Ibuprofen for period pains

The great miracle of motherhood for women is associated with the need to endure the monthly detachment of the endometrium - the mucous membrane of the uterus, accompanied by bleeding. Almost every woman experiences some discomfort during her period: from mild malaise, irritability, drowsiness to pain, sometimes severe. Dysmenorrhea is the most common menstrual complaint. [ 1 ] The pain usually begins a few hours before bleeding and lasts from 32 to 48 hours. [ 2 ], [ 3 ] According to the WHO report, the prevalence of the disease is 1.7-97%. [ 4 ]

Pain syndrome is relieved by antispasmodics and analgesics. Ibuprofen is effective during menstruation.

Ibuprofen is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. Ibuprofen is considered one of the safest NSAIDs and is generally well tolerated.[ 5 ]

Ibuprofen is the most commonly used and most widely prescribed NSAID. [ 6 ], [ 7 ] It is a non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). [ 8 ] Although its anti-inflammatory properties may be weaker than some other NSAIDs, it plays an important analgesic and antipyretic role. Its action is due to its inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenases, which are involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins play an important role in the production of pain, inflammation, and fever. [ 9 ]

Indications Ibuprofen for periods

In what cases should ibuprofen be used? Mild algomenorrhea can be managed without pain relief, but moderate and especially severe algomenorrhea torment a woman with severe pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, nausea, vomiting, and a sharp decrease in performance; cases of fainting are even known.

Over-the-counter ibuprofen is useful for treating minor aches and pains, reducing fever, and relieving symptoms of dysmenorrhea.[ 10 ],[ 11 ]

If you feel this way, it is recommended to take ibuprofen, it will relieve painful periods and relieve abdominal pain.

Like all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the drug slightly thins the blood, so taking it makes menstruation more abundant. As a rule, a small dose does not pose a threat to a woman's health, and the amount of blood released does not increase in general.

If the intensity of the discharge is too high, then you should not aggravate the situation by taking it; it is better to choose another remedy.

Release form

There are various dosage forms of ibuprofen: film-coated and effervescent tablets, water-soluble tablets, capsules, suspension, syrup, injection solution, gels, ointments, creams for external use.

Pharmacodynamics

Ibuprofen is an NSAID - a propionic acid derivative, inhibits the synthesis of pain and inflammation mediators, reduces temperature. In addition to menstrual pain, it eliminates toothache, muscle pain, joint pain, flu and cold symptoms. Ibuprofen was superior to placebo in relieving menstrual pain. [ 12 ] Cyclooxygenase inhibitors reduce the amount of menstrual prostanoids released, which is accompanied by a decrease in uterine hypercontractility. [ 13 ]

Pharmacokinetics

It is practically insoluble in water, having a pKa of 5.3. It is well absorbed when taken orally; peak serum concentrations are reached 1-2 hours after oral administration. It is rapidly biotransformed with a serum half-life of 1.8 to 2 hours. The drug is completely eliminated 24 hours after the last dose and is eliminated by metabolism. [ 14 ] The drug is more than 99% protein bound, is extensively metabolized in the liver, and is virtually not eliminated from the body.

Despite the high degree of plasma protein binding (90-99%), the dose of oral anticoagulants and oral hypoglycemic agents should not be changed. More than 90% of the dose taken is excreted in the urine as metabolites or their conjugates, the main metabolites being hydroxylated and carboxylated compounds. [ 15 ]

Dosing and administration

Ibuprofen is taken after meals for 3 days for fever and no more than 5 days to relieve pain. Tablets are not chewed, but washed down with plenty of water.

The suggested dose needed to relieve menstrual pain is 2 tablets (200 mg) every 4 hours.[ 18 ]

Use Ibuprofen for periods during pregnancy

Ibuprofen is contraindicated during pregnancy. It can cause miscarriage up to 20 weeks, and in the third trimester there is a risk of causing kidney complications, closure of the arterial duct in the fetus. [ 16 ]

Contraindications

Ibuprofen should not be used in case of hypersensitivity to its components. It is also contraindicated for people with gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, severe heart, kidney, and liver dysfunction.

Side effects Ibuprofen for periods

Side effects are minimized by taking the minimum effective dose for a short period of time. This corresponds to the needs of menstrual pain relief. If it is necessary to take treatment for a longer period, the following phenomena may occur:

• anemia;
• urticaria, swelling;
• tachycardia;
• headache;
• stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, exacerbation of gastritis are still the most common side effects. [ 17 ]
• liver dysfunction (may rarely cause clinically significant and serious acute liver injury) and kidney dysfunction.

Overdose

Taking a dose significantly higher than recommended results in an overdose. It manifests itself as a deterioration in well-being: nausea, vomiting, lethargy, tinnitus, headache, and decreased blood pressure. [ 19 ]

Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. Gastric hemorrhage may progress to erosion with prolonged use, but is usually reversible. In susceptible individuals, it may progress to peptic ulceration.[ 20 ] The severity of GI side effects can range from dyspepsia to life-threatening upper GI hemorrhage or visceral organ rupture. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms, and abdominal pain.[ 21 ]

Renal failure has been described in people taking therapeutic as well as supratherapeutic doses of ibuprofen.[ 22 ],[ 23 ]

Acute ibuprofen overdose causing central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is not uncommon, especially when ingestion is massive, greater than 400 mg/kg. In a prospective population-based study of ibuprofen overdose, CNS depression was the second most common clinical sign after gastrointestinal upset in 30%, but symptoms were mild.[ 24 ] In another study, CNS depression was noted in 10% of patients.

High anion gap metabolic acidosis is the most common abnormality reported, typically occurring after a massive meal.[ 25 ],[ 26 ] It is thought to be due to accumulation of acidic metabolites of ibuprofen, acute renal failure, and/or lactic acidosis from seizure activity. Apnea from respiratory depression may lead to concomitant respiratory acidosis.

Thrombocytopenia is common after ibuprofen overdose.[ 27 ] Thrombocytopenia secondary to immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and hemolytic uremic syndrome from ibuprofen use.[ 28 ],[ 29 ]

If you encounter such symptoms, you need to wash your stomach; if there is no positive dynamics, you need emergency medical intervention.

Interactions with other drugs

Ibuprofen is not combined with aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is taken with caution together with diuretics, blood pressure lowering agents, cardiac glycosides, lithium preparations, quinolone antibiotics.

Use of over-the-counter medications containing aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen may increase the risk of liver toxicity and gastrointestinal bleeding in people who consume three or more alcoholic drinks daily.

Ibuprofen may worsen severe asthma.[ 30 ]

Storage conditions

The drug is stored in places usual for medicines, i.e. dark and inaccessible to children, with a room temperature not exceeding 25ºС.

Shelf life

Ibuprofen in solid forms is valid for 3 years, opened bottles of syrup and suspension - 6 months.

Analogues

Analogues are drugs with the same effect. They can have the same active substance or different ones. During menstruation, ibuprofen can be replaced with medications with the following names: Nurofen, Ibunorm, Faspic, Maxicold, Paracetamol.

Reviews

Many women who suffer from pain during their periods use ibuprofen. According to their reviews, it helps them perform their daily functions at work and at home during difficult critical days. In addition to pain relief, they advise visiting a gynecologist to find out the reasons for this phenomenon, because various diseases in the pelvic organs may be hidden behind it.