---
title: Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, mefenamic acid significantly improved premenstrual tension, irritability, depression, pain and headache, but was not effective for breast symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-treatment-of-premenstrual-symptoms-with-mefenamic-acid-1980/
---

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- Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1980

# Does mefenamic acid help premenstrual symptoms?

Yes, mefenamic acid significantly improved premenstrual tension, irritability, depression, pain and headache, but was not effective for breast symptoms.

 Moderate study design

37 women with premenstrual symptoms

## What they did

37 women with premenstrual symptoms were studied through three menstrual cycles. After a control cycle, they received mefenamic acid (500 mg three times daily) and placebo during the luteal phase in random double-blind crossover, with each woman serving as her own control.

## What they found

Mefenamic acid significantly improved premenstrual tension, irritability, depression, pain and headache. It was not effective for breast symptoms. Most women with premenstrual symptoms also had menstrual symptoms, which were also improved by mefenamic acid.

## What it means for you

Mefenamic acid, an NSAID, helps emotional and pain-related premenstrual symptoms but not breast symptoms. Most women with premenstrual symptoms also have menstrual symptoms, which improved too. This is a small study with only 37 women.

37

women in study

500 mg

mefenamic acid dose

3

menstrual cycles studied

## About the study

Original title The treatment of premenstrual symptoms with mefenamic acid Authors Wood C, Jakubowicz D Journal British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Year 1980 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Mefenamic acid 500 mg three times daily during luteal phase Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1980.tb05018.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1980.tb05018.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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