couple of Ibuprofen the day before I do a major hike, two the morning of, and a couple that night on the trail. Repeat the next day and by day three I normally don't take anything. The first couple of days I am sore but after that I am good to go with no pain meds.
... While acetaminophen (Tylenol) is comparable to aspirin for pain relief, it does not address the inflammation that is generally a part of the aches and pains felt by hikers.
I suspect that it is the pain caused by inflammation, certainly around our joints, from putting too much stress, under load, upon our bodies that we are trying to dull.
If so, I wonder which of the OTC pain relievers would work best upon this inflammation?
Footslogger
09-27-2006, 13:46
Try both and see which one relieves pain better for you. Some people respond better to naproxen than they do motrin. Biggest difference is in dosage and dose intervals per 24 hour period.
Motrin (ibuprofin) can be taken every 4 - 6 hours whereas naproxen is dispensed a 12 hour dose. If your pain returns before the 12 hours is up you are SOL.
'Slogger
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-27-2006, 15:04
I suspect that it is the pain caused by inflammation, certainly around our joints, from putting too much stress, under load, upon our bodies that we are trying to dull.
If so, I wonder which of the OTC pain relievers would work best upon this inflammation?All of those mentioned except Tylonol are anti-inflammatories.
bulldog49
09-27-2006, 15:12
For me it's simple, Ibuprofen works, Aleve does not. And it works quickly, I don't have to build it up the day before. But as the varying opinions on this thread suggest, what works for one may not for another.
orangebug
09-27-2006, 15:17
Summary: take what works for you. Don't mix NSAIDs. Supplement pain relief with Tylenol if desired.
ASA is my favorite at home, but Naprosyn (400 mg twice daily) on the trail. Water gets to my aspirin too easily on the trail.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-27-2006, 15:27
Water gets to my aspirin too easily on the trail.I carry the entric coated aspirin and break it in half before taking.
Footslogger
09-27-2006, 15:31
I carry the entric coated aspirin and break it in half before taking.
======================================
Don't generally carry aspirin (ASA) on the trail any more but when I did I carried the brand "Ecotrin", which was enterically coated. The coating made it easier to tolerate PLUS it retarded moisture absorption.
'Slogger
Blissful
09-27-2006, 15:55
Enteric coated is a good idea. I'll need to take low dose ASA for my hubby when he sections with us - because of his BP and family heart problems. Hoping the AT cures him of it all (and knocks down a bunch of weight)
Footslogger
09-27-2006, 16:32
Enteric coated is a good idea. I'll need to take low dose ASA for my hubby when he sections with us - because of his BP and family heart problems. Hoping the AT cures him of it all (and knocks down a bunch of weight)
==============================
Not sure if those low dose (81 mg) sized aspirin pills have the enteric coating. I keep the Bayer brand ones at home and I know that they are yellow and have a shiny outer appearance ...so maybe they are.
'Slogger
Wow, I'm surprised to find out how many people take "preventative" ibuprofen. I usuallly take the stuff when I can tell the pain is going to be bad, but never take it if I don't hurt. Is it safe to take vitamin I like this? What about the affects on our liver?
orangebug
09-28-2006, 10:33
Vit I has more adverse effects on kidney function that liver. In low dosage, it is probably as safe as anything, and hopefully more safe than Vioxx was.
You pays your ante and you takes your chances.
Greentick18d
09-28-2006, 10:35
Wow, I'm surprised to find out how many people take "preventative" ibuprofen. I usuallly take the stuff when I can tell the pain is going to be bad, but never take it if I don't hurt. Is it safe to take vitamin I like this? What about the affects on our liver?
Ibu or aleve are ok to take preventatively. As mentioned several times above use what works for you. You should avoid taking NSAIDs on an empty stomach. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an NSAID, just an analgesic, so you can take it concurrently with ibu or naproxen (aleve). The rule of thumb for ibu is 100mg/1hr relief - ex 600mg every 6hrs. No more than 800mg every 8hrs (this is a standard dosing).
Get some small travel packs and try them out for yourself.
This is becoming complicated. I decided to stick with plain 'ole aspirin!
