Mefenamic acid for Period Pain User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "About 16 years ago, I began having severe vomiting and some abdominal pain with my period. My symptoms were debilitating monthly for 3-5 days and greatly limited my daily activities. I tried over-the-counter remedies such as Advil, Tylenol, Naproxen, and Pamprin, none of which did anything to alleviate my symptoms. Then I tried Ponstel. My mother had been taking Ponstel for years for the same problems, so we thought it was worth a try. What a difference it made! It took the edge off the pain and totally relieved the vomiting. To be the most effective, it does have to be taken at the onset or just before the onset of symptoms. The only downside to it is that insurance companies don't want to cover it, and it isn't cheap."

• Jur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2017

"My pain usually starts 3-4 days before my period actually comes. Tylenol #3 is the only thing that still helps me function normally during this time of the month. The doctor gave me mefenamic acid to try this time. After taking this, my pain is not only in my lower back but also pain and intense cramping in my uterus... this stuff doesn't help my issues at all, if anything, it made it worse!"

• Ete...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2020

"I have always had awful periods and anxiety with knowing that if I am working when my period is due, I will physically be unable to move, so pain relief was something I really needed as I can’t miss work a couple of days every month. I was on the pill previously, which had numbed the pain slightly but was still awful. I took Feminax Express as well as being on the pill, and this helped but not so much with pains in my legs and took a long time. I asked my doctor if there was any way I could have pain relief without the pill as I was gaining a lot of weight and not really feeling any better. I got suggested this, and I take it one day before my period is due and on the day with some sort of food. It has really reduced blood flow drastically and has left me with literally no pain! I feel very dizzy on these tablets, and my legs feel like jelly, but with no pain I can deal with this! I would recommend these greatly."

• Unk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2020

"I have never taken tablets that give me such bad side effects. When I take these, I have to stay absolutely still for a good hour, otherwise, if I do move and they’re kicking in, I get severe lower back and stomach pain. To the point where I’m shaking and have to get on my hands and knees. And the slowing of the blood loss was very, very delayed and slow. Still bleeding a week after I started taking them."

• pmc...
• March 23, 2009

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "I've been suffering from severe dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) since I was 14 years old. Every month I experienced nauseating pain from uterine contractions. Over-the-counter medications never helped me. I used Buscopan for 10 years, and it completely stopped working for me. My physician recommended Ponstel (Mefenamic Acid), and ever since I've been walking on clouds. It works wonders and completely relieves my pain within 30 minutes. It works all day, so I only have to take one pill in the morning. This medication saved me."

• Jad...
• December 11, 2019

"I've been experiencing extreme pain from my back, stomach, and legs ever since I got my first period at age 11 (I am now 24). I took two mefenamic tablets for the first time today and have not experienced any relief at all. What was extremely unusual is the anger and rage that I've experienced all afternoon after taking these tablets. I have never felt or experienced this before, and it's completely out of character for me to feel this way. I know for certain it was the effects from these tablets, after reading some of the side effects that you can experience, nervousness and depression being some of them. I would highly recommend not taking them."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2010

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "My doctor prescribed me Ponstel recently. I suffer from endometriosis and am in pain 3 weeks a month. I took the first pill, fell asleep shortly afterwards. When I woke up, I had horrible pains shooting through my stomach. I was told to stop taking it and got prescribed good old Vicodin. I realize I'm in a small percentage of people who have had problems with this medicine, but since the other reviews have been good, I wanted to let people know that it does have side effects."

• Kat...
• September 6, 2019

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "I used Ponstan for a while. Once I stopped because it just stopped working after about 2 weeks, I gave up. Well, I then started to get cramps from eating gluten products, so Ponstan brought up an allergy, and since then, almost 2 years ago, I've had to eat gluten-free, cardboard-like food. I was fine before this tablet."

