Mefenamic Acid & Paracetamol: Definition, Dosage, & Side Effects

Mefenamic acid and paracetamol help patients with different types of physical pains. It allows them to get relief from pain related to arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menstrual pain.  

However, it is important to know who it is good for and who should avoid this medicine under what conditions. Especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to maintain restrictions and follow your doctor’s prescription for having this medicine. 

In this article, I have listed all the things you need to know regarding the consumption of this medicine. Keep reading to learn more. 

What is Mefenamic Acid & Paracetamol Used for?

These are medicines used to recover your body from different types of pain. It’s effective in several cases, like – inflammation, period pain, migraine headache, heavy bleeding during periods, tooth pain, muscle pain, pain after surgery, joint pain, ear pain, osteoarthritis, fever, flu, and rheumatoid arthritis.  

Mefenamic Acid and paracetamols are a combination of two drugs named paracetamol and Mefenamic acid. Our body has a chemical messenger called the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. It’s responsible for creating another chemical known as prostaglandins.  

But Mefenamic acid & paracetamol can block the effects of cyclo-oxygenase, producing fewer prostaglandins in the process. So, what’s the result? This can help you reduce your pain and make it mild and moderate in your body where you may have gotten any damage or injury.  

Taking Mefenamic acid & Paracetamols

Here’s something you must know about taking Mefenamic acid & paracetamol: you can only take this drug when your doctor recommends it. But whenever you use drugs like this, be aware of the different side effects of the drug. In most cases, people face side effects like nausea, indigestion, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhoea. 

If you are seeing any of these side effects after consuming Mefenamic acid & paracetamol, there’s no need to take additional treatment. These side effects go away on their own. However, when the side effects persist, you should seek medical help and consider discussing them with your doctor.  

It’s also important to consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and must take this for certain types of pain. In addition, avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking mefenamic acid and paracetamol. It has the potential to make you dizzy and increase your risk of stomach bleeding.  

When your doctor prescribes the medicines for your illness, you can also discuss with them about the health condition you are in.  

What Are The Benefits of Mefenamic Acid & Paracetamol?

As discussed, mefenamic acid & paracetamol help relieve you from different types of pain. However, here are three most important benefits you must know of – 

Pain killer: These are the curers of different types of pain. It helps reduce muscle pain, pain after surgery, joint pain, ear pain, pain during bleeding from periods, and fever. 

Helping with Several Health Conditions: these two drugs relieve headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and toothaches. It’s a useful drug for conditions like arthritis.  

Versatile Pain-Relieving Properties: This great pain-relieving drug also helps you recover from post-surgical pain. 

Side Effects of Using Mefenamic Acid

Mefenamic acid is a drug that may not be the best for some types of human bodies. It can have several effects on your body.  

Here are some common side effects that you might experience after consuming Mefenamic acid – 

• Diarrhoea 

• Bloating or gas 

• Constipation 

• Dizziness 

• Nervousness 

• Headache 

Aside from these common reasons, some severe side effects can also happen if you are consuming Mefenamic Acid and Paracetamol. Some of them include – 

• Fever 

• Blisters 

• Rash 

• Hives 

• Itching 

• Nausea 

• Pale skin 

• Back pain 

• Weight gain 

• Blurred vision 

• Fast heartbeat 

• Painful urination 

• Yellow skin or eyes  

• Loss of appetite 

• Difficulty breathing 

• Excessive tiredness 

• Unusual bleeding or bruising 

• Difficulty swallowing or breathing 

• Swollen feet, lower legs and ankles 

Medical Safety and Precautions to Take

With all the side effects in mind, if you are still planning to take mefenamic acid and Paracetamol for pain, you may still have some concerns and questions.  

Whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s important to consider some precautions of taking mefenamic acid and paracetamol. Here are some conditions you must keep in mind — 

Pregnancy  

If you were wondering if you should consume mefenamic and paracetamol during pregnancy, then the answer is no. Whether you are pregnant or planning to conceive, it’s better to consult your doctor before consuming.  

Breastfeeding 

You can take mefenamic acid and paracetamol if you are breastfeeding. But, before you consume this medicine, consult your doctor or ask them if they’ll prescribe it.  

While Driving 

It’s best to avoid having this medicine if you must drive soon after consuming it. Because this medicine can make you feel drowsy if you consume it before driving. Drowsiness while driving can cause accidents.  

Infections Due to Mefenamic Acid + Paracetamol

 You must be aware of several infections if you are consuming paracetamol. Here are some side you must keep in mind – 

• Some medicines have negative effects on the power of mefenamic acid and paracetamol. If you consume them, it can reduce the effectiveness of mefenamic acid and paracetamol. On the other hand, mefenamic acid and paracetamol can also make other medicines you regularly consume less effective.  

• Before you consume mefenamic acid and paracetamol, it’s best to consult with your doctor and share your medical history. If you consume a specific medicine on a regularly, it’s best to share them with your doctor. Tell them about the herbs, supplements, or any other type of medication you consume that can affect mefenamic acid + paracetamol.  

• If you take medicines to treat heart problems, infections, diabetes, nausea, or vomiting then you should discuss with your doctor regarding this medicine. It also applies to other conditions like painkillers, medicines, antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medicines, steroids, etc. 

• When consuming this medicine, it’s best to avoid medicines like Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as Cholestyramine soon after consumption. Try leaving a minimum of 2 hours of gap between consuming this medicine and this.  

• You cannot follow this combination for at least 8 to 12 days if you are also taking another medicine named Mifepristone.  

• Also, another medicine named Digoxin treating heart failure shouldn’t be taken with this combination.  

Dosage of Mefenamic Acid + Paracetamol 

It’s critical to know the dosage of such medicines if you are considering it for any pain.  

The dosage of Mefenamic acid + paracetamol for adults and children under 14 is 500 mg at first. Next, if you must continue the medicine, it’s ok to take 250 mg after 6 hours for a week.  

However, it’s up to your doctor/healthcare provider to decide the right Mefenamic acid and paracetamol dose. 

So, is it safe to consume paracetamol with mefenamic acid? It is safe to take these in a combination. However, it’s best to take codeine or co-codamol when you take paracetamol. Also refrain from consuming mefenamic acid while you are also having pain-reliever or any NSAIDs such as celecoxib, ibuprofen etc. These drugs increase the risk of stomach and intestinal side effects.  

You must know the symptoms of overdose and missing a dose of mefenamic acid paracetamol. Here are a few things to keep in mind – 

Overdose 

If you overdose, you’ll experience nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, etc. It’s best to seek medical help when the symptoms become more difficult.  

Missing a Doze 

If you miss a dose of mefenamic acid and paracetamol, it’s best to take another as soon as you remember. When you feel like it’s time for another dose, you should probably skip the dose you missed to follow. It’s best to follow a schedule for taking this medicine. However, don’t make the mistake of taking a double dose as well.  

When you must take Mefenamic acid or paracetamol, do take it after considering all the warning signs and side effects we have mentioned above.  

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