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.

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.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Mefenamic Acid:

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.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

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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 to 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, pruritus, 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

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Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

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.

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