Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid is primarily prescribed to treat dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), the abdominal pain associated with periods. It contains two medicines: mefenamic acid (NSAID) and dicyclomine (antispasmodic). The former blocks pain-inducing chemicals and the latter relaxes smooth muscles in the abdomen. This combination can alleviate symptoms like abdominal pain; body pain; pain associated with periods, gallstones, kidney stones and excessive menstrual bleeding.

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid should be taken as advised by your doctor; the dose may be adjusted depending on the severity of your pain. It is best to take them whole with your meals to avoid stomach discomfort. To prevent adverse effects of this combination drug, take it precisely as per your prescription.

Side effects of Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid include stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, bloating and dry mouth. They typically last for a short period and usually go away on their own. Contact your healthcare provider if the problems persist or worsen.

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid may be contraindicated (unsafe) for people with a history of stomach ulcers, bleeding disorders, paralytic ileus, glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, hypertension, aspirin-sensitive asthma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peptic ulcers, heart/kidney/liver diseases and allergies to either mefenamic acid or dicyclomine. Always inform your doctor of health conditions you might have. This combination drug is generally considered safe for most people.

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid is primarily used to treat dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), the abdominal pain associated with periods. This combination can alleviate symptoms like abdominal pain; body pain; pain associated with periods, gallstones, kidney stones and excessive menstrual bleeding.

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid can be prescribed to treat pain in conditions including the following:

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid works by relaxing the smooth muscles (to treat spastic pain) and preventing the production of a chemical called prostaglandin (to treat inflammation and pain). It may treat pain-related symptoms like abdominal cramps, menstrual cramps (period pain) and excessive menstrual bleeding.

Dicyclomine + Mefenamic Acid includes two active ingredients: mefenamic acid and dicyclomine. Let’s look at what they do individually to understand how they work when combined.

Mefenamic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication that effectively alleviates pain, inflammation, and fever. Its mechanism of action is centred on targeting cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, which are natural chemicals in the body responsible for producing pain-related substances called prostaglandins.

By blocking the effect of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, mefenamic acid inhibits the production of prostaglandins at the site of injury or inflammation, reducing pain sensation.

Mefenamic acid explicitly targets the synthesis of prostaglandins in the uterus lining, which is why it is prescribed for women with menstrual cramps (period pain) and excessive bleeding during periods.

Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic antispasmodic medicine that reduces spasms (cramps) of the smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. It works by inhibiting the binding of acetylcholine to its receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which otherwise triggers muscle contractions in the gut. This potent medication results in the relaxation of smooth muscles in the stomach and intestines, effectively easing the pain associated with cramps.

Together, mefenamic acid and dicyclomine reduce pain in the body by lowering two processes that produce most of the pain that we might experience in our daily lives: inflammation and spasms.

• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
• Dicyclomine (medlineplus.gov)
• Mefenamic Acid (medlineplus.gov)
• Dicyclomine (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)