Mefenamic acid - AIBU not to take it?

I found it more effective than ibuprofen and only needed 2-3 doses a cycle so stomach issues not problematic. Started taking it at 17.

I took it for years with zero side effects. It's an effective painkiller.

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

Side effects vary massively from person to person.

You might not get any at all.

It's worth trying it to see how it affects you.

For what it's worth I had bad period like you - nausea and vomiting - and it massively helped me and I had no side effects.

If you take it with even a drink and a biscuit it is much less likely to impact your digestion,

You are absolutely not unreasonable to question that the doctor who prescribed them knows what’s best for you. I was once prescribed something for one medical condition that I absolutely should not have taken due to another medical condition. The prescribing doctor simply hadn’t thought to check if I had any other conditions. Thankfully I read the leaflet with the drugs so didn’t take them.

I suggest you go back to your GP to discuss your concerns before taking them. Maybe they will prescribe you something to go with them to alleviate any digestive issues. Maybe they’ll prescribe you something entirely different. What they won’t do, in my experience, is be annoyed that you didn’t just blindly take the drugs when you were concerned. They will want to help.

I had Mefenamic Acid and tranexamic acid for a long period of time - GP doled out prescriptions and didn't do any investigation or referrals to find out the cause of the problem.
They may have alleviated the problems - I'll never know because I didn't not take them - but I still ended up having debilitating periods for over a year, admitted to hospital after going to A&E, and DVT probably caused by the tranexamic acid. Disrupted two and a half years of my life that could have been a lot different if I'd received appropriate treatment - and probably cost the NHS way more than it should have done.

I'm not saying don't take them - but if they don't resolve your problems, go back & insist on a more proactive resolution.

Just make sure you don't take it on an empty stomach. Eat a biscuit then take it.

Honestly, mefenamic acid has been a total game changer for me with my periods. I recommended it to plenty of women who also struggle with painful periods. All medicines have potential side effects and it’s right to do your research on them, one thing I would flag is that you won’t take MA daily, only as required for a few days a month.

My 17yr old dd takes it with no issues. It means she can stop vomiting and passing out with pain. It's been a wonder for her.

I was prescribed this years ago and it didn’t give me any issues and really helped with cycle-related migraines I got. I would try it, see if it helps.

Why not try it and see how you go? My DD takes it and doesn’t have digestive side effects.