Other Types of Pain Drugs

In addition to NSAIDs for pain control, a second type of drug used for pain relief includes acetaminophen. These drugs, mostly non-prescription ones such as Tylenol, don’t act by reducing inflammation, and therefore are less likely to interfere with healing and recovery. It’s not entirely clear how these drugs work, but liver stress is among the side effects; the body needs to break down these drugs in the liver, which requires large amounts of the amino acid cysteine (best obtained in the diet from whey consumption).

Narcotics, such as opiates, are another type of pain reliever. These act in the brain to reduce the sensation of pain and don’t affect inflammation. However, they are easily addictive, and their use as a pain reliever wears off as the brain cells become desensitized. Common narcotics prescribed for pain include morphine and other opioid drugs such as codeine and oxycodone (OxyContin).

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Yet another pain-relieving drug is THC, the active component in marijuana, which controls pain by stimulating certain receptors in the brain, similar to those that opiates act upon. THC can stimulate the brain’s natural opiates, like endorphins. The only prescription form is the product Marinol, although many states now have medical marijuana laws.

As common as pain is for endurance athletes, living with pain is an unacceptable consequence of endurance training and racing. Eliminating pain begins with finding the cause and addressing it. Too many athletes fear the loss of fitness, and therefore train through pain. Another misguided notion—“no pain, no gain”—encourages athletes to train with pain, This just worsens the problems that cause the pain, often sending athletes on a downward spiral of injury, further pain, and poor performance. The most sensible remedy is to find the cause of the pain, correct it, and prevent it from coming back.