Mefenamic Acid
About Mefenamic Acid
Mefenamic Acid is an oral medication widely prescribed to provide short-term relief from mild to moderate pain. It is clinically used to manage short-term pain such as dental pain, muscle aches, headaches, and menstrual cramps. By targeting the source of discomfort, this medicine helps you manage physical pain and restore normal daily function.
This medication is typically taken up to three times a day, but it should only be used consistently for the exact duration recommended by your doctor. It is highly recommended to take each dose with food or a glass of milk to protect your stomach lining from irritation. Making minor adjustments, such as using warm compresses for menstrual pain or avoiding excessive physical strain during recovery, can further support your progress.
While taking Mefenamic Acid, you may experience mild side effects like heartburn, nausea, or mild indigestion. However, if you experience rare but serious signs such as severe stomach pain, black stools, or unusual bleeding, you must stop taking the medication and consult your doctor immediately.
Before starting this medication, talk to your doctor if you have a history of high blood pressure, heart conditions, asthma, or kidney disease. Do not take this if you have active stomach ulcers, severe heart failure or if you have previously experienced severe allergic reactions like asthma or rashes after taking aspirin or similar pain relievers.
This medication can interact with other substances, such as blood thinners or alcohol, which may significantly increase your risk of stomach bleeding. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an elderly individual, it is crucial to consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine, as special precautions or alternative options may be required.
Uses of Mefenamic Acid
• Treatment of menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea): Provides effective relief from lower abdominal cramps and discomfort during menstruation.
• Management of mild to moderate pain: Used to treat headaches, joint pain, and muscular aches.
• Relief from arthritis-related pain: Mefenamic Acid helps manage pain and inflammation in conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Fever reduction: Reduces body temperature in mild to moderate fevers.
• Post-operative pain management: Reduces pain and inflammation after surgical operations or childbirth.
• Support in inflammatory conditions: Reduces swelling, redness, and discomfort in various musculoskeletal disorders.
Medicinal Benefits
Mefenamic Acid helps relieve pain and inflammation, improving comfort and supporting recovery from a variety of painful conditions. In certain conditions, it may also help reduce excessive menstrual bleeding, providing comprehensive symptom relief.
- Helps Relieve Pain and Inflammation: By reducing the production of substances that cause pain and inflammation, Mefenamic Acid helps relieve discomfort associated with injuries, dental procedures, musculoskeletal conditions, and other painful disorders.
- Supports Comfort During Menstrual Periods: Mefenamic Acid helps reduce menstrual cramps and, where indicated, may also help decrease excessive menstrual bleeding, making periods more comfortable and manageable.
- Improves Daily Comfort and Recovery: By effectively controlling pain, Mefenamic Acid helps improve mobility, supports better sleep, and allows you to carry out daily activities more comfortably while recovering from pain or inflammation.
Directions for Use
- Mefenamic Acid can be taken with food or as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safe and effective use.
- Tablet/capsule: Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Dispersible tablet: Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water and consume it immediately.
- Do not break, chew, or crush it.
Storage
Side Effects of Mefenamic Acid
Like all medicines, this medication can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them. Most side effects are manageable and disappear once you stop taking the medicine.
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Upset stomach, heartburn, or indigestion
- Nausea, vomiting, or mild stomach pain
- Mild diarrhoea or constipation
- Dizziness, sleepiness, or headache
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- Signs of stomach bleeding, such as vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or passing black, tarry stools
- Allergic reactions, including skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, dark urine, or severe fatigue (signs of liver damage)
- Sudden swelling of your ankles or feet, rapid weight gain, or a significant decrease in urination (signs of kidney problems)
- Chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, weakness on one side of your body, or slurred speech
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Avoid taking this medication alongside other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, or high-dose aspirin, as this increases your risk of severe stomach issues.
- Remain upright for at least 15 to 30 minutes after taking your dose to prevent oesophageal irritation or difficulty swallowing.
- If you are scheduled for any surgical or dental procedures, inform your healthcare provider that you are taking this medication, as it may affect blood clotting.
- If your doctor prescribes this medicine for more than a few days, attend all scheduled appointments for blood tests to monitor your kidney and liver function.
- Stop taking the medication immediately at the first sign of a skin rash, skin peeling, or mouth sores, and contact your doctor right away.
