Meds for menstrual cramps?

[ironbutterfly08.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know of a pain medication that I could take to ease the pain of menstrual cramps that wont kill my stomach or liver? I take Ibuprofen but I know that that destroys one's stomach like Aspirin. Tylenol hurts one's liver...

Is there anything actually safe and effective? Thanks =)

Comments

[popchex.livejournal.com]

When I was taking ulcer medications the doctor told me to use Percogesic (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=10231&catid=10&brand=7414&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=10231&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND) because it was better on my stomach than anything else. I had been getting stress migraines, and eating Advil like candy, and that, with the stress, was giving me ulcers. I never had any stomach problems with Percogesic, and its also aspirin free. However it does have Acetominophin (sp?) which is what I believe Tylenol is made with...although I've only heard that it hurts your liver if you've been drinking and take it.

But when it comes down to it, taking any over the counter pain reliever made from chemicals, it is going to have some sort of negative impact on your body. If it is for cramps - have you tried the heating pads you can stick to your underwear? I can go almost med-free when I use an electric heating pad before bed and the pad while I sleep/during the day.

[ironbutterfly08.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried heating pads but I suppose now I will. Can one walk with them and go about their daily activities?
Thank you for the link too =)

[popchex.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, the ThermaCare (http://thermacare.com/index.shtml) pads are great! It basically sticks into the front of your panties and then your pants and panties keep it against your tummy. You can do it for the back too. My (male) boss actually uses the menstrual relief one for his lower back pain because it sticks better than the regular back one! :)
It probably wouldn't be a good idea to wear it in front with a skirt though...not enough to hold it against your stomach, you know?

And you're welcome for the link! :)

[miss-francon.livejournal.com]

They work wonders. The only complaint I would have is that your body temperature is messed up. Your stomach area feels extremely hot, and the rest of your body feels cold. So I always kind of have a slight cold sweat when I wear one. But no one else notices and it's not a big deal. I'd live with that any day over the cramps! :)

[tequilalemonade.livejournal.com]

I wear mine until the cold sweating hits and take it off for a bit...mine stayed nice n toasty for a good 10 hours..and i woke up to a much lighter than expected dot...it was perfect!

[xxxmariposaxxx.livejournal.com]

Raspberry Leaf tea. I swear by it.

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

Does it help with really bad cramps?

[xxxmariposaxxx.livejournal.com]

absolutely!
I drink lots of raspberry tea about the week before my period, and lay off the caffiene & sugars.
If I don't do this, it means I lay on the floor puking up everything I've eaten in the last 24 hours (slight exaggeration...) and pass out.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

It has to be red raspberry leaf tea. And yeah, it reall helps.

[fornicate-me.livejournal.com]

annaprox, its prescribed by uyour dr.

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

Anaprox is basically the same thing as Aleve-which is Naproxen Sodium...and I have heard that it can make you retain more water-when you are already retaining water during your menstrual cycle. I am not totally sure of this, so correct me if I am wrong. I think Anaprox is just a stronger form or Naproxen. Oh and it didn't help my cramps.

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

Aleve and Anaprox didn't really help...thats what I meant to say. But then I have bad cramps, so...

[fornicate-me.livejournal.com]

Well, this is what my OBGYN told me to do, and my Oncologist told me to do-he said to take 2 Alieve, and then like 2 horus later, take 2 extra strength tylenol if the pain is terribly bad=consult your doctor about that, only because i am a special case, but the anaprox-take 2 with food, then 6 hours later, take 1, then another 6 horus later take another 1 ;D i was at the dr. yesterday and i still have cramps :(

[ironbutterfly08.livejournal.com]

thanks everyone =)

[palegothic.livejournal.com]

I swear by midol

[mylittleaadvark.livejournal.com]

Midol is acetaminophen - exactly the same as Tylenol (Paracetamol in the UK).

[mylittleaadvark.livejournal.com]

(I realise you may know this already. It's just the OP implied that she wanted an alternative to Tylenol.)

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

I take Excedrine, and if those aren't around I can usually scrounge up 1 Tylenol and 1 Advil and take those together. For some reason 2 Tylenol don't really do the trick and 2 Advil seem to take the edge off, but not really make me feel better.

I don't remember which of those are asprin-free...

But I'm sure you can find tons of herbal remedies so you don't have to take the medication route AT ALL.

[mylittleaadvark.livejournal.com]

Advil's active ingredient is ibuprofen, according to http://www.advil.com. Excedrine, as far as I can tell (http://www.excedrin.com), is aspirin, caffeine and acetaminophen, although a couple of its brands seem to lack the caffeine and aspirin. Tylenol is acetaminophen.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Ibuprofen has never given me any stomach trouble.

There's a good presciption drug called Ponstel that has been very helpful to me.

[thesofaofdeath.livejournal.com]

Are you in the US? I don't know if they do it there, but there's a pill called "feminax" you can get over the counter and it's great. It helps with the nausea too and it's gentle on your stomach (don't know about the liver). Also, try getting someone to massage your back, or alternating hot and cold pads on your stomach/back (Don't know how this works but it does). If it's really bad try asking your doctor for Mefenamic Acid, it's anti-inflammatory rather than a pain medication. I had no side effects when I was taking it. ^_^