Compare Oral vs Topical Cramp Remedies

Cramps can be incredibly uncomfortable, causing involuntary muscle contractions and pain in areas like your stomach, intestines, thighs, calves, or feet. Many women experience menstrual cramps before and during their period, usually due to the uterus contracting. When prostaglandin levels are high, these contractions might become even more painful. That's why finding ways to soothe menstrual cramps is important—not just for pain relief, but to help you feel comfortable and maintain your well-being during your period.
With several approaches available for cramp relief, it becomes essential to weigh the differences. By comparing oral and topical remedies, you can better decide which might work best for your specific needs. This article helps women choose effective cramp relief by comparing oral and topical treatments, using Apollo Pharmacy products to highlight differences in effectiveness, side effects, and ease of use.
 

There are several effective ways to ease cramp pain and discomfort. Common methods include:

• Home Remedies: Heat pads, hydration, light exercise, or rest to relax muscles and boost blood flow.
• Over-the-Counter Medicines: Pain-relieving tablets like Meftal-Spas, and topical options like Volini gel and Moov spray, are widely used for rapid relief.
• Natural or Herbal Options: Some try essential oils or herbal balms with ingredients like lavender or peppermint for soothing effects.

Oral medications and topical gels are the most popular due to quick action, accessibility, and proven benefits.
 

Here’s how oral and tropical remedies work:

Oral Remedies (Tablets/Capsules): These are medicines you swallow, and your body absorbs them through your stomach and intestines. Once in your blood, they go to the uterus and muscles to help relieve pain from the inside. These medicines mainly work by blocking certain natural chemicals in the body that cause muscle cramps and pain during periods. They can also help relax the uterus and reduce cramps.

• Example: Mefenamic acid (Meftal-Spas) is an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic that relieves severe menstrual pain.
• To care for yourself, take these tablets after eating and only as directed. Overuse may cause stomach irritation, so listen to your body and follow recommendations.
• Topical Remedies: Apply directly to the skin where you feel pain. These penetrate the skin to relax muscles, improve blood flow, and offer quick cooling or warming relief. They act locally and usually have fewer side effects since little medicine enters the bloodstream.
• Example: Volini Gel (diclofenac, menthol) gives fast, targeted relief for mild to moderate cramps and tension. It can be reapplied as needed.
   

Effective menstrual cramp management in women often involves two key forms of medication: oral remedies (such as tablets or capsules) and topical formulations (such as gels, sprays, or roll-ons).

Both aim to relieve pain but differ in key ways: oral treatments work throughout your body and take longer to act, while topical remedies act quickly on a specific area without affecting the whole body. Understanding these differences in onset, duration, and safety helps you select the best option.

A. Oral Remedies (Tablets and Capsules) :

Oral remedies are the most preferred cramp medicine. These include NSAIDs like Mefenamic acid, Ibuprofen, and Dicyclomine. They work systemically. Once swallowed, the medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream and inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, helping relax the uterine muscles and reducing pain intensity.

Benefits of Oral Remedies

• Systemic and Long-Lasting Relief: Oral tablets act throughout the body, making them effective for moderate to severe menstrual pain involving the lower abdomen, back, and thighs.
• Many oral medicines provide anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic benefits, delivering overall comfort during periods.
• Tablets are portable, easy to use, and give a reliable dose anytime.
• Reliable brands make tablets widely available, affordable, and consistent.
• Combination formulas, like Mefenamic acid with Dicyclomine, target both pain and cramps.

Drawbacks of Oral Remedies

• Gastrointestinal Irritation: NSAIDs may cause acidity, nausea, or discomfort if taken on an empty stomach or long-term.
• Systemic Side Effects: May lead to dizziness, headache, or drowsiness in some users.
  Delayed Onset: Tablets take 30–60 minutes to work, so they aren’t for immediate relief.
• Not for Everyone: Avoid in those with ulcers, kidney/liver issues, or NSAID allergies.
  Drug Interactions: Systemic absorption can interact with other medicines.

B. Topical Remedies (Gels, Sprays, and Roll-Ons)

These are applied over the lower abdomen or back to provide targeted anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. Unlike tablets, they work at the site of pain without entering the bloodstream.

Benefits of Topical Remedies

• Quick Action: Provide noticeable relief within 5–10 minutes of application, making them ideal for sudden cramps.
• Localised Effect: Targeted therapy helps reduce muscle stiffness and surface pain efficiently.
• Reduced Side Effects: Minimal absorption means little stomach or organ impact.
  Safe and Easy to Use: These may be especially reassuring if you wish to avoid oral medication and still want effective relief.
• Additional Comfort: Ingredients like lavender or peppermint oil provide a calming aroma and gentle warming/cooling sensation.

Drawbacks of Topical Remedies

• Short Relief: Often requires reapplication every few hours.
• Limited Penetration: Not for deep cramps, since the effect is mostly on surface muscles.
• Skin Reactions: Some may get rashes or irritation from menthol or oils.
• Messy Use: Gels or oils can leave residue if not absorbed.
• Variable Absorption: Effectiveness depends on skin type and thickness.

