Mefenamic acid and Cramps: What Users Say

• Mir...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 14, 2021

For Period Pain "I have taken Ponstan since my teens, as I suffer from severe period pain, to the point of collapse at times. Ponstan has been a savior to me, but you have to know how to make it work. I know beforehand when it is going to be an excruciating period, as I get cramps days prior. The remedy for me is to start taking a once-a-day dose of 500 mg on those days leading up to my period and then multiple daily doses when the actual painful period is happening. You must take Ponstan at the first sign of pain, or like me today, if you hold off and take it later when the pain and cramping increases, I find that the cramping will escalate and the Ponstan will take longer to work. My current pain level is a 10 because I ignored my own advice and held off - my bad! Please give Ponstan a go and play around with it, so you too can find what works for you, as Ponstan is brilliant and it does work!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 8, 2012

Mefenamic acid for Period Pain "As a 17-year-old, I have taken these pills sparingly during the beginning of my most painful cycles. Depending on the severity of the pain, the medicine can take from 15 minutes to an hour to take effect (the longer time for the more painful cycles). Also, severe cramps may still be felt when the medicine is in full swing, although it feels like a minor cramp."

• Mee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2016

For Period Pain "I was prescribed this a year ago for endometriosis. It was for pain and heavy flow. For pain, I found them ineffective, and just as the comment below me says, I found myself getting far more cramping. So it seems to make the pain worse for me. However, I still take this on really bad months. It has helped the heaviness. I was originally prescribed that when I had a period going for over 2 months, and when I took it for less than a week, my period stopped. So if I ever get periods that refuse to go away, I resort back to this. It seems to have mixed reviews. I have also tried Naproxen, this works better for pain but does nothing for the heaviness. But really helps with cramping."

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

For Period Pain "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!"

• Mit...
• October 19, 2015

Mefenamic acid for Period Pain "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

For Period Pain "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."

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

For Period Pain "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."

• Lal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2021

For Period Pain "After my second dose, I went to bed. I got up after a couple of hours as I couldn’t sleep through the cramps. All of a sudden, I had the worst pain I have ever experienced through my whole abdomen. I was on the floor about to black out or vomit from the pain, debating on calling an ambulance. The pain went away after several minutes, thankfully, but I have never been in such agony. I won’t be taking this again."