Anyone up? Naproxen

[Ilovewheelychairs]

Hi,

I've posted before about my v painful periods. Got t see a doctor and she told me to buy Feminax Ultra (naproxen) over the counter. Have started my period today so true to form, am in a lot of pain. Took the instructed two tablets earlier, and they did take a good 70% of the pain away.

However, I am now confused with the dosage. The box clearly states you cannot take more than '3 tablets a day'. Is this 'day' a 24 hour period??
It is 1.30am and the pain has woken me up (bang on 6 hours from taking the first 2 tablets ). I want to take a further tablet to help me sleep, but would that mean I've used up my '3 tablets a day' and can't take any more until tomorrow evening??

Will obviously try and ring a Doctor in the morning, but any advice would be appreciated! Am concerned about overdosing and causing stomach issues, but it looks like the pharmacies only allow you to be in pain during the daylight hours?! Help please!!

Hello @Ilovewheelychairs , it usually means within a 24 hour period .

Ps you can layer the naproxen with paracetamol, so you could take 1 tab of naproxen with 2 paracetamol and still be within your limit.

Thanks for reply. Yes have taken paracetamol too. Unfortunately that means I can't take any more naproxen during tomorrow when I'll be in pain and am supposed to be at work. Just been sick so I guess it's another day off work and an emergency GP appointment (if I can get one!) tomorrow morning. Thanks so much for replying!

This is the instrucrions for dosage
painful periods is 500mg at first, then 250mg every 6 to 8 hours as required
So you are advised to take twice the dose to start and then just continue with one every 6-8 hourly, must be with food to protect your stomach

So yes overnight you would take one more tablet, and then not another for 8 hours and continue every 6-8 hourly, but only one tablet, which keeps you within the 3 every 24 hrs

You have my sympathy op. I had period pain like this before having DC. Used to vomit, shake and have diarrhoea. Just climbed the walls with it. People didn’t understand. The pain was equivalent to the latter stages of labour. Have you considered using a TENS machine? I used to take paracetamol and ibuprofen and still be in pain. It improved massively after I had my first DC.

Eccru Same here, but first pregnancy sorted it pretty much!
I haven't heard anyone else say it upset their bowels too.
Did you have an aggressive labour? I just wondered if they're linked in any way

They need to do something more for you than recommending Feminax! You can't live with this every month. Really feel for you.

Yes 40 our labour and c section after not getting past 8cm. But as I said, very little period pain after birth. I think it’s because the cervix dilates slightly during period and that causes a lot of the pain for some people. Once the cervix has stretched a lot further during labour any future periods are often less painful. The diarrhoea during start of period I think was down to body’s reaction to pain. Same with vomiting. I vomited all through labour too. Needed a drip as went ketonic. Fun times.
OP I don’t know whether you are ttc and ignore this is you are, but I’m on pop (progesterone only pill) and as a result get no periods at all. It’s brill! Might this be an option for you?

OP I suffer with back pain and am prescribed 500mg morning and evening. If I take that dose for more than 24 hrs I do need omeprazole for my tummy though.

With the naproxen I have also taken 30/500 codeine and paracetamol 4x in 24 hours. You can buy 8/500 OTC.

Hi OP I was prescribed naproxen after 18 years of climbing the walls with period pains the previous poster is right about layering with paracetamol and codeine, this works for me and nothing else does; obviously speak to your doctor though.

Ironically I'm up with unexpected period pains and can't find my naproxen as we've just moved house!!!

Keep taking it! A GP can prescribe more than OTC and likely would in your situation. Get in ASAP but do not allow yourself to get back in pain!

Thanks all for advice. Will be taking today off work and getting at least a phone call from a GP today!

To answer some points; I can't take codeine as it gives me stomach cramps and makes me projectile vomit. Otherwise I'd get on the co-codamol!

TENS machine sounds like a good idea so will look into that today as well.

I took two Naproxen at 6.30pm last night. If I'd taken one tablet again at 1.30am I'd have a) had to take it without food and the first two had already made my stomach hurt and b) wouldn't have been able to take any more until 6.30pm today! Am hoping GP will prescribe more plus Omeprazole or something.

We are trying for a baby so going back on the pill (which was my lifesaver!!) isn't an option at the mo! I think I'm going to ask for them to investigate me for endometriosis though; the GP I saw previously said because my periods are regular and not unreasonably heavy that it couldn't be? But surely this level of pain isn't okay?

Yes that's right. 8 hourly, and drink milk or something. You don't have to eat a massive meal! Maybe a couple of spoons of yoghurt or similar. Something in your stomach.

Well exciting times then! And an end to periods for a while to look forward to.

Good luck OP

Thanks Shriek!

We've been trying for 8 months though without a whisper of a BFP. Another reason why I'd like to be properly investigated for endo as I know it can cause infertility!

I had a lot of pain. On serious, not otc pain relief. No endometriosis.

OP: investigate me for endometriosis though; the GP I saw previously said because my periods are regular and not unreasonably heavy that it couldn't be?

This is categorically not true. Mine are not heavy but I have severe endometriosis. I have been trying to get diagnosis for 8 years. Had two scans too (vaginal ultrasound too) which came back all clear. I took a list of exactly what was paining me as well as I track my periods and pain on the Clue app too which I referred to when I was talking. Took that all to GP, who referred me to a specialist endometriosis consultant. They found nothing in scan but decided to do surgery (laproscopy), they found very bad and alot of endometriosis. My pain had been ignored for 8 years and finally I could understand why. The surgery was recent so I'm not sure what next steps are but will know soon and so glad to finally know why ive been in so much pain. Seriously it is not normal to be on so much pain and be having to take such strong painkillers. (If you were on the pill before it may surpressed some of the symptoms if you had endo).

I also have very regular periods. In fact it's a bit creepy how accurately the Clue app predicts mine. Get hold of the Clue app, it's really easy to use and you can add your own additional tags to describe pain too in your own words

Maybe I had endo then!

Shriek, pain doesn't always signal endo I don't think. But severe pain is one of the symptoms (symptoms are varied and some people have none at all). I may well not have endo, but I would like it investigated, particularly as it can have an impact on fertility. And either way, I'd like some proper pain relief!

@Shriek

What were your symptoms? Did you ever have pain or bloating outside your period? Any pain when weeing or pooing? Any pain ever after or during sex? (These are not all indicative - just to get you thinking).

Thanks. Good luck with investigations and if it is, at least you can get some hormkne therapy to sort so you can go on to your family plan, but if you get preggers, it will die back anyway