Drug Interactions
- Blood thinners (such as warfarin): May significantly increase the risk of serious stomach and intestinal bleeding.
- Other NSAIDs or aspirin: Increases the likelihood of developing painful stomach ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Blood pressure medications (such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers): Mefenamic Acid can make these blood pressure drugs less effective and may increase the risk of kidney damage.
- Lithium: May raise the levels of lithium in your blood to toxic levels, requiring close monitoring.
- Diuretics (water pills): Can reduce their effectiveness and increase the strain on your kidneys.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Mefenamic Acid as it may increase drowsiness. It can also increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
Pregnancy
cautionMefenamic Acid belongs to pregnancy category C. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionMefenamic Acid may pass into breastmilk. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionMefenamic Acid may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionPlease consult your doctor. Your doctor will recommend it based on your child's condition.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day to support your kidneys and maintain optimal hydration while taking this medication.
- Avoid drinking alcohol, as it can significantly increase the risk of stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding when combined with this medicine.
- If you are taking this for menstrual pain, applying a warm heating pad to your lower abdomen can help relax your muscles and work alongside the medication to ease discomfort.
- Eat small, frequent, and bland meals to protect your digestive tract and reduce the likelihood of experiencing an upset stomach or acid reflux.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Pain: Pain is a symptom triggered by the nervous system, causing uncomfortable sensations in the body. Pain can be dull or sharp. It can be described as a stinging, throbbing, sore, and pinching sensation. Pain can occur frequently or be consistent. The tolerance of pain can vary from person to person. Pain can be acute or occur over a longer duration; it can be localised or be overall. The common causes of pain are cramps, headaches, muscle strain, arthritis, or bone fractures.
FAQs
Mefenamic Acid is used to provide relief from mild to moderate pain and inflammation associated with muscular, rheumatic, and arthritic disorders, headache, trauma, dental pain, and pain after surgery or childbirth. Additionally, it is used to relieve period pain and premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) and manage excessively heavy periods.
Mefenamic Acid works by blocking the chemical messengers that are responsible for pain and inflammation. Thereby, Mefenamic Acid provides relief from pain and inflammation.
Mefenamic Acid is generally prescribed for short-term use. Do not take Mefenamic Acid for longer durations as it might increase the risk of heart problems and stomach bleeding.
Mefenamic Acid is used to relieve menstrual (period) pain, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and management of excessively heavy periods. Take only as prescribed by the doctor.
Avoid taking Mefenamic Acid if you have stomach ulcers. Mefenamic Acid might increase the risk of stomach ulcers, perforation of the stomach and intestinal bleeding with higher doses.
Diarrhoea might be a side-effect of Mefenamic Acid. Drink plenty of fluids and eat food rich in fibre. Consult your doctor if you experience excessive diarrhoea or if you find blood in stools.
It is considered harmful for patients with severe kidney problems and those experiencing active intravascular clotting, which obstructs blood flow due to blood clots.
Store Mefenamic Acid at room temperature, away from sunlight. Keep the Mefenamic Acid out of reach of children.
No, Mefenamic Acid doesn’t act as a contraceptive; it is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation.
Mefenamic Acid should be taken only as it is prescribed by the doctor. Do not self-medicate and do not recommend Mefenamic Acid to others with the same condition.
If the dose of Mefenamic Acid is missed, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue taking the regular dose. Avoid taking a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Mefenamic Acid is used for a short time, not more than 3-5 days of your menstrual cycle. However, the duration for your use will be advised by the doctor. Do not self-medicate.
It is highly recommended to take Mefenamic Acid with food or a glass of milk. Taking it on an empty stomach can increase the risk of stomach upset, indigestion, or irritation. If you still experience discomfort, talk to your doctor.
You should avoid taking Mefenamic Acid during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, as it can harm the unborn baby or cause complications during delivery. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor.
Taking Mefenamic Acid with paracetamol may occasionally be recommended by a doctor for short-term pain management, as they work differently. However, you should never combine pain relievers without professional advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Yes, some people may experience drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness while taking Mefenamic Acid. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medication affects you. If these symptoms persist, talk to your doctor.
It is highly advised to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Mefenamic Acid. Alcohol can significantly increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers or severe digestive tract bleeding. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.
Author Details
