Can Athletes’ Mental Health be affected by Taking Pain Relievers and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs?
Over the counter (OTC) pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medicines like your daily Tylenol, Advil or Aleve may contribute to higher rates of depression and other mental disorders.
Your gut is directly linked to your brain. What you put in your gut affects your brain and its performance. How often do you pop an over-the-counter pain-reliever like Aleve, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen? I know I used to take them every day before and after my workouts when I was younger — because they were quick fixes for my aches and pains; I didn’t know their negative effects or that better alternatives existed.
Most athletes rely on a dose before or after their workouts (and sometimes both). But what many don’t know is that these drugs may be connected to mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and personality changes.
What are Anti-Inflammatory and Pain-Relieving Drugs?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin, ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Advil), and naproxen (the active ingredient in Aleve).
Acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) is not an NSAID but a pain reliever and fever reducer. Unlike NSAIDs, acetaminophen does not irritate your stomach and intestinal lining.
Anti-inflammatory drugs lower acute inflammation, which can occur when you put stress on your body during hard workouts or games.
Effects of NSAIDs and Pain Relievers on Mental Health
There are many reasons you could be battling depression. But you may not have considered your daily aspirin to be one of the causes.
Depression is a side effect of aspirin[1]. Signs of depression include persistent feelings of sadness or unworthiness, angry outbursts, sleep disturbances, loss of energy, trouble thinking, unexplained pain, and more[2].
These symptoms overlap or may lead to anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, weight gain, and other serious health concerns[3]. But aspirin’s not the only one to blame.
Acetaminophen (i.e., in Tylenol) May Affect Your Emotional Processing
Researchers learned that taking acetaminophen may blunt your emotions and make life feel less “emotionally arousing” or enjoyable[4].
In another study, researchers had participants rate their perceived pain, distress, and concern after reading scenarios about another person’s physical or social pain. Participants who took acetaminophen showed less empathy for those experiencing pain[5].
Naproxen May Lead to Mental Dysfunction
Possible side effects of naproxen include headaches, anxiety, mood swings, and depression[6]. And many people who take naproxen daily say they feel more drowsy, unable to concentrate, and depressed.
Researchers examined patients who experienced cognitive dysfunction or personality changes after taking either naproxen or ibuprofen. They noticed impairments in recent memory and concentration. They also saw higher rates of anxiety and irritability in people without any history of cognitive dysfunction[7]. But once the patients stopped taking naproxen, all symptoms cleared up within a week.
In the end, is the potential for mood-altering, memory loss, and depression worth the potential pain relief provided by NSAIDs and acetaminophen?
Healthy Alternatives
Instead of taking pills with artificial ingredients that could mess up your body chemistry and become toxic, take natural ingredients that your body knows already how to process and absorb without harmful side effects.
I recommend incorporating high anti-inflammatory ingredients into your daily meals. They will not only help you to reduce the swelling and pain, but they will also make your food tastier.
Some common ingredients that could include easily with your food include:
1. Turmeric — my favorite way is to sprinkle on my omelet, latte, or in my meat curry
2. Ginger — I love infusing my tea with fresh ginger pieces
3. Garlic — I use it to flavor all my meats
4. Fatty fish — I like salmon and mackerel
5. Cinnamon — I make sure it is Sri Lankan/Ceylon organic cinnamon and not the other kind that is mixed with all sorts of hidden chemicals. I infuse my tea and water with it for a nice flavor
Conclusion
After learning more about nutrition, scientific evidence, and the gut brain connection, I now know better than to put toxic chemicals into my body for quick relief.
Think about your short-term gain versus the long-term effects and your long-term quality of life before you pop a pill with chemicals next time.
About the Author:
Navin Hettiarachchi currently works for an NBA team. He considers himself the “one stop shop” for healthcare.
References
- Aspirin Side Effects from Drugs.com
- The Mayo Clinic: Depression
- Slavich, G. M., & Irwin, M. R. (2014). From stress to inflammation and major depressive disorder: A social signal transduction theory of depression. Psychological Bulletin, 140(3), 774–815.
- Durso, G. R. O., Luttrell, A., & Way, B. M. (2015). Over-the-Counter Relief From Pains and Pleasures Alike: Acetaminophen Blunts Evaluation Sensitivity to Both Negative and Positive Stimuli. Psychological Science, 26(6), 750–758.
- Dominik Mischkowski, Jennifer Crocker, Baldwin M. Way. From painkiller to empathy killer: acetaminophen (paracetamol) reduces empathy for pain. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Volume 11, Issue 9. September 2016. Pages 1345–1353.
- Naproxen Side Effects from Drugs.com
- Goodwin JS, Regan M. Cognitive dysfunction associated with naproxen and ibuprofen in the elderly. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1982 Aug;25(8):1013–5.
