Mefenamic acid Side Effects

Brand Names: Ponstel

Please note - some side effects for Mefenamic acid may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Mefenamic acid - for the Consumer

Mefenamic Acid

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Mefenamic Acid:

Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; heartburn; nausea; stomach upset.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or black, tarry stools; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; severe vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual joint or muscle pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Mefenamic acid Side Effects - for the Professional

Mefenamic Acid

In patients taking Mefenamic Acid or other NSAIDs, the most frequently reported adverse experiences occurring in approximately 1-10% of patients are: Gastrointestinal experiences including - abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, heartburn, nausea, GI ulcers (gastric/duodenal), vomiting, abnormal renal function, anemia, dizziness, edema, elevated liver enzymes, headaches, increased bleeding time, pruritus, rashes, tinnitus Additional adverse experiences reported occasionally and listed here by body system include: Body as a whole - fever, infection, sepsis Cardiovascular system - congestive heart failure, hypertension, tachycardia, syncope Digestive system - dry mouth, esophagitis, gastric/peptic ulcers, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, glossitis, hematemesis, hepatitis, jaundice Hemic and lymphatic system - ecchymosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, melena, purpura, rectal bleeding, stomatitis, thrombocytopenia Metabolic and nutritional - weight changes Nervous system - anxiety, asthenia, confusion, depression, dream abnormalities, drowsiness; insomnia, malaise, nervousness, paresthesia, somnolence, tremors, vertigo Respiratory system - asthma, dyspnea Skin and appendages - alopecia, photosensitivity, pruritis, sweat Special senses - blurred vision Urogenital system - cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, interstitial nephritis, oliguria/polyuria, proteinuria, renal failure Other adverse reactions, which occur rarely are: Body as a whole - anaphylactoid reactions, appetite changes, death Cardiovascular system - arrhythmia, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitations, vasculitis Digestive system - eructation, liver failure, pancreatitis Hemic and lymphatic system - agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, lymph-adenopathy, pancytopenia Metabolic and nutritional - hyperglycemia Nervous system - convulsions, coma, hallucinations, meningitis Respiratory - respiratory depression, pneumonia Skin and appendages - angioedema, toxic epidermal necrosis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, urticaria Special senses - conjunctivitis, hearing impairment

Side Effects by Body System

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, heartburn, nausea, GI ulcers (gastric/duodenal), and vomiting. Dry mouth, esophagitis, gastritis, glossitis, melena, rectal bleeding, and hematemesis have also been reported. Eructation, appetite changes, and pancreatitis have been reported rarely.

General

General side effects have included edema, tinnitus, fever, infection, and sepsis. Hearing loss and death have been reported rarely.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included congestive heart failure, hypertension, tachycardia, and syncope. Arrhythmia, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitations, and vasculitis have also been reported.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included anemia, increased bleeding time, ecchymosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, purpura, and thrombocytopenia. Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, lymphadenopathy, and pancytopenia have been reported rarely.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included weight changes. Hyperglycemia has been reported rarely.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included dizziness, headaches, asthenia, confusion, drowsiness, insomnia, malaise, somnolence, paresthesia, tremors, and vertigo. Convulsions, coma, hallucinations, and meningitis have been reported rarely.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included asthma and dyspnea. Respiratory depression and pneumonia have been reported rarely.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included pruritus, rashes, alopecia, and photosensitivity. Angioedema, toxic epidermal necrosis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and urticaria have been reported rarely.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included elevated liver enzymes, hepatitis, and jaundice. Liver failure has been reported rarely.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included blurred vision. Conjunctivitis has been reported rarely.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, interstitial nephritis, oliguria/polyuria, and proteinuria.

Renal

Renal side effects have included abnormal renal function and renal failure.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included anxiety, depression, dream abnormalities, and nervousness.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have rarely included anaphylaxis.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.