Mefenamic acid 500mg dosage

The recommended dose is ONE tablet taken THREE times daily with or after food during your period.

Mefenamic acid ingredients

The active ingredient in each tablet is: Mefenamic acid 500mg.

The inactive ingredients are:

Lactose Monohydrate, Pregelatinized Starch, Croscarmellose Sodium, Povidone, Microcrystalline cellulose, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate

Coating Material (Opadry Yellow): Hypromellose, Lactose Monohydrate, Titanium Dioxide (E171) Macrogol, Iron Oxide Yellow (E172) Talc, Iron Oxide Red (E172)

Mefenamic acid side effects

The most frequently reported side effects associated with mefenamic acid involve the gastrointestinal tract.

• Stomach pain
  
• Feeling sick
  
• Bowel problems, like constipation or diarrhoea
  

• Feeling dizzy and/or sleepy
  
• A ringing sound in your ears (tinnitus)
  
• Headache
  
• Heartburn

In rare circumstances, Mefenamic acid can cause more serious side effects. In this instance, you must seek immediate medical advice. These side effects include:

• Signs of intestinal bleeding - vomiting blood or dark particles resembling coffee grounds, black tarry stools, blood in stools.
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction - asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of facial features, rashes, rapid heart rate, collapse.
• Stomach ulcer or perforation
  
• Worsening of bowel problems, e.g. ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Kidney problems, showing symptoms of cloudy urine, more or less urine than usual, blood in urine, pain in the back and/or swelling, very rarely kidney failure
• Liver problems showing symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), pale coloured stools, dark urine
• Blood disorders, showing symptoms such as unexplained/unusual bruising or bleeding, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever, extreme paleness, weakness, exhaustion
• High blood pressure, heart failure, swelling due to fluid build-up, stroke

Mefenamic acid warnings

Before taking Mefenamic acid please take the time to read all the information included in the Patient Information Leaflet, which can be located in each box.

Do not take mefenamic acidif any of the following apply to you:

• You have (or have had 2 or more episodes of) a stomach ulcer, perforation or bleeding of the stomach
• You are allergic to NSAIDs, to any of the ingredients or to aspirin or other painkillers
• You have severe kidney, heart or liver failure
• You are taking aspirin with a daily dose above 75 mg
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking mefenamic acid if any of the following apply to you:

• You have liver or kidney problems
  
• You have stomach or bowel disorders including Crohn’s disease or a condition known as ulcerative colitis
• You have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• You have previously had or are at risk of heart problems, high blood pressure or stroke.

Mefenamic acid and other medicines

You should not take mefenamic acid if you are taking any of the following medicines. If you are unsure if Mefenamic acid is the right medication for you speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Anti-coagulants - aspirin/acetylsalicylic acid, warfarin, ticlopidine
• Medicines that reduce high blood pressure - captopril, atenolol, losartan.
• You are taking two or more NSAID painkillers, including cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors
• Antidepressants called selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - fluoxetine
• Corticosteroids
• Methotrexate
• Cardiac glycosides - digoxin
• Ciclosporin and tacrolimus
• Mifepristone (NSAIDs should not be used for 12 days after mifepristone)
• Lithium
• Zidovudine
• Quinolone antibiotics - ciprofloxacin