Pain Reliever Against Mountain Sickness

An inexpensive pain reliever may have unexpected benefits. Investigators at Stanford University have found that over the counter ibuprofen can ease the discomfort of altitude sickness. Common symptoms when someone travels to high altitude include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and loss of appetite. Some people may not even realize the culprit is the elevation, but might instead blame their illness on a virus.
The double-blind placebo-controlled study took 86 volunteers to the White Mountains of California at an elevation of 12,000 feet. About two-fifths of those taking ibuprofen had symptoms of mountain sickness, while more than two-thirds of those on placebo suffered. The principal scientist suggests that ibuprofen can help if taken six hours before traveling to altitude, making it more convenient, less expensive and less likely to cause serious side effects than current prescription drugs for this problem.
[Annals of Emergency Medicine, online March 20, 2012]