Ibuprofen make you lift harder!?!?

**GrandmasterSpank** · 04-01-2009, 01:27 PM

This is just my personal experience, but I've noticed that I generally seem to lift heavier on the odd days I pop 400mg of Ibuprofen beforehand. Now bearing in mind that I don't ever take the painkiller for this reason,- it's usually just to help me work through pip on leg day,- but I have to admit, there seems like there 'may' be a connection, and so I'm curious to ask on the boards....

...Has anyone else experienced this or a similar effect?

**RoidBoid** · 04-01-2009, 01:31 PM

lol

**Noles12** · 04-01-2009, 01:33 PM

I would think it would make your workout worse. It is an anti inflammatory right? Which if im not mistaken would take away from the pump needed when working out

**GrandmasterSpank** · 04-01-2009, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Noles12

I would think it would make your workout worse. It is an anti inflammatory right? Which if im not mistaken would take away from the pump needed when working out

That's exactly what I thought guys,- I've done the textbook research,- I'm just commenting on my 'actual experience', which I agree, seems to contradict.

I just did a leg session, and pump was as good, if not better.

There was one study I found to support my experience,- it basically involved an older peer group on Ibuprofen, and in it there was a marginal but measurable increase in strength & stamina.

**Dizz28** · 04-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Ibuprofen can significantly hinder gains post workout

**powerliftmike** · 04-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by GrandmasterSpank

This is just my personal experience, but I've noticed that I generally seem to lift heavier on the odd days I pop 400mg of Ibuprofen beforehand. Now bearing in mind that I don't ever take the painkiller for this reason,- it's usually just to help me work through pip on leg day,- but I have to admit, there seems like there 'may' be a connection, and so I'm curious to ask on the boards....

...Has anyone else experienced this or a similar effect?

its mental or maybe you need more time off to cut down on soreness to train harder as well

**Immortal Soldier** · 04-01-2009, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dizz28

Ibuprofen can significantly hinder gains post workout

I thought this too, but I talked to a medical research doctor and he said the levels you need to take of Ibuprofen to cause any noticeable decrease in gains is astronomical.

I am still wondering though, do you have any studies?

**Big** · 04-01-2009, 05:11 PM

since we're all here you should throw a steroid question into the mix...

**Dizz28** · 04-01-2009, 05:15 PM

http://www.kinemed.com/files/Effect_...profen_and.pdf

"The results suggest that over-the-counter doses of both Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen suppress the protien sythesis response in skeletal muscle after eccentric resistance exercise"

But read the whole study...

Question is: This study was done on normal males... Would it still have this effect in any significance if the group were on AAS?

**Immortal Soldier** · 04-01-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Dizz28;4538***

http://www.kinemed.com/files/Effect_...profen_and.pdf

"The results suggest that over-the-counter doses of both Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen suppress the protien sythesis response in skeletal muscle after eccentric resistance exercise"

But read the whole study...

Question is: This study was done on normal males... Would it still have this effect in any significance if the group were on AAS?

I would think so, because steroids in part basically increase the rate of protein synthesis, so while it wouldn't "suppress" the PSR, it might hinder it in someway. For example, similar to taking an AI on cycle and limiting estrogen, if you limit it too much it starts affecting gains.

Thanks for the study it's interesting.

**JiGGaMaN** · 04-01-2009, 05:38 PM

you guys beat me to the inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis part... no, ibuprofen is probably going to do the opposite of help.

**Immortal Soldier** · 04-01-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by JiGGaMaN

you guys beat me to the inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis part... no, ibuprofen is probably going to do the opposite of help.

I sent the study to a medical researcher I know, we will find out once in for all the basis for this.

**The Deuce** · 04-01-2009, 08:58 PM

cant wait to hear the result on that ... i take ibuprofen daily for a herniated l4 l5 disk.... if its hindering my gains imma stop and deal with the pain

**Bojangles69** · 04-01-2009, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by GrandmasterSpank

This is just my personal experience, but I've noticed that I generally seem to lift heavier on the odd days I pop 400mg of Ibuprofen beforehand. Now bearing in mind that I don't ever take the painkiller for this reason,- it's usually just to help me work through pip on leg day,- but I have to admit, there seems like there 'may' be a connection, and so I'm curious to ask on the boards....

...Has anyone else experienced this or a similar effect?

This is because it relieves fatigue as a lot of painkillers do.

Tiredness and fatigue are actually a form of pain, when you numb the pain you numb the fatigue and thus will feel like you have more energy.

