Period pain: The dos and don’ts of taking pain killers for menstrual cramps

Cramping and pain is fairly common around the time of menstruation. More than half the menstruators experience period pain for about one to two days during their cycle.

These cramps usually happen at the beginning of your cycle. Explaining the cause of these cramps, Dr Jagriti Varshney, gynaecologist and obstetrician said, “During menstruation, the thickened endometrium–the lining of the uterus sheds away. This is caused by certain hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which also play a role in uterine contractions, pain and inflammation,” adding that these symptoms cause menstrual cramps.

She added that a normal level of pain is common and happens in each menstruating woman, however if the severity of the symptoms is more, it might be due to high-level of prostaglandins, leading to certain pathologies such as fibroids, endometriosis or ovarian cyst.

Here are the dos and don’ts when it comes to using pain killers for period pain, as per Dr Varshney

It is usually safe to take pain killers for cramps, but if the symptoms do not let you do daily activities, you must contact your gynaecologist. However, for mild to moderate pain, you can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen. NSAIDs help block the production of prostaglandins, responsible for menstrual cramps. But there is a particular dosage that should be taken. The ideal dosage for ibuprofen is 200 mg, while that of mefenamic acid is 250 mg. Only one to two tablets can be consumed within a period of eight hours.

Moreover, experts advise that these NSAIDs should only be consumed after a full meal because they can lead to gastrointestinal issues.

If more than the prescribed amount is consumed, it can cause several side-effects. Excessive use can lead to increased nausea and vomiting as these symptoms already exist for women suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

It can also cause constipation, heartburn, high blood pressure and stomach pain. The lesser-known risks associated with excessive usage of NSAIDs are stomach ulcers or bleeding, kidney and heart problems.