C. Clinical Preference and Combination Use

In clinical practice, the choice between tablets and gels often depends on the intensity of your pain and your own comfort with different treatments.

• For severe internal menstrual pain, oral remedies like Mefenamic acid tablets may be preferred.
• For mild to moderate cramps or muscle stiffness, topical gels or roll-ons, such as Pee Safe Feminine Pain Relief Roll-On or Sirona Pain Relief Patch from Apollo Pharmacy, provide quick, safe comfort.

In some cases, using both an oral medication for whole-body relief and a topical gel for local comfort can offer more complete cramp relief. Always consult with a healthcare provider to find the safest and most effective approach for your needs.
 

Here are some of the cramp medicines for women:

• Meftal-Spas Tablet: It is a combination medicine containing mefenamic acid and dicyclomine hydrochloride, which reduces pain, inflammation, and gives fast and effective relief from menstrual cramps.

Buy Meftal-Spas Tablet Here

Key benefits:

• It reduces abdominal pain and discomfort during periods through relaxing uterine muscles and reducing prostaglandin-induced pain.
• Combines pain relief from mefenamic acid with muscle relaxation from dicyclomine, giving broader and quicker relief than either alone.

The NSAID component helps reduce any local inflammation or swelling associated with pain.
 

2. Saridon Women Tablet: it contains Paracetamol, a pain reliever, and Hyosine butylbromide, which is an antispasmodic agent that relaxes smooth muscles and relieves spasms. The combination addresses both pain/inflammation (paracetamol) and muscle spasm/cramp       (hyoscine), the tablet design for faster and more comprehensive relief from pain that involves spasm plus ache.

Buy Saridon – Woman Tablet Here

Key benefits:

• Thanks to the antispasmodic hyoscine butylbromide component, it helps relax uterine/abdominal smooth muscle and reduce cramp intensity.
• The paracetamol component covers broader aches (headache, body pain) that often accompany periods or other pain-spasmodic situations.
• The product is marketed as providing quick relief so women can continue their daily activities during their menstrual cycle without significant disruption.
   

3. Cannabliss Menstrual Pain Relief Oil, 10 ml: Cannabliss Menstrual Pain Relief Oil works through the combined action of CBD (cannabidiol), hemp seed oil, and therapeutic essential oils that target pain, inflammation, and muscle tension. When gently massaged onto the lower abdomen or back, the oil absorbs into the skin.

Buy Cannabliss Menstrual Pain Relief Oil Here

key benefits:

• Helps soothe cramps and lower abdominal pain.
• Calming essential oils help reduce stress, anxiety, and irritability.
• Promotes overall balance and comfort during the menstrual cycle.
   

4. Ananta Hemp Cannaease Cramp Reliver Roll-on Stick, 10 ml: The roll-on contains a blend of botanical extracts including Vijaya Leaf Extract (~3 %), Hemp Seed Oil (~60 %), plus traditional Ayurvedic herbs like Rasna, Nirgundi, Shunthi, Kupilu, Ajwain, Wintergreen Oil (~5 %), and Til Oil (~22 %) , when applied topically (to the lower abdomen, back, thighs or other cramp-prone areas), the oil penetrates the skin and acts on peripheral receptors (including cannabinoid receptors in the skin).

Buy Ananta Hemp Cannaease Cramp Reliver Roll-on Stick Here

Key benefits:

• Anti-inflammatory action: Helps reduce inflammation in affected areas, which often contributes to pain and soreness.
• Reduces swelling and muscle tension/spasm: The botanical blend targets spasm-prone muscles and reduces swelling of soft tissue when applied externally.
• Targeted, convenient application: The roll-on format allows direct application on problem areas (e.g., lower abdomen, back, thighs) without messy hands or spreading over large areas.
   

5. Relispray Cramp Pain Relief Spray, 75 gm: This is a topical Ayurvedic-style spray formulated to relieve muscle cramps, spasms, tightness, and soreness. The combination of warming, cooling, local circulation enhancement, and nerve-ending modulation contributes to reducing muscle tightness and pain. The spray format makes it convenient and less messy.

Buy Relispray Cramp Pain Relief Spray Here

Key benefits:

• Non‐greasy and fast absorbing: The formulation is designed to be quick and less oily, which improves user comfort.
• Rapid relief from cramps and muscle spasms: Helps when sudden cramp or tightness arises.
• Natural/Herbal ingredient base: The inclusion of botanical oils may appeal to users preferring “natural” topical relief options. (Though one should still follow all safety instructions.) 
   

Cramp remedies come in both oral and topical forms, each offering different cramp relief options. Oral remedies like tablets and capsules available on the Apollo Pharmacy work systemically to relax muscles and reduce inflammation, providing longer-lasting relief but potentially causing stomach upset or side effects. Topical remedies like Relispray Cramp Pain Relief Spray or Ananta Hemp Cannaease Cramp Reliever Roll-On act locally at the site of pain, penetrating the skin to soothe muscle spasms, improve blood flow, and provide quick, targeted comfort. Choosing between the two depends on individual needs—oral medicines suit those seeking comprehensive, long-term relief, while topical options are ideal for quick, localized comfort.