Celebrex and a Full Ironman?
453
Member
337 days
theShiba posted 38 weeks ago.
Running (or swimming, or biking) without feedback is always a dangerous issue. While I don't have any experience with the drug myself, I can say that it's dangerous at best. Two reasons: 1. Any drug that you are taking in during or prior to competition can have adverse effects on your health during the race, and as you well know, could kill you... 2. Numbing the pain only means that you will just be injuring yourself worse, and possibly jeopardizing your future of racing....
that being said, it is a definite judgment call that you are going to have to to make weighing the options of potential side-effects vs. potential physical "advantage". I am sure that others are going to weigh-in on this as well...
"Every journey has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." —Martin Buber
1003
Member
786 days
UFTriGator posted 38 weeks ago.
I've done quadruple doses of ibuprofen before olympic races plenty of times for IT stuff. Of course, that's a different drug and a much shorter distance, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Like Shiba said, it's a judgment call, and I've never done an Ironman.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 38 weeks ago.
My doctor said that if I'm injuring myself I'll still feel pain....NSAIDs aren't like opium. I'm more worried about kidneys/liver and any specific risks that are exacerbated by racing.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
686
Member
638 days
cayman posted 38 weeks ago.
140.6 miles is a long way to find something out by trial and error.
Give your doc a call, don't settle for the receptionist insist on talking to the doctor. If he/she is out golfing talk to your friendly neighborhood pharmacist. I've always found them to be very helpful and knowledgeable.
john
I don't need to get faster, I just need to get older!
124
Member
1169 days
watrbg2 posted 38 weeks ago.
I've have had quite a few knee problems over the years and I was prescribed Celebrex by my orthopedic doctor before they came out with the warnings. For what I understand about the warnings is that Celebrex effects the heart not the liver/kidneys. Here is what my body experienced while taking Celebrex:
It really helped my knees feel better but my resting blood pressure was something like 148/110(!!) while taking it. I stopped taking Celebrex and my resting blood pressure returned to normal - 110/70.
That's adding a lot of stress to your heart over a long period of time. Personally, I'd deal with the pain some other way.
'In a world that tries its hardest to separate us from what matters, the Ironman helps us to reconnect with the pulse of our lives." - Scott Tinley
86
Member
613 days
deedlit posted 38 weeks ago.
Because Celebrex is an antiiflamatory, it will reduce the inflammation. If your pain is caused by inflammation, the pain will be reduced. It is not a pain killer and will not mask any pain that you should be aware of.
Celebrex has become popular because it is a lot more easy on the digestive system than any other NSAIDs (non-steroid antiinflamatory drugs).
It is in the same family than VIOXX, a very efficient drug that was withdrawn from the market because they found out a much higher percentage than normal of people who were taking it were having heart disease.
For that reason alone, I would stay away from Celebrex, even though they didn't prove there was a higher incidence of heart disease, and it is mostly in the long term.
The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about it...
[CENTER]------------------------------------------------------------------
Caroline
http://aquabike.blogspot.com/
1168
Member
891 days
tri-ac posted 38 weeks ago.
I would tell you not to medicate unless you have something real to medicate. I have had serious trouble with NSAIDs and endurance exercise (pre-kidney failure sort of stuff). I used to think like Trigator, but after a couple of episodes of peeing out what looked like blood and getting extra attention in an ER, I do NOT preload on "vitamin I".
1003
Member
786 days
UFTriGator posted 38 weeks ago.
Man, I can quit whenever I want! I'm n-n-not addicted! :D
Seriously, though....I only did it a few times. I don't want my kidneys to rot inside my body. :p
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
3685
Member
1527 days
beads1985 posted 38 weeks ago.
Nobody;77276 wrote:
My doctor said that if I'm injuring myself I'll still feel pain....NSAIDs aren't like opium. I'm more worried about kidneys/liver and any specific risks that are exacerbated by racing.
I hope you washed that down with a quart of scotch :eek:
I guess you want scars on your liver.
Anyway Ibuprofen is a NSAID. So Is Celebrex.
You should avoid use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) medicines that contain sodium. Research suggests that these drugs may predispose endurance athletes such as runners and triathlete to hyponatremia.
If you need to take some sort of pain reliever it should not be a NSAID such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
It sounds like tri-ac has learned the hard way.
Nobody-
I would call your doctor and get the official word.
No event, Ironman or other, is worth causing lasting medical problems or death.