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-28-2006, 12:30
Michele, I wouldn't recommend Vitamin I be taken as a preventative by those in decent shape and without arthritis or other condition that will virtually assure inflamation with hiking. My ortho directed me to take it prior to all long hikes. I also have some more powerful Rx meds for varying levels of pain - tramadol, lortab & percoset - but I try not to use those much as they all are addictive.
My ortho also pushes the Ibuprofen. He prescribed 800 mg but I'm pretty sure that's the same as 4 advil, just harder to swallow. And he's always, always reminding me to take them if I do anything arduous.
Jim Adams
11-06-2006, 04:26
aspirin and tylenol are both analgesics that work in different ways. aspirin will dull the pain and also thin the blood via less platelet count. tylenol will also dull pain but its best use is to lower fever and it is hard on the liver. ibuprofen(advil, motrin) is an anti inflamitory and reduces pain via reducing the inflamation and swelling in the joint capsul which is where most of our hiking pain comes from ie: knees and ankles. ibuprofen is hard on the kidneys over long periods however it is prescribed safely over long periods for arthritis. i have discussed this with several doctors and the general consenses is that while hiking, our metabolisms are at such a high rate that the ibuprofen is processed rapidly and does not affect the kidneys as much. normal PRESCRIPTION dosage is 800mg three times a day.
geek
Summary: take what works for you. Don't mix NSAIDs. Supplement pain relief with Tylenol if desired.
I usually take to two Vit I at night as a preventative for two weeks at the start of a long hike. After two weeks I won't take anything unless I have a particularly long/hard day. Another MD said it OK to supplement it with a naproxen for longer relief. You don't agree?
handlebar
11-06-2006, 20:20
I usually take to two Vit I at night as a preventative for two weeks at the start of a long hike. After two weeks I won't take anything unless I have a particularly long/hard day. Another MD said it OK to supplement it with a naproxen for longer relief. You don't agree?
My daughter the doc sounded me out when I took both naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin). My personal physician also said not to mix NSAIDs which include aspirin, naproxen sodium, and ibuprofen. Rule is not to mix NSAIDs. Since tylenol is not an NSAID, its ok to take it with any of the above.
My prescription level of ibuprofen for treating hip tendonitis on this year's thruhike was 600mg tabs (equivalent of 3 over the counter ibuprofen) taken 3 times a day with meals. They really worked well on the tendonitis. On the other hand naproxen seemed to work better on some knee problems I had, but didn't do anything for the tendonitis. A couple of times in Maine I felt some twinges in the hip I had tendonitis in in VA and took 3 regular ibuprofen as a preventive measure nipping the inflammation in the bud.
Even when I didn't have any problems with my joints, I often took one ibuprofen with my evening meal. I found it helped me sleep better since I'm 61 and have the usual aches and pains. None of this seems to have caused any problems as I just had my annual physical and the doc said all my labs looked great.
Jim Adams
11-06-2006, 21:28
please read mg on the package of ibuprofen before taking 1, 2, 3 or 4. most are200mg and 4 does equal the normal script dosage however they also come in 100mg, 500mg and 800mg pills.
geek
Vit I has more adverse effects on kidney function that liver. In low dosage, it is probably as safe as anything, and hopefully more safe than Vioxx was.
You pays your ante and you takes your chances.
I was at my cardiologist today for a two month check up. He's the guy that finally solved my heart rythym problem after my first cardiologist gave up.
Anyway while waiting for him to meet with me I read one of the medical journals in his office and spied a report on an European study that concluded that males who use Ibuprofen on a regular basis are significantly more likely to have erectile dysfunction than those on Tylenol.
I thought to myself, hmmm I'm glad I use mostly tylenol for such aches and pains.
I was tempted to rip out the page so as to give folks a more thorough report, but my conscience got the better of me. Maybe OB can find us more details.
BTW. The new heart medicine was almost like turning on a switch. Hill climbing improved 100 percent. Actually, more. A mile walk used to be slow agony. This week I resumed work on some land trust bog bridges that I had abandoned last winter.
Weary
Skidsteer
11-06-2006, 22:00
I was at my cardiologist today for a two month check up. He's the guy that finally solved my heart rythym problem after my first cardiologist gave up.
Anyway while waiting for him to meet with me I read one of the medical journals in his office and spied a report on an European study that concluded that males who use Ibuprofen on a regular basis are significantly more likely to have erectile dysfunction than those on Tylenol.
I thought to myself, hmmm I'm glad I use mostly tylenol for such aches and pains.
I was tempted to rip out the page so as to give folks a more thorough report, but my conscience got the better of me. Maybe OB can find us more details.
BTW. The new heart medicine was almost like turning on a switch. Hill climbing improved 100 percent. Actually, more. A mile walk used to be slow agony. This week I resumed work on some land trust bog bridges that I had abandoned last winter.
Weary
:eek: Tylenol for me!
Glad to hear of your dramatic improvement Weary. :)
got milf?
11-11-2006, 15:26
Which of these, including iboprophin, would be best for calming a charlie horse (nerve pain going down the leg)? I don't know if a charlie horse involves inflammation or not, but the pain is very aggrevating.
I've heard (here) you shouldn't, but can anyone tell me *why* it's bad to mix NSAID's on a limited basis?
Which of these, including iboprophin, would be best for calming a charlie horse (nerve pain going down the leg)? I don't know if a charlie horse involves inflammation or not, but the pain is very aggrevating.
None of the above. AS I understand it a charlie horse is not nerve pain, but a muscle cramp. In the long run the prevention is plenty of fluids and adequate levels of calsium in the body.
Short term stretching and gentle walking usually works for me when a charlie horse occurs during the night.
A charlie horse is simply a muscle cramp, and these frequently occur during sleep, causing the sufferer to awaken in pain. Most of these cramps happen in the legs and feet, but they can happen anywhere in the body. Charlie horses are not serious, but they are certainly uncomfortable.
Keeping the muscles stretched and wearing comfortable shoes may also help, as well as applying a an improvised hot water bottle to the muscles right before bed.
If you build up exercise levels gradually, charlie horses can generally be avoided, I find.
If the cramps are frequent, blood tests may be needed to determine if calcium levels are low or if there is an electrolyte imbalance.
Charlie horses are most common in older people and adolescents, although people with diabetes or those who are overweight are also more likely to suffer muscle cramps during the night.
Weary (with help from a google search)
wilderness bob
11-11-2006, 18:55
If you plan on thru-hiking, there will be a time when your stomach will be constantly without food in it. To much vitamin I on an empty stomach is no good, just imagine what it could do to a starving pilgrim (a thru-hiker)....
Do the miles, go with a mild pain reliever...IMHO
orangebug
11-12-2006, 15:23
Mixing NSAIDs increases the risk of GI bleed. Listen to what your real doc says.
Erectile dysfunction and hill climbing. I really don't want to think about that.
Charlie horse is a muscle spasm with local ischemia, much like a heart attack but not as severe or lethal. The cure is prevention with adequate hydration, avoidance of tobacco, adequate electrolytes including calcium during the day and stretching.
Jack Tarlin
11-12-2006, 15:29
A note to those who enjoy a drink now and again....acetaminophen-based medications such as Tylenol and Excedrin should NOT be taken if you're going to be drinking that day. Apparently, Ibuprofen and alcohol (in reasonably small ammounts, naturally) are much safer.
RSWillis
11-12-2006, 17:52
You should remember that any drug will cause damage if used in too large qantities or for too long a period of time. Being an RN I have witnessed what Aspirin can do over time to your stomach. My advice is to switch pain meds on a fairly frequent basis, and dont take more than reccomended.
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11-12-2006, 18:19
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hopefulhiker
11-13-2006, 01:54
They recalled a bunch of acetominaphin; I heard that they had small pieces of metal in the pills.. Have to check for the specific name brand but it was a lot.. I prefered Vitamin I , and took lots of it, around 800 to 1200 mg a day(24 hrs). It really helped, It prevents inflamation, so I also took it at night so it could reduce the swelling while I was asleep.. I am not sure I could have hiked the trail without it.. Also would reccommend regular vitamins and glucosamine for the joints..
i vote vitamin I :cool: neo