• Mit...
• October 19, 2015

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "I have been suffering from endometriosis since I was 12. Unbelievable pain, heavy bleeding, vomiting, the works. Most of the time, I could barely walk during my menstrual cycle. My old OB doc recommended this medicine when I was 18, and she gave me a sample. It relieved my cramping so much and helped with my other symptoms. The only downside to this medication is that it is very expensive, and most insurance companies only approve the generic, which I cannot take."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

"The first day of my period, I would get severe cramps. I would vomit and also not be able to eat a single thing. I would just sit in my bed in severe, severe pain. I felt like I was being stabbed over and over again. I would also get diarrhea. Then my GP recommended this medication, and the only thing it helped with was my nausea. But the problem was I didn't care about that, I just cared about my period cramps not hurting as much. To be honest, this pill made my period cramps even worse. I don't know how that was possible. I felt like I was in labor and being stabbed at the same time."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2018

"I wish I’d been offered this much earlier. Over the last 2 to 3 years, my periods had been getting gradually heavier. Rather than the awful migraine I used to have, the worst pain started to come from my stomach as I hit my mid-30s. I went to see a doctor, and she prescribed these. She advised me to take them as soon as I felt my period coming. I think this plays a major part in the effectiveness. Obviously, everyone is different, but for me, they work a treat. The stomach pain is still there but nowhere near as bad. I paid the standard one-off prescription charge here in the UK for over a year's worth."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2018

"I have PCOS, causing severe period pain, vomiting, and fever that can last days and cause me to miss work. Trying Ponstan for the first time today, so far, it’s working. I’m tired and can still feel the pain, but it’s an acceptable dulled level where I can lay still comfortably, and so far, no vomiting. This is a massive improvement for me. My doctor emphasized that I must take Ponstan as soon as I start bleeding for it to work, and I did, and so far, so good."

• Anonymous
• May 27, 2009

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "I found it to be very effective in the first 6 months of use. My period pain would start to subside within the first 15 minutes after taking it, and it lasted for about 12 hours. Now it takes at least 1.50 hours for the pain to even start to subside, and it only lasts for about 6 hours. It makes me so tired to the point where I have to take a nap, and when I get up from my nap, I feel extremely tired and 'out of sorts.' This feeling usually lasts the rest of the day, no matter if I take a nap at 11:00 AM or 4:00 PM. So I only take Ponstel now when it is absolutely necessary."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2010

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "Works very fast (10-15 minutes) and helped where others didn't, without the loopy feeling of Vicodin. I only need a few pills a month for those first couple of days when it's bad, so I just had the doctor write what I needed and pick up at the pharmacy, paying cash price. I used to miss work a lot, but now it doesn't even bother me. Love it."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2011

"I usually get awful menstrual cramps - to the point where I almost pass out, cannot focus on anything else, and am unable to do anything for the first 2 days of my period. I have recently been put on the pill Microgynon 30, along with mefenamic acid, and so far have had very little pain at all. I have been able to carry on as normal without stopping every few hours doubled up in pain. This is especially good news as I have exams coming up this summer. So I would definitely recommend mefenamic acid as my period pains have almost completely stopped. It's heaven. However, I have noticed no difference in the heaviness of my period, unfortunately."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2019

"I was recommended this medicine after a night in the hospital because of severe cramps, but when I took this, the cramps stopped. But now I am with severe stomach pain and nausea, I can't eat and already spent two nights in the hospital, and nobody knows how to stop it. Don't recommend it."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2023

"So far, I can only say good things about my experience. No apparent side effects after 3 months' trial, and the medication allows me to keep living my everyday life without excruciating period pains (diarrhea, throwing up, cramping). I am really grateful to have found the medication and will keep on using it. I take 250 mg when I first feel the cramping start every 6 hours, then increase to 500 mg once the bleeding kicks in, every 6 hours to avoid intense cramps coming through. I am usually okay to stop using it after 4 days. Some slight cramping and discomfort might remain, but nothing compared to what it used to be."