If you aren't hurting too bad just use some tylenol and back down a little.
739
Member
969 days
dr_rios_ec posted 38 weeks ago.
A very common question that comes from athletes, particulary prior an event...
I read all the posts and everybody is right in some way.
First Celebrex (celcoxib) is a Cox 2 selective inhibitor, meaning that works in one of the other pathways of the inflamatory cascade; they are related to NSAIDs and metabolized pretty much similar.
It is very true that other Cox 2 inhibitors have been taken of the market because of evidence of heart injury and more precise, Coronary damage, leading, in the long run, to higher risk of an infarction and death.
Now if you pop one or two before an event, you most likely have other health problems far from a Miocardial Infarction. Unless you have been taking the medicine for years now, that would be another story.
Now every medicine that you pop into your system has to be metabolized by your kidneys, liver or both, and previusly absorbed by your gut.
Now all that, can alter the normal homeostasis (balance) of your body, without running one of the most extreme endurance distances known.
Being said that, I would point ,like Beads1985 perfectly said, that ingesting a medicine like Celebrex, might alter you electrolyte balance, that in some degree and depending on the severity, might become life threatening. Also, you are going to be pushing your body to the limit, testing its endurance, and your kidneys particulary are going to be working big time! trying to keep you moving, trying to regulate your liquid compartments, trying to save us much "lytes" as possible, and so on...
There are new interesting evidence in the literature also, that taking NSAIDs, or Cox2 inhibitors might prolong your recovery time, importantly, after a hard training session or race.
Remember that some athletes, get some degree of kidney damage without having taken any pill.
Again like Beads 1985 perfectly recomend, Tylenol (acetaminophen), that good old med, would be a better choice, and better tolerated by your body...besides, it is metabolized by your liver not your kidney.
All of this is what I usually explain to all my patients in similar situations like you.
At the end, of course, the call is yours, here is just a few tools of knowledge to help you make the best descision for you.
My last point, give a call to your doc who prescribed it, and get the word from him/her, would be very helpful to you too.
My best wishes to you my good friend in your upcomming race, and keep us post about how it goes and how your injury behaves.
Your fellow athlete:
-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa
1168
Member
891 days
tri-ac posted 38 weeks ago.
beads1985;77336 wrote:
It sounds like tri-ac has learned the hard way.
I discovered I had a genetic sensitivity to this particular topic prior to starting tri's. my docs were definitely not excited about me getting into any endurance event, multisport especially.
just be careful everyone...
105
Member
422 days
bhanrah posted 38 weeks ago.
I used it in a half with no problems at all. I popped one towards the end of the bike so it would help my knees in the run and it worked pretty well.
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 38 weeks ago.
My doc knows I'm competing and recommended celebrex over a corisone shot or steroids. But not very many doctors (mine included) are very familiar with the effects of these drugs during endurance events. He's more worried about the possible stress fracture to my femur than he is the the effects of celebrex on my gutty-wuts.
I think I'll keep the celebrex on hand if my leg starts cramping up real tight before the run. If I don't REALLY need it I'll skip it. Unfortunately my leg hurts just sitting here typing, so I think I'll end up needing it.
Good info everyone. I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 37 weeks ago.
Finished! I could feel my IT Band getting really tight on the bike, so popped the celebrex cap about an hour into it. Though I still felt pretty tight the rest of the day it was nothing crazy. Afterwards the docs checked my blood pressure and it was 110/90.....
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
739
Member
969 days
dr_rios_ec posted 37 weeks ago.
Great news my good friend to read that...congrats!!!!
Personally as a doctor and endurance enthusiast I try always to advice patients and fellow athletes to stay away as much as possible from the beauties from modern chemistry. Endurance sports: tris, marathons, ultras, and so on, are tremendously demanding to our bodies, and as pure and natural we can stay I would say is more on the safe side.
Congratulations again on your finish!
-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 37 weeks ago.
Thanks, Dr. Rios. I'm very inclined to agree with you and appreciate and respect all your advice. Definitely for training purposes I want to feel everything my body is telling me. But--as I'm sure you completely understand--when you train for months and months for a once-in-a-year event you want to eliminate any possibility for potential failure--even if the cost could potentially be very high. I blame the fact that Ironmans are so damn hard to register for! Are there really this many crazy people in the world? :D
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
739
Member
969 days
dr_rios_ec posted 37 weeks ago.
