Can I take anti-inflammatories and run the marathon?
There are risks of severe, potentially fatal, kidney problems if you take anti-inflammatories when your body temperature is raised as it is when running a marathon. So as tempting as it may be, simply do not take them.
Can I take painkillers and run the marathon?
If you want to take paracetamol or any other medications whilst running your marathon then go and see a qualified Pharmacist, GP or Sports Doctor who can run through the risks with you.
More marathon physio advice
Follow @octopusclinic on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and/or Lucy Macdonald on YouTube to access our latest free videos on marathon training and injury prevention. If you would like our marathon handbook and are running for charity please contact Lucy Macdonald directly on lucymacdonaldphysio@hotmail.co.uk or if you would like to get the video course Your Marathon: Your Physio please click on the link.
FAQ
Can I take ibuprofen before or during a marathon?
It is generally advised against. Anti-inflammatories reduce blood flow to the kidneys, and combined with dehydration and the sustained effort of a marathon this raises the risk of acute kidney injury and contributes to hyponatraemia. Discuss any race-day medication with a GP or pharmacist rather than deciding on the day.
Is paracetamol safer than ibuprofen for running?
Paracetamol does not carry the same kidney and sodium risks as anti-inflammatories during prolonged exercise, which is why it is often the preferred option where pain relief is genuinely needed. It still has its own dosage limits and interactions, so the amount and timing should be checked with a pharmacist or GP.
Do anti-inflammatories slow down injury healing?
Possibly, for some tissues. Healing in tendon, muscle and bone depends on an inflammatory and remodelling response, and suppressing it routinely may work against adaptation — the evidence is strongest against long-term use around bone and tendon healing. Short-term use to manage severe pain is different from taking them continuously.
Should I run a race if I need painkillers to get through it?
Needing medication to start is a signal worth taking seriously. Pain relief masks the feedback that would otherwise make you slow down or stop, which is how a manageable problem becomes a significant injury over 26 miles. It is worth getting the problem assessed before the race rather than medicating past it.
What can I do instead of taking painkillers for a running injury?
Get the problem diagnosed, then modify the training load rather than the symptoms — reducing volume, changing surface or gradient, and adding specific strengthening for the tissue involved. Most running injuries are load problems, and adjusting the load addresses the cause in a way that medication cannot.