• Fri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2022

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "Ponstell has been a life changer for me. I’ve been experiencing very intense periods for a long time, and nothing has helped. I couldn’t believe the difference when I first took Ponstel. My doctor said to make sure I took two capsules immediately at the start of my period and not to forget to take another one six hours later. I remember thinking it wasn’t working, and realized it had been 10 hours! I tell all my friends about this medication, suggest you’re diligent about taking it. It also reduces my blood flow, headaches, and stomach issues I get with my period. I love it!"

• win...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 24, 2013

"I always have pain during my period, and sometimes it pains really bad! So I took mefenamic tablets as my doctor prescribed, and it really worked on me. It hardly took 10-15 minutes to ease the pain, but I always felt dizzy after taking 1 tablet! I sometimes took 1/2 tablet during lesser pain, which still worked out for me!"

• Pon...
• June 16, 2018

"This medication is very risky to take. Just research the side effects. Even if you have never had high blood pressure, it can cause this to occur. The risk of stroke or heart attack is increased by taking mefenamic acid. I was recommended this medication by my GP for heavy periods. I took this medication as directed - with food, three times a day for two days, and I can honestly say that it was the worst thing for me. Not only did it not work, it elevated my blood pressure and caused dizziness and terrible headaches. I am an ultra-fit person, so feeling this way was highly unusual. Everyone's physical makeup is different, so it's important to listen to your body. However, I would certainly think twice before taking this medication. Ponstan was bad for my body and not worth the risk. I refuse to even rate it."

• Nao...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2022

"I've had painful cramps and heavy bleeding since my first period, and I often haven't been able to get out of bed because of it. The doctors prescribed me mefenamic acid, and it's saved my life. I have so many fewer cramps, and my flow's a lot less heavy! The only problem is that they make me feel very nauseous, but other than that, they work great for me :)"

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2022

"Well, holy cow. I think this stuff works. I've always had very painful cramps. Birth control helped massively, but after my tubal, I didn't want to be taking the pill anymore, so I just dealt with it. I tried NSAIDs, opiates, herbal remedies, etc., and nothing even took the edge off. The only thing that helped was pre-gaming Advil for several days, but that meant taking (and remembering to take) 6-8 Advils a day for several days. Recently, my GP advised I try mefenamic acid. I did not expect much. I tried it two months in a row and had minimal cramps. This latest time, as an experiment, I waited for the big cramp to start before taking a pill. Within 45 minutes, the cramps were gone. Having a pill that not only prevents cramps but stops them once they've begun feels like a miracle."

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

"With my periods, I have gotten severe pain in my back and stomach, I throw up every time, headaches, you name it. I’ve tried Feminax, ibuprofen, codeine, and now mefenamic acid. I just started the mini pill, hoping that it would be enough to stop the severe pain, but because I just started it a week ago, it has only delayed it. I’m sure that the mini pill will kick into high gear within the next two cycles, but while I wait, I was given mefenamic acid. I tried it for only a day, it did nothing. It might as well have been taking a sugar pill. For me, it doesn’t work, maybe for you, it will, but I’m mad because I still had to go through all that pain and vomiting for no relief."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2022

"Guys, I thought I was the only one. I’ve been taking mefenamic acid for like the past three periods, and it doesn’t work at all for me. I end up on the floor, crying my eyes out, about to throw up. I’ve been thinking, why would my doctors prescribe this to me?! Mind you, I had to pay for this prescription in full, and it wasn’t cheap. I guess I’ll try it a week before because I see a lot on here about how you should take it before so it can build up. So this is a warning for anyone out there thinking about using this medication, make sure to do the research first."

• Kat...
• November 1, 2017

Ponstel (mefenamic acid) "This did not work at all. Not only did it not touch my severe menstrual cramps, but I experienced side effects from the drug - muscle weakness in my legs. My OB-GYN and I tried everything. Now, I take meloxicam every 24 hrs for the first 1-3 days of the period and take 2.5 mg - 5 mg hydrocodone acetaminophen on days 2 and 3 for breakthrough pain. It works very well."