Always a pleasure to contribute with my two cents in questions like yours related to health and endurance sports.
I perfectly understand that as a pursuit of perfection and no failure sometimes we risk a bit more than we should...I have been there too...
Now I am very glad that you are doing ok...and take good care of that leg...alright!? :-)
-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa
30
Member
317 days
jasonm posted 37 weeks ago.
Having followed this thread, and also talking with many fellow athletes, I believe there is a trend or inclincation for many people take some sort of medication to relieve or mask pain in racing Ironman. Some people take it before they experience pain (just in case approach), or when pain develops to a certain level.
To me, this seems to be against the nature or good will of the event. Surely, if it was easy it wouldn't be worth doing.
Maybe try competing the event, enjoy the pain as part of the experience and do it drug free. It is a journey, not a destination.
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 36 weeks ago.
Ah yes--how much more glorious would an Ironman be if only they'd nail competitors to a tree and set them on fire in T1!!!!! Or why not intentionally injure yourself just to add to the experience and good will of the event! Woot woot. Let's get real--people who want to avoid pain simply don't compete in Triathlons.
After two months of Physical Therapy, greatly reducing my training intensity and turning down Dr. prescribed cortisone and steroids, I admit I succumbed to a small miracle of modern medicine. But let's be clear--I don't think anyone is competing on pain-numbing opiates. I was trying to avoid defeat, not mask pain. However, the next time I see a competitor go by with an icepick jabbed into their knee I'll consider the possibility of finishing a race in the kind of pain my body has inflicted upon me.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
30
Member
317 days
jasonm posted 36 weeks ago.
Fair point Nobody. I wasn't haven't a dig at you. I was just trying to highlight that some people will take medication without a reason other than purely improving performance. Yes this is different to suffering a specific injury that requires treatment as was in your case.
Just with a number of triathletes I know and threads in different forums too, my impression is some people encourage the use of different pain medications or anti-inflammatories just because they are doing an Ironman, not because they carry a true injury. I personally know of two people who have taken opiates (illegally) purely to reduce their pain levels. These were age groupers who were never going to place highly too.
57
Member
332 days
CarlyBoy posted 33 weeks ago.
Perhaps the perspective of another who's actually tried Celebrex would be appreciated. I have taken a Celebrex capsule the morning of several HIMs and an IM. I researched it to death first, of course. I consulted several MDs. Anyone else considering taking Celebrex (or any other drug) should do the same. After you arm yourself with information, make a decision. If you decide to use Celebrex, try it in training once or twice during a long bike. Do NOT under any circumstances become dehydrated. You can potentially do irretrievable damage to your kidneys. This is a fact.
I have not on any occasion had any adverse symptoms (some have talked about sore kidneys, for example). I should point out that I am not the type of person to gobble drugs at every sign of distress. I eat well, train smart, get ample rest. I think it's presumptuous of anyone to tell you your Ironman experience will somehow be lessened because you took a pill the morning of the race. My Ironman experience was incredible. I do not think I ruined its purity. I did not take a banned substance. Contrary to the notion that all pain will be killed and you won't be able to listen to your body, I can say that in my case I was still able to adjust my strategy according to those little messages my body sent me. Through training we all become experts at distinguishing the different types of pain we experience and what we need to do in those situations. I was always able to do this. This may not be the same for everyone of course. That's the importance of trying everything in training first. There should be no surprises on race day. Like everything in life, make this decision an informed one. I hope my $.02 was worth something...
175
Member
500 days
Nobody posted 33 weeks ago.
Good to know and thanks for your insight. I did become pretty dehydrated on the run! :confused: I wonder if I did damage....or if I did how much.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
57
Member
332 days
CarlyBoy posted 33 weeks ago.
Nobody,
The classic bad sign is peeing brown (not dark yellow). Extent of damage is a question, but any damage is too much. Needless to say, if this ever happened, one should suspend the practice. This would be the same with Ibuprofen.
A couple months ago my IT band started giving me major issues. I've been in physical therapy, but the IT band issue flares up still. Sometimes without notice on a run or bike. When I've taken Celebrex before a long run or ride I haven't had any issues.
The question is--I'll be competing in a full Ironman on Sunday. I'm very inclined to pop one in the morning to limit inflammation and ensure I don't have any race-ending pain. REALLY bad idea? The Celebrex warnings don't exactly say, "DON'T SWIM BIKE AND RUN 140.6 Miles while taking this product"
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.