[small_guy]

Over-The-Counter Pain Killers Increase Muscle Mass

Taking daily recommended dosages of ibuprofen and acetaminophen caused a substantially greater increase over placebo in the amount of quadriceps muscle mass and muscle strength gained during three months of regular weight lifting, in a study by physiologists at the Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University.



Thirty-six men and women, between 60 and 78 years of age (average age 65), were randomly assigned to daily dosages of either ibuprofen (such as that in Advil), acetaminophen (such as that in Tylenol), or a placebo. The dosages were identical to those recommended by the manufacturers and were selected to most closely mimic what chronic users of these medicines were likely to be taking. Neither the volunteers nor the scientists knew who was receiving which treatment until the end of the study.

All subjects participated in three months of weight training, 15-20 minute sessions conducted in the Human Performance Laboratory three times per week. The researchers knew from their own and other studies that training at this intensity and for this time period would significantly increase muscle mass and strength. They expected the placebo group to show such increases, as its members did, but they were surprised to find that the groups using either ibuprofen or acetaminophen did even better.

An earlier study from the laboratory, measuring muscle metabolism (or more precisely, muscle protein synthesis, the mechanism through which new protein is added to muscle), had looked at changes over a 24 hour period. This "acute" study found that both ibuprofen and acetaminophen had a negative impact, by blocking a specific enzyme cyclooxygenase, commonly referred to as COX.

But that study looked at only one day. Over three months, says Dr. Trappe, the chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during resistance training appears to have induced intramuscular changes that enhance the metabolic response to resistance exercise, allowing the body to add substantially more new protein to muscle.

The amount of change was measured in quadricep muscles using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the gold standard for determining muscle mass. The researchers now are conducting assays of muscle biopsies taken before and after the three-month period of resistance training, in order to understand the metabolic mechanism of the positive effects of ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

One of the foci of Ball State's Human Performance Laboratory is the adaptation of the elderly to exercise. Another is the loss of muscle mass that takes place when astronauts are exposed to long-term weightlessness. This work has implications for both groups, says Dr. Trappe.

*This presentation was part of the scientific program of the American Physiological Society (APS). In addition to Dr. Carroll and Dr. Trappe, co-authors of the Experimental Biology presentation are Jared Dickinson, Jennifer Lemoine, Jacob Haus, and Eileen Weinheimer, graduate students working with Dr. Trappe, and study physician Dr. Christopher Hollon.
Funding for the research came from the National Institutes of Health and a postdoctoral initiative award from APS.


Adapted from materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

[Trauma1]

Hmmmm.....Interesting indeed. I've read numerous studies that contradict this though. However, this study was completed over a much longer time frame. Good find!

[Jayhawkk]

Look how old they were! They needed the damn OTC to combat the pain to go to the gym and work out with more intensity

[bassgod272]

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

Look how old they were! They needed the damn OTC to combat the pain to go to the gym and work out with more intensity

Lol, x2! Also, they will need liver supplementation after they take acetaminophen for long periods of time.

[OpKang101]

Actually, there was a doctor who refuted this. Ill post some thing up.

[bassgod272]

Originally Posted by OpKang101

Actually, there was a doctor who refuted this. Ill post some thing up.

No, acetaminophen causes liver stress. Period. Every pharmacist I have ever worked with is not wrong, I am sorry. Google acetaminophen and liver stress and see what you find

EDIT: Or are you talking about OTC Pain relievers increasing muscle mass? LOL. If so, I apologize, hahaha.

[OpKang101]

Originally Posted by bassgod272

No, acetaminophen causes liver stress. Period. Every pharmacist I have ever worked with is not wrong, I am sorry. Google acetaminophen and liver stress and see what you find

EDIT: Or are you talking about OTC Pain relievers increasing muscle mass? LOL. If so, I apologize, hahaha.

LOL i was talking about the aspirin and other NSAID's.

Acetaminophen im pretty sure everyone knows is toxic to the liver. lol.

[MentalTwitch]

hmmmm...i hear alot both ways....

I only take Advil if i need it. usually i only take if for headaches, often casue by to much stim or clen or some other supplement. I never get high blood pressure so its rare i even take that.

I take a OTC muscle relaxer soemtimes at ngiht to help sleep. That and some Melatonin and GABA makes for a very relaxing sleep.

[daniel35]

From my personal experience, this is the furthest thing from the truth. I used to use advil alot and couldn't gain strength/size at all, I knew instinctively it was the culprit, and now only use it very occasionally when all else fails for pain.

[thebigt]

Originally Posted by bassgod272

Lol, x2! Also, they will need liver supplementation after they take acetaminophen for long periods of time.

the medical community should be ashamed of pushing tylenol off on the public as safe and effective. drink a six pack, and take 2 tylenol the next morning and you have probably done more liver damage than most ph cycles. btw just for general information, i would suggest not taking tylenol or any form of acetaminophen while on cycle.

[Trauma1]

Originally Posted by thebigt

the medical community should be ashamed of pushing tylenol off on the public as safe and effective. drink a six pack, and take 2 tylenol the next morning and you have probably done more liver damage than most ph cycles. btw just for general information, i would suggest not taking tylenol or any form of acetaminophen while on cycle.

You're not kidding T. I actually also amazed that diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is also otc and so easily available. I educate ALL my patients that are given narcotics with tylenol as an adjunct. Many people don't realize, but percocet, lortab, vicodin often have a 325mg or 500mg acetaminophen component to it. Overdosing can become quite easy is people aren't aware of that factor.

I'd say 8 out of 10 people are typically unaware of that fact.

I couldn't agree more that taking acetaminophen on cycle is down right dangerous. It's important that people understand important facts like this. I made sure to make it a point in my Havoc write-up to include a section on Nsaids/Acetaminophen use while explaining the potential dangers involved.

[strategicmove]

Originally Posted by bassgod272;

Lol, x2! Also, they will need liver supplementation after they take acetaminophen for long periods of time.

Absolutely! Can even be acutely toxic short-term. The effects are cumulative. I won't touch the compound!

[thebigt]

Originally Posted by Trauma1

You're not kidding T. I actually also amazed that diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is also otc and so easily available. I educate ALL my patients that are given narcotics with tylenol as an adjunct. Many people don't realize, but percocet, lortab, vicodin often have a 325mg or 500mg acetaminophen component to it. Overdosing can become quite easy is people aren't aware of that factor.

I'd say 8 out of 10 people are typically unaware of that fact.

I couldn't agree more that taking acetaminophen on cycle is down right dangerous. It's important that people understand important facts like this. I made sure to make it a point in my Havoc write-up to include a section on Nsaids/Acetaminophen use while explaining the potential dangers involved.

i knew you would be on top of this t-1. i know a lot of younger people think it is cool to take vicodin and drink alcohol, without even knowing danger of the acetaminophen, or that it's even in it.

[Trauma1]

Originally Posted by thebigt

i knew you would be on top of this t-1. i know a lot of younger people think it is cool to take vicodin and drink alcohol, without even knowing danger of the acetaminophen, or that it's even in it.

Yes sir, being the patient advocate is a role i do take seriously.