Hell Ya!! At mile 18 they work for me. Last IM I also helped out a poor guy that was in pain in the quads, gave him mine. ASA or IB good for that. In fact, think about it. One takes a tab/day of ASA. supposed to be good for ya.

Ohhh what a great question...
But why are you thinking to take NSAIDS? Are you dealing with an inflamatory process, like injury, some time of infection, or just as a precaution to avoid pain during the race/trainning session and the soreness that comes after?
As the literature points now a days...NSAIDS is by far the most popular drug in the world, and is getting particulary popular among athletes, endurance athletes to be more specific. Also as part of the popular culture, the prescribe dosage, that is written on the box: "Take One...Take Two" is never enough. So I alwasy hear things like: "Oh no for my pains/aches...I pop 2...3...4...2 is not enough"
Well, clinically, even though this drugs are OTC(over the counter), are risky to use, delicate tu administer, and hard to control.
Why? Well, they are highly absorbable, and metabolized by the Kidneys. So, that means that its ingestion cause some "stress" to our kidney functioning.
Now going back to our athletic population, is easier to pop 2 or 3 pills, than to endure an ice tube, or just the pain that comes with our sport, but there is enough evidence in the literature that supports that NSAIDS actually might slow down the recovery process after and endurance event and/or race.
Now think about it this way. Iron Man race, is one of the most hard and grueling endurance events, that requires all the capabilities from our body to maintain as much as possible its functioning without shutting down and turning our lights off!
Well, for that, our bodies (kidneys) need to regulate hydration, fluid balance, electrolites concentrations, excretion. NSAIDS, are metabolized in our nephrons. Now NSAIDS by itself can cause Acute Tubular Necrosis, in other other words...your nephrons get fried. Now if you are under stress (IM, heat, dehydration, muscle break down) your chances of getting at least some degree of damage to your kidney function is highly probable. Also as an added point, another key of succes during an endurance event, is to mantain a proper electrolyte balance:Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium. Well, all that is also regulated by our nephrons, and NSAIDS impair a proper ion/cation exchange in the functional units of our kidneys, with the potencial result, of severe cramping, fatigue, and even muscle weakness.
Last but not least, NSAIDS are well now to enhance the acid in our gastrointestinal tract, can even cause ulcers!! Imagine you, going the distance of an IM, and having to endure besides the normal aches and pains, and terrible heart burn...and who knows..a potencial stomach ulcer?
I remember a few months back I wrote here I think a shorter version of this, and I remeber somebody told "I have no problems I have been taking NSAIDS always I my tolerance is great"
Well....it will only take one time..and only one, to produce Tubular Necrosis, and the need to spend some quality time at a hospital...
Diagnosis: "Athlete with fried kidneys"
Here is a short piece of info, that might give some insight of NSAIDS and types.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NHG/is_3_17/ai_n13467250
If there is further questions...I love to talk about this sort of stuff

By the way!!!....the benefits: You eventually avoid pain...eventually

Here is another good piece of info:
http://www.firstendurance.com/newsletter_NSAIDS.html

as someone who has had trouble with exercise and NSAID's, i'd say be conservative and use them when you need them but don't use them as preventative measure unless your doc has said so

Good information from Dr. Rios. I have read similar studies. IMHO the short term benefits are not worth the potential long term risk to your kidneys. I even read somewhere that you shouldn’t take NSAIDs for 6-8 hours after an endurance event because your kidneys are still working overtime. Dr. Rios, any comment on how long after an event you should wait before taking NSAIDs? Fruits and vegetables are a good natural anti-inflammatory source as well as fish containing Omega-3 fats. You could snag a fish or 2 during the swim portion and then enjoy some sushi during the bike. You thought snot-rockets were bad...how about getting hit with a slimy fish-head! :D

So, doc Rios, can I assume that you are against using them? :rolleyes: I really don't like to take meds of any kind, unless its absolutely necessary. I got the NSAIDs for my lower back troubles a few weeks ago. But, if I needed to take something for pain/inflamation on the run...which would be a better choice, the prescription NSAIDs or a lower dose like Ibuprofen?

I found this thread a bit late, and I'm not sure anybody will read it, but here's my personal experience and advice with NSAIDs.

I've been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis since I'm 5 years old and NSAIDs have been in my life ever since. I'm currently taking Naproxen, amongst many other medication. As with any pain, not only arthritis, they will only cover the pain and reduce the inflammation, but they will not address the source of the pain.

Pain is a signal your body is sending you to tell you something is wrong. Now I hear ya, when you're doing an Ironman, it's quite normal to be in pain, and you just want to avoid suffering through it. I believe you should still stay away from NSAIDs. If you can't go on because of the pain, than you should stop. Masking the pain will just hit you harder once you're done, and that won't be pretty.

The worse that can happen is that you'll get kidney damage, but you can also get GI problems from taking NSAIDs. But, again, I'm convinced the effect you will most likely get from NSAIDs is hiding a problem that will result in an injury later.

Don't take them unless your doctor said so, and even than, try to minimize your intake.