Mefenamic Acid

[Rube2]

Hi all. I was wondering about others' experiences with mefenamic acid. I've heard/read some things about there being a limit to how much you can take it, or it becoming less effective over time. I've also heard something about it potentially *causing* pain, if you take it for too long???

I'm planning to do some more research/googling of this myself, but I was also wondering if anyone here could chat about that.

So far mefenamic acid has been one of my main ways of dealing with the pain, and mostly works pretty well, though I think it's hard to judge how consistently it helps when I also have a bit of fluctuation in how bad my symptoms are...

[Christin_a]

Hello

I take mefanemic acid too. Long term it has the possibility to cause issues with your stomach as it is a nsaid, so like ibuprofen and other drugs in this category it can cause stomach ulcers, especially with long term usage. Which then means you have to stop taking all nsaid as it can be dangerous. Ways of trying to prevent this is always eating with the tablets, you can also get stomach protector tablets which help to stop ulcers forming.

[XxanonymousXx]

Hello. I've been prescribed mefenamic acid one more than 1 occasion. The first time I was prescribed it, it worked for about a year and then the pain gradually got worse. The second time I was prescribed it I had an allergic reaction to it, I'm not sure if they'd changed any of the ingredients but as said I did have a bad reaction to it. Mefenamic acid in my situation only offered a temporary solution x

[Ginge32]

Hi!

I was first put on on at 14 when my periods started and were troublesome and again recently, when it became apparent I likely had endo.

On both occasions I’ve been put on them with a view to it being a long term solution.

I didn’t stay on it long in my teens because I went in the pill which dramatically reduced my symptoms.

As I have no kids and want to start a family, contraceptive hormones is no longer an option. My doctor has had no issue in given me prescription after prescription for approx 3-4 months now.

I take them on an As and when I really need to basis rather than religiously three times a day. Never been told of the side effects before though ....

[JJS09]

Hi I was given mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid together I was also told to take paracetamol along side this. I did think from the ages of 11-21 but I think I had that many medications I couldn’t tell what was helping and what wasn’t. I did have to stop the mefenamic acid after several years as I was starting to get a bad reaction to them. The consultant I saw a few weeks ago wanted to put me back onto both tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid which I declined as they just made me feel very lethargic and tbh it was numbing the pain (which is good) but if I hadn’t have been taking them for so long maybe I would have noticed my symptoms getting worse.

I wouldn’t recommend for long term use but then again everyone reacts differently to medication

[Rube2]

Hmm, okay. These days I take a combination of drugs continuously to avoid having periods, so I tend to only need mefenamic acid for occasional flare-ups and post-laparoscopy pain... that sounds like I might not be using them heavily enough to be at great risk of stomach ulcers, but good to know the risks. During times when I'm in pain, I tend to take pain medication right before/as I'm eating anyway, since I can get a LOT of pain from the movement of the food. I'll keep up that pattern, then.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

[Panto_rugH]

I took MA for many years for my period pain and they worked really well on the as required basis. I had a break when they gave me the Mirena coil in my first lap ( 4.5 years). Then they took that out at my 2nd lap as it was giving me mood swings and muscle aches. So then the period pain returned and my GP prescribed it again for me; until this year when the GP will no longer prescribe told me to take ibuprofen as it does the same thing! I told my gynae consultant who tried to prescribe it me through the hospital and they didn’t have it either. Ultimately if I want it I have t buy OTC £36 for 8 tablets!! When I used to get enough to last me on

Prescription for a year for the price of a prescription!!! I have been using ibuprofen as I am Perimeno now with lighter shorter and less frequent periods. I am not aware of any long term issues with taking this medication- if it works for you I Would continue xx