Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol etc....

I'm sure it's been discussed before, but I couldn't find it....

For the headache I sometimes get going to altitude, what is the medicine of choice that the pro's use (if they use any).

Thanks for any help,

Bill

Norcal...

Here is a pretty extensive conversation regarding meds for altitude headaches

and a second one

I think that you'll find there are as many answers as posters on this board...

Ahhhh......yes, Thank you SO much for taking the time to post that for me,

Have a fun weekend,

Bill

No problem NorCal... you too.. be safe!

In an earlier post - Medications for high-altitude illness? - well-known high-altitude medical researchers Peter Hackett and Robert Roach reported that prophylactic aspirin (325 mg every four hours for a total of three doses) reduced the incidence of altitude headache from 50 percent to 7 percent. And, for treatment, a single dose of 400 mg or 600 mg of ibuprofen ameliorated or resolved high-altitude headaches.

There's a lot more in that thread and in their paper, but you specifically mentioned these drugs, so that's what I addressed.

Aspirin for prevention, ibuprofen for treatment.

Before my MW hikes, I pop a 81 mg acetyl salicylic acid tablet(aspirin) at least 3 days before my start. Not for the headaches, but to thin my blood.

I go with Excedrin both before and during the hike. It is a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and caffeine.

I'm also looking into Diamox for more endurance above the 14K level.

I will be coming to Whitney Portal tomorrow and climbing Thursday up to Trail Camp, then on to the summit Friday. I plan on using Anacin (as a blood thinner and the caffeine is good for altitude supposedly) and ibuprofen for the climb.
Who else will be there tomorrow?

Excedrin is the best!!! But don't bother with Diamox, it sucks..