In reply to Darren09:
Hey all, don't normally posts in these blogs but it caught my eye.
Am in no way an expert sports physiologist but am an anaesthetist and part of the moutnain medicine diploma, as well as being pretty active in the outdoors so have a pretty good handle on the physiology and pharmacology of this.
NSAIDS inhibit the production of a chemical that is involved in inflammation. That is how they have their effect. This chemical is also important in regulating blood flow in the kidney and the protection of the stomach from its own acid. Hence the main side effects are renal failure and stomach ulcers.
NSAIDS will reduce the ability of the kidney to cope with dehydration and increase the likely hood of acute renal failure in water stressed states.. Although this is normally recoverable this is bad news and something you really don't want it. I know of someone who took NSAIDs thro an ultra and ended up in hospital nearly needing dialysis.
If your going to take them make sure your hydrated and peeing ok. I know plenty of folk wh otake them after exercise to help recovery. If you do hydrate and pass urine first.
At the end of the day there will always be people who get away with this and those that don't. Individual anecdotes are meaningless. The most important factor in any area of medicine or indeed physiology and sports performance is your genetics. Choose your parents well! It is impossible to know how you are made up and how your body will respond to drugs.
The max daily dose of ibuprofen is 1200mg. It doesn't really matter how you divide this up as long as you stay with in it in a 24hr period.
Paracetamol works in a different way, the max daily dose is 4g but you must leave 4hr between dose. I know of no reason why you can't take this exercising.
Happy running.
Ben