Non-randomised trial, 2023
Does mefenamic acid help relieve PMS symptoms?
Mefenamic acid relieved PMS symptoms in 70.7% of women, with the most improvement in headache and breast tenderness, but the study had no control group so we cannot be certain the drug itself caused the improvement.
What they did
75 women with PMS received mefenamic acid for at least 3 months and were followed for a minimum of 3 months. Researchers assessed symptoms before and after treatment to determine if mefenamic acid was effective.
What they found
The most common PMS symptoms were gastrointestinal disturbance (85.3%), nausea (84%), headache (80%), breast tenderness (77.3%), and vomiting (74.7%). Mefenamic acid was effective in relieving symptoms in 70.7% of women. Headache, dysmenorrhea, breast tenderness, and mood irritability improved significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05).
What it means for you
Mefenamic acid may help reduce PMS symptoms, especially headache and breast tenderness. The study had no control group of women who did not receive the drug, so we cannot prove the drug caused the improvement. The study was also small with only 75 women and only measured whether women said they improved, not objective health measurements.
70.7%
experienced symptom relief
85.3%
had gastrointestinal disturbance
80%
had headache
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of Mefenamic Acid on Premenstrual Syndrome in Reproductive age Group
- Authors
- Afshan Zaman, Muneeba Sadaf, Maria Tariq et al.
- Journal
- Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 75
- What was tested
- Mefenamic acid for at least 3 months
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs2023176194
Topics
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