Mefenamic Acid Side Effects. Did you ever experience having constipation or diarrhea after you took in mefenamic acid? According to the National Institututes of Health both conditions are two of the common side effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug marketed as Ponstan, Ponstal, Dolfenal and a lot of other brand names*.
Other side effects listed for mefenamic acid are gas or bloating, headache, dizziness, nervousness, and ringing in the ears. Should you experience any of the aforementioned side effects and if the symptoms are severe and would not go away, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Now, some mefenamic acid side effects are more serious than others.
Get in touch with your doctor if you experience any of the following SEVERE side effects after taking in mefenamic acid:
- blurred vision
- unexplained weight gain
- fever
- blisters
- rash
- itching
- hives
- swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, arms, feet ankles, or lower legs
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- pale skin
- fast heartbeat
- excessive tiredness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- lack of energy
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- flu-like symptoms
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- cloudy, discolored, or bloody urine
- back pain
- difficult or painful urination
It is worth noting that a 2001 Rotterdam study (see Archives of Internal Medicine via Cardiology Journal Watch) indicates that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as mefenamic acid is “associated with a substantially increased risk of a relapse of heart failure.”
Medline also reports that those who take in mefenamic acid may have a higher risk “of having stroke than people who do not take these medications”.
That’s why it’s important to tell your doctors if you (or your family) have a history of heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke. Similarly, those who smoke as well as those who have or ever had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes should tell their doctors about their condition (or habit, in the case of smokers).
*Mefenamic acid is also marketed under the following brand names: Mefalth, Mefalth T, Ponstel, Parkemed, Mafepain, Mefamed, Mephadolor, Meftal, Dyfenamic, Potarlon, Meyerdonal, Alfoxan, Fenagesic, and Spiralgin.
Mefenamic Acid Side Effects: Hives, Swelling, Blurred Vision posted 30 September 2011. Last updated on 30 September 2011.