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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mefenamic acid - AIBU not to take it?

36 replies

GlasgowGal82 · 20/10/2024 11:51

I've been struggling with heavy, painful periods recently and have recently been prescribed Mefenamic Acid as a painkiller by my GP, although he didn't really tell me anything about it. I was speaking to someone about this who said it can be worse than naproxen in terms of the impact it has on your digestive system, but with naproxen you are normally prescribed something to protect your stomach. I've read the side effects sheet that came with the packet and it seems pretty dramatic, although I am aware that not everyone taking this drug will experience all those issues. My period has started overnight and I have pain radiating around my torso and down my legs. I already have nausea and an upset stomach from the period pain so could do without more digestive issues. I've never taken anything stronger than ibuprofen in my life, so am possibly overthinking this. I am hoping that there are women here that can share their experiences of taking Mefenamic Acid and help my decide whether I am being unreasonable in avoiding using it!

You are being unreasonable - take the drug that's been prescribed
You are not being unreasonable - the potential side effects aren't worth it

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
cestlavielife · 23/10/2024 18:07

You will not know benefits vs side effects unless you try it.

Watch out for skin rash for dd this looked like weird bruising took ages to identify the cause

ShowOfHands · 23/10/2024 18:05

Greenqueen40 · 20/10/2024 12:51

@ShowOfHands No17yr olds shouldn't be vomiting and passing out from period pain! Has her GP not suggested combined pill/progesterone pill/ implant etc??

She has EDS and POTs. It's normal for her to react this way to pain. It's nothing other than that.

BillieEyelash1 · 20/10/2024 20:04

I’ve just been prescribed this alongside tranexamic acid and am also reluctant to take it after reading the side effects! Though it did help a little bit, I feel it caused more pain in the morning then I took a second dosage at lunch time and felt OK. GP didn’t ask if I was on any medication or anything and as I get quite worried about starting new medications I decided to research it, turns out it’s completely contra-indicated with another medication I’ve been on for nearly five years now so not intending to keep on taking it.

buffyfaithspike · 20/10/2024 17:40

For your appointment I would write stuff down, even in notes app on your phone

Like day 1 period, pain 5/10, changed pad X times, had to cancel gym class, took x amount of painkillers

I was sent for an MRI, now waiting for an MDT meeting and then surgery

Original poster
GlasgowGal82 · 20/10/2024 16:26

@LuckyOrMaybe - that is so helpful thank you!

OP posts:
LuckyOrMaybe · 20/10/2024 15:20

I hope you find it helps; and I hope you don't have to wait too long for gynae appointments and investigations for more definitive advice and management.

One thing I thought I'd share for anyone who doesn't know this already - NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and mefenamic acid directly work on early stages in the prostaglandin pathways that trigger period pain. As such, the sooner you take them the more effective they can be. As a teenager I didn't properly appreciate this until I was at uni (medical sciences) and started to understand the mechanisms, and that it really was worth prioritising taking the first dose asap as sometimes I didn't need any more whereas if I tried to "cope" I'd end up needing to take more for longer.

And I agree, that for many or perhaps most, if you only need to take a few doses over a couple of days then gastric side effects are less likely than when you are taking these medications on a more regular basis. I think naproxen may be prescribed for some arthritis pain for example, and that would be a situation where also taking omeprazole regularly would be more important.

AutumnalPuffin · 20/10/2024 15:19

Mefanamic Acid revolutionised my life. It allowed me be pain free whereas previously I would have been bed bound during my periods. I had no side effects at all. I’d urge you to try it.

Blinky21 · 20/10/2024 14:58

I take it with no side effects, always with food and don't drink alcohol for 12 hrs after last dose. I never take it for more than three days every few months though, as I tri cycle my periods due to pain. I've found cbd tampons almost as effective as painkillers though so I'm hoping to take even fewer NSAIDs

Mumofnetters · 20/10/2024 14:27

It saved me as a teen and I’m fine at 30

Original poster
GlasgowGal82 · 20/10/2024 14:27

buffyfaithspike · 20/10/2024 14:04

I said yes because the wait for gynae is a year... so it could be that the OP is waiting for investigation
My endo is really bad and it still can't be speeded up

Show quote history

You've got it spot on. I initially spoke to my GP last year and said my periods had become intolerable (advice for anyone else reading is don't wait until it gets that bad to seek help, because it's a long wait to get any kind of resolution!). Initially tried tranexamic acid which helps with the flooding but not the pain, and then was encouraged to try the pill which had horrendous mental health side effects for me so am back on the tranexamic acid but was this time given the mefenamic acid alongside. Looking forward to my long-awaited gyno appointment next month, and if you have any tips on how to get the most out of this I'd really appreciate you sharing them!

