Best painkiller with paracetamol for period pains?

[kazzawazzawoo]

I can't take ibuprofen, but get terrible period pains and am trying to find the strongest painkiller with paracetamol in it. I would prefer without codeine as I struggle a lot with the side effects of constipation.

Any recommendations?

Is it a problem with all NSAIDs or just ibuprofen? If you can have other NSAIDs then naproxen is amazing but prescription only.

If you can't have any NSAIDs then the only thing I can think of other than cocodamol is aspirin.

Tranexamic acid isn't a painkiller but used for heavy periods but it does seem to help my period pain, its prescription only though so you would have to see your GP.

It might be best to see your GP anyway as they would be able to suggest something you can take or even something to counteract side effects of codeine.

Speak to your pharmacist, they will give you the best advice. I always have a hot water bottle on my lower back, I put it down my leggings, it really helps.

Thanks I can't take any nsaids due to other medication that I take.

I do use a hot water bottle, but can't take it to work

You can buy self heating adhesive heat patches. Most pound shops or chemists sell them. It's like using a hot water bottle, but they stick to your underwear and are discreet so won't be noticed.

Buscopan

Poor you - period pains can be vile. The strongest OTC painkiller will probably be co-codamol 8-500, which is no use to you (unless you take them with Senna or handfuls of sunflower seeds which I've found cures everything & I'm on 30mg codeine x4 a day... You can get heat patches from the chemist/Poundland etc (big improvement on my goldfish-shaped hot water bottle flopping on the floor from under my skirt as I walked up the corridor at school)

Another thing for you to try is one of these: www.amazon.co.uk/Pain-Gone-pain-relief-pen/dp/B000A1QKO4
I have nothing to do with their sale, but I have had one for years and it has been very beneficial. You use it to 'click' on the muscle that is hurting and it disrupts the transmission of the pain signal.

While I can't reassure you with any peer-reviewed studies, I've found it really good on period pain as it usually has a really painful focus so you know where to click. You have to do it about 30 -40 times, but that seems to 'disable' the muscle that's hurting.

How do you get on with the inexpensive, pure paracetamol tablets? The maximum pain relief you would be able to get from paracetamol would be the maximum safe dosage you could take of pure paracetamol tabs, IYSWIM.

If you find you can take the maximum dosage of plain paracetamol and it isn't enough to help you, you will know that paracetamol based pain relief isn't going to be enough so you probably need something else and should consider going to see your GP.

Since you said that you take other medication which could be interfered with and are concerned about side effects, it is probably worth talking to your GP anyway before trying out recommendations from mumsnetters!