Mefenamic acid Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 12, 2023.

Applies to mefenamic acid: oral capsule.

Serious side effects of Mefenamic acid

Along with its needed effects, mefenamic acid may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking mefenamic acid:

More common

• Bloody urine
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• decreased frequency or amount of urine
• heartburn
• increased bleeding time
• increased blood pressure
• increased thirst
• indigestion
• itching, skin rash
• loss of appetite
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• pale skin
• severe stomach pain, cramping, or burning
• stomach bloating
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• trouble breathing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds, severe and continuing
• weight gain
• weight loss

Less common

• Bleeding gums
• blood in vomit
• blurred vision
• burning feeling in the chest or stomach
• chest pain or tightness
• clay-colored stools
• cloudy urine
• confusion
• constipation
• cough or hoarseness
• dark urine
• difficult or labored breathing
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• difficulty in swallowing
• dilated neck veins
• dizziness
• fainting
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fever or chills
• frequent urge to urinate
• headache
• increased volume of pale, dilute urine
• irregular, rapid, or slow breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
• light-colored stools
• lightheadedness
• nervousness
• noisy breathing
• pain or burning feeling in the throat
• pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
• pounding in the ears
• redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
• severe or continuing stomach pain
• slow heartbeat
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
• stomach upset
• swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• swollen glands
• tenderness in the stomach area
• tremors
• unpleasant breath odor
• upper right stomach pain
• yellow eyes and skin

Rare

• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• change in consciousness
• chest discomfort
• continuing vomiting
• cracks in the skin
• diarrhea
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when suddenly getting up from a lying or sitting position
• drowsiness
• fever with or without chills
• flushed, dry skin
• fruit-like breath odor
• general body swelling
• general feeling of illness
• high fever
• hives
• increased hunger
• joint or muscle pain
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• leg pain
• loss of consciousness
• loss of heat from the body
• no blood pressure
• no breathing
• no pulse
• nosebleeds
• painful glands
• pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• racing heartbeat or pulse
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• red, swollen skin
• redness or soreness of the skin
• scaly skin
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• severe headache
• sneezing
• sores, welting, or blisters
• stiff neck or back
• sweating
• swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
• unexplained weight loss

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking mefenamic acid:

Symptoms of overdose

• Unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Other side effects of Mefenamic acid

Some side effects of mefenamic acid may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• feeling of fullness
• hearing loss
• passing gas
• stomach discomfort

Less common

• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• discouragement
• dry mouth
• fear
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• feeling sad or empty
• hair loss, thinning of the hair
• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• lack of interest or pleasure
• lack or loss of strength
• redness or other discoloration of the skin
• sensation of spinning
• severe sunburn
• sleepiness
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping

Rare

• Appetite changes
• burning, dry, or itching eyes
• change in hearing
• discharge, excessive tearing
• redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to mefenamic acid: oral capsule.

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, heartburn, nausea, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, vomiting

Rare (less than 0.1%): Eructation, pancreatitis

Frequency not reported: Peptic ulcer, dry mouth, esophagitis, gastritis, GI bleeding, glossitis, hematemesis, melena, rectal bleeding, stomatitis, anorexia, colitis, enterocolitis, pyrosis, steatorrhea, GI inflammation, ulcerative stomatitis, exacerbation of Crohn's disease, gastritis^[Ref]

General

The most frequently reported side effects were gastrointestinal (GI) in nature and included abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and gastric or duodenal ulcers.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypotension, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, palpitations, vasculitis

Frequency not reported: Congestive heart failure, tachycardia, hypertension, cardiac failure, arterial thrombotic events^[Ref]

Hematologic

Cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia have been reported with continuous use of this drug for 12 months or longer. In such cases, the Coombs tests were positive for both accelerated RBC production and destruction. The process was reversible upon discontinuation of therapy.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Anemia, bleeding time increased

Rare (less than 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia

Frequency not reported: Eosinophilia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, hematocrit decreased, thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, neutropenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, eosinophilia, platelet aggregation inhibition^[Ref]

Metabolic

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hyperglycemia

Frequency not reported: Hyponatremia, glucose intolerance, anorexia^[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, drowsiness

Rare (less than 0.1%): Convulsions, coma

Frequency not reported: Syncope, paresthesia, somnolence, tremors, optic neuritis^[Ref]

Respiratory

Rare (less than 0.1%): Respiratory distress, pneumonia

Frequency not reported: Asthma, dyspnea, bronchospasm, aggravated asthma, laryngeal edema^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash, pruritus

Rare (less than 0.1%): Angioedema, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, urticaria

Frequency not reported: Ecchymosis, purpura, alopecia, photosensitivity, sweating^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Elevated liver enzymes

Rare (less than 0.1%): Liver failure

Frequency not reported: Hepatitis, jaundice, cholestatic jaundice, hepatorenal syndrome, mild hepatic toxicity^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (less than 0.1%): Conjunctivitis

Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, eye irritation, reversible loss of color vision, visual disturbances^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, oliguria, polyuria, proteinuria, false positive urobilinogen urine^[Ref]

Renal

Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal renal function

Frequency not reported: Interstitial nephritis, renal failure, allergic/non-allergic glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, non-oliguric renal failure, renal papillary necrosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hallucinations

Frequency not reported: Anxiety, confusion, depression, dream abnormalities, insomnia, nervousness^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Rare (less than 0.1%): Anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reaction

Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reaction, non-specific allergic reaction^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Edema, tinnitus

Rare (less than 0.1%): Death, meningitis, appetite changes, hearing impairment

Frequency not reported: Fever, infection, sepsis, weight changes, asthenia, malaise, vertigo, aseptic meningitis, ear pain, face edema, fatigue, malaise, multi-organ failure, pyrexia, fluid retention, edema of the larynx^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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