However, afterwards its not helping build muscle at all.

**CHUCKYthentic** · 04-01-2009, 10:11 PM

Along with all the medical terminology crap that ibuprophen does, it thins out your blood, therefore, if you feel that you u get better pumps after you take it, then that is why.

your blood is more thinned out than normal and able to pump more blood through you

**Bojangles69** · 04-01-2009, 10:37 PM

And newbie alert Ibuprofen is NOT an anabolic steroid lol

**Schmidty** · 04-01-2009, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dizz28

Ibuprofen can significantly hinder gains post workout

iv read that before to

**GrandmasterSpank** · 04-02-2009, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by Bojangles69

This is because it relieves fatigue as a lot of painkillers do.

Tiredness and fatigue are actually a form of pain, when you numb the pain you numb the fatigue and thus will feel like you have more energy.

However, afterwards its not helping build muscle at all.

Thanks for answering my question Bojangles!

As for nearly everyone else,- if you want to discuss if/how ibuprofen hinders gains/protein synthesis, kindly start you own thread or dig out one of the 5yr old ones on the subject - It's an interesting topic, but it's not relevant to this discussion. Cheers!

**GrandmasterSpank** · 04-02-2009, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Bojangles69

And newbie alert Ibuprofen is NOT an anabolic steroid lol

Reeeeeeally, it's not a steroid !?!?....And there I was stacking it with 'Ketchup Enanthate ', thinking I had an awesome cycle laid out!

**GrandmasterSpank** · 04-02-2009, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by CHUCKYthentic

Along with all the medical terminology crap that ibuprophen does, it thins out your blood, therefore, if you feel that you u get better pumps after you take it, then that is why.

your blood is more thinned out than normal and able to pump more blood through you

Yep, that sounds about right mate. - I'd say I have poorer circulation that the average bloke in the gym, so that might be why I noticed better pumps...

**M302_Imola** · 04-02-2009, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by CHUCKYthentic

Along with all the medical terminology crap that ibuprophen does, it thins out your blood, therefore, if you feel that you u get better pumps after you take it, then that is why.

your blood is more thinned out than normal and able to pump more blood through you

I believe you are thinking of asprin.

**Narkissos** · 04-02-2009, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by Dizz28;4538***

http://www.kinemed.com/files/Effect_...profen_and.pdf

"The results suggest that over-the-counter doses of both Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen suppress the protien sythesis response in skeletal muscle after eccentric resistance exercise"

But read the whole study...

Question is: This study was done on normal males... Would it still have this effect in any significance if the group were on AAS?

^^Re-posting this from over on my forum:

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen promote muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during resistance exercise in the elderly

Chad C Carroll, Jared M Dickinson, Jennifer K LeMoine, Jacob M Haus, Eileen M Weinheimer, Christopher J Hollon and Todd A Trappe Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during 12 weeks of knee-extensor resistance training (3d/wk, 70% 1RM) in the elderly. Thirty-six individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups and consumed the drugs in double-blind placebo-controlled fashion: Placebo (67±2 y; 8M, 4F), Ibuprofen (64±1 y; 9M, 4F; 1.2g/d), or Acetaminophen (64±1 y; 7M, 4F; 4g/d).

Resistance training alone (Placebo) increased (p<0.05) quadriceps muscle volume (M only: 8±2%; M+F: 9±1%) and muscle strength (M only: 20±3%; M+F: 23±2%). Compared to Placebo, muscle volume increases were greater in the Ibuprofen (M only: 11±2%, p<0.05; M+F: 11±2%, p=0.06) and Acetaminophen (M only: 13±1%, p<0.05; M+F: 13±1%, p=0.06) groups.

Muscle strength increases were also greater than Placebo in the Ibuprofen (M only: 29±4%, p<0.05; M+F: 30±3%, p=0.06) and Acetaminophen (M only: 26±3%, p<0.05; M+F: 28±3%, p=0.06) groups.

These results suggest that chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during resistance training induces intramuscular changes that enhance the metabolic response to resistance exercise, which promotes additional muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during resistance training in the elderly.

NIH R01 AG020532 (TT), APS Postdoctoral Initiative Award (CC)

**Big_gRunt** · 04-02-2009, 06:05 PM

Aspirin thins the blood in small doses.

Ibuprofin will affect kidney function and marginially increase water retention. This would be aggravated by AAS (such as test). So it won't be gains, just fluid. Dangerous fluid too. That shit isn't too good for your kidneys. It would be really bad if you use it to aggravate water retention.