OP posts:
Alwayshockey · 20/10/2024 14:24

Mefenamic acid was a total game changer for me as a teen and no side effects at all. Tranexamic acid on the other hand which is often recommended is completely intolerable for me, gastric side effects were horrific. So I think you have to just try it and see how it goes. Both of them are helpful for millions of women, as with everything some people will get side effects.

Original poster
GlasgowGal82 · 20/10/2024 14:19

Thanks to you all for sharing your experiences - it is really reassuring to know that some people have found taking this medicine useful. It's also good to know that omeprazole can be bought OTC too, I think I might go and have a chat with our local pharmacist about it tomorrow. I do have a gyneo appointment coming up soon to investigate the cause of these issues, which my GP suspects is endometriosis. Thanks for all the encouragement to check out the root cause - I agree that is really important. I had similar issues when I was a teenager, and have never had easy periods but have just gotten on with it. I was fobbed off as a teenager and was told it was normal, but it's only now almost 30 years on that I am learning that it is not something I should have put up with.

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 20/10/2024 14:11

I was prescribed it for years. My criticism of it is that it's not ideal for managing day 1 of erratic periods where there's no warning before your period annouces its sudden arrival by your uterus going into crush mode. Days 2 and 3 when it was already in my system were much better than not using it.

I didn't have digestive side effects although I can take ibuprofen without incident too. I am prone to IBS, but pain relief doesn't seem to be a trigger for me.

KittyMcKitty · 20/10/2024 14:06

My now 19 year old daughter has taken it for a couple of years and it’s been a complete game changer - she just takes it for the first day of her cycle.

pimplebum · 20/10/2024 14:05

Game changer for me taking for years to great effect no stomach issues at all

buffyfaithspike · 20/10/2024 14:04

m00ngirl · 20/10/2024 13:42

YANBU. I was offered the same and said no. I already have IBS etc but my main point was they weren't getting to the cause of my extremely painful periods. It's cheaper to throw pills at you than to investigate and diagnose. Might you have endometriosis, has the cause been investigated?

I said yes because the wait for gynae is a year... so it could be that the OP is waiting for investigation
My endo is really bad and it still can't be speeded up

buffyfaithspike · 20/10/2024 14:03

I take it with paracetamol and dihydrocodeine and it helps a lot
No side effects

m00ngirl · 20/10/2024 13:42

YANBU. I was offered the same and said no. I already have IBS etc but my main point was they weren't getting to the cause of my extremely painful periods. It's cheaper to throw pills at you than to investigate and diagnose. Might you have endometriosis, has the cause been investigated?

thistlepiedpiper · 20/10/2024 13:36

I've had them a few times and not experienced any digestive problems. I do get reactions to naproxen and ibuprofen without omeprazole but haven't with Mefenamic Acid

They work wonders for bad periods

Appleblum · 20/10/2024 13:29

It's a really good painkiller. I used to get very bad pain and backache pre kids and always had a supply of it ready. It was actually really common amongst my group of girl friends for period pain. I always made sure to take it after a meal and never had any stomach issues.

MuggleMe · 20/10/2024 13:20

I remember taking this as a teen when I was regularly laid up and missing school on my first day of my period. I had a big box of them and it lasted me years. They really worked. As others say I just ensured I took it with food.

Notquitegrownup2 · 20/10/2024 13:17

I also took it with no side effects. Worked wonders for me. Hope that you get it sorted op.

KrisAkabusi · 20/10/2024 13:15

I take it all the time. It's also known as Ponstan, which more people may have heard of and people don't usually associate with side effects. Just make sure you take it with food.

Oneearringlost · 20/10/2024 13:12

It also lightens the bleeding, as well as being an effective painkiller.
You could ask your GP to prescribe some Omeprazole/esomeprazole to protect your gut but don't reject it without trying it. It can totally improve your symptoms.
Never take it on an empty stomach though.