Mefenamic Acid Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 20, 2024.

Applies to mefenamic acid: oral capsule.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (capsule)

NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal.

This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use.

Mefenamic acid is contraindicated in the setting of CABG surgery.

NSAIDs can also cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms.

Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.

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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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.

General adverse events

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]

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]

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

• 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]

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]

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

Mefenamic acid side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer