Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking mefenamic acid, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to mefenamic acid, aspirin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin and naproxen Aleve, Naprosyn , any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in mefenamic acid capsules.
Ask your pharmacist for a list of the inactive ingredients. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
Mefenamic acid may harm the fetus and cause problems with delivery if it is taken around 20 weeks or later during pregnancy. Do not take mefenamic acid around or after 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless you are told to do so by your doctor. If you become pregnant while taking mefenamic acid, call your doctor. Do not take this medication for a longer period of time or at a higher dose than recommended by your doctor.
A case report has suggested that taking rifampicin with paracetamol may increase the risk of liver damage. You should always consult your GP before taking paracetamol with these antibiotics. Children should never be given paracetamol while being treated with isoniazid unless it has been agreed with a doctor.
Children under the age of 16 shouldn't take aspirin. Page last reviewed: 27 April Next review due: 27 April Your doctor may decide that you should not take this medicine again. This is to minimise the chances of any side effects. This type of side effect is more likely to occur in elderly people and in people taking high doses of the medicine.
The risk can also be increased by taking certain other medicines. It is important that these people, as well as people who have a history of problems affecting the stomach or intestines, are closely monitored by a doctor while taking this medicine. If your doctor thinks you are at high risk of side effects on the gut you may be prescribed an additional medicine to help protect your gut, such as lansoprazole or omeprazole.
If you have risk factors for heart disease or stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking, your doctor will need to assess the overall benefits and risks before deciding if this medicine is suitable for you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further information. For this reason, you should stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor if you get a skin rash or sores inside your mouth while taking this medicine.
This side effect is very rare, but if it occurs, is most likely to happen in the first month of treatment. This may make you mistakenly think that an infection is getting better when it isn't, or that an infection is less serious than it is. For this reason you should tell your doctor if you get an infection while you are taking this medicine. However, this may vary - follow the instructions given by your doctor regarding how much to take.
Try to space your doses evenly. In this case just leave out the forgotten dose and take the next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. For example, if you have been prescribed it to help with your periods you may just need to take it during your periods. If you are taking it for arthritis you may need to take it regularly all the time to keep your pain under control.
If you are unsure about anything you should ask your pharmacist for advice. This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. This is particularly important in the third trimester.
Read more about risks of using mefenamic acid during pregnancy here. Mefenamic acid may pass into breast milk in small amounts. The manufacturer states that Ponstan should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Get advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Medicines and possible side-effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side-effects which may be associated with this medicine. Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following side effects occur:. Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication. Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health.
These factors may affect how you should take this medication. Before you take mefenamic acid, inform your doctor about any previous adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially NSAIDs.
Contact your doctor at once if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face and throat. Anemia: This medication may cause anemia low red blood cells. If you take this medication for a long period of time, your doctor will periodically monitor your red blood cell levels. If you experience symptoms of anemia e. Asthma: People with asthma are at increased risk of severe and even fatal allergic reactions anaphylaxis when taking this medication.
People with asthma or other breathing disorders should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Bleeding disorders: Mefenamic acid may increase bruising and bleeding from cuts may take longer to stop. People with bleeding disorders, a history of bleeding problems, or those who are taking medications to prevent clotting, should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Blood pressure: Mefenamic acid may cause an increase in blood pressure, even when there have been no blood pressure problems in the past. People with high blood pressure should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Report any ongoing increase in blood pressure to your doctor as soon as possible. Diarrhea: If diarrhea occurs, the dosage should be reduced or the medication stopped temporarily.
Certain people who develop diarrhea may be unable to tolerate the medication in the future as well. Fluid retention: Mefenamic acid can cause fluid retention and may result in swelling or puffiness. In severe cases, this can make symptoms of congestive heart failure worse. People with congestive heart failure should discuss with their doctor how this medication may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Report any fluid retention, swelling or puffiness in the legs, feet or hands, or any difficulty breathing, to your doctor as soon as possible.
Heart problems: Mefenamic acid, like other NSAIDs, may increase the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack, stroke, or blood clots.
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