![]() ![]() Some are available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy, while some are available by prescription only. There are many different brands of the NSAIDs available. Another advantage of taking certain NSAIDs is that they decrease the amount of menstrual bleeding (1, 2). To be effective, it is important to take NSAIDs regularly every six hours so that no pain-producing chemicals are produced during ovulation or menstruation. If you have an unpredictable menstrual cycle, you may want to take them for a week or more before you expect menstruation to begin. If you are using NSAIDs for ovulation pain or menstrual pain, it is recommended that you start taking them as directed at least 24 hours before you expect to ovulate or 24 hours before you expect to start bleeding. If you delay taking them until after you feel pain, the medication cannot block the pain-producing chemicals that have already been released, so they will not alleviate pain. ![]() In other words, you must start taking NSAIDs at least 24 hours before you expect to experience pain. However, since NSAIDs work by stopping the production of the pain-causing prostaglandins, they must be taken before any of these chemicals are produced. The result is less pain, swelling, and inflammation. Theoretically, NSAIDs would seem to be a good choice for relieving menstrual pain because most of them work by blocking the production of all prostaglandins. The bad news is that women with endometriosis have been shown to produce an excess of a prostaglandin called PGE2, which causes inflammation, pain, and uterine contractions. Prostaglandins have beneficial effects (enhance immune function, block inflammation, relax muscles, maintain the integrity of the stomach lining, dilate blood vessels, etc.), as well as detrimental effects (produce inflammation, decrