View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website.

Episode overview:

In this first of four episodes on drugs in ultramarathon running, Eve Pannone joins the podcast to discuss NSAIDs in endurance sport. The widespread use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) in ultramarathon running is alarming due to the health risks associated with kidney disease, electrolyte imbalance, and other factors. NSAIDs exacerbate some of the stresses of endurance sport to dangerous levels and have no proven performance benefit, yet changing public perception is a challenge. In this episode we break down why NSAIDs are harmful, what we can do as a community to protect athlete health, and viable alternatives to painkillers. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the next three episodes in this mini-series.

Episode highlights:

(6:15) Defining NSAIDs: demystifying pain relievers, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, pain relievers that work by reducing inflammation, ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and others, controversy around Aspirin, Tylenol is not an NSAID

(10:28) Why NSAIDs are harmful: NSAIDs do not improve performance, risks and side effects, acute kidney injury, electrolyte imbalances, no positive and all negative effects

(40:48) Alternatives to NSAIDs: caffeine, paracetamol (Tylenol) is low risk but medical interventions to reduce pain are generally a bad idea, accept that ultrarunning is going to hurt

Additional resources:

What is known about the health effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in marathon and ultra-endurance running: a scoping review

Koop’s article on Ironman’s Partnership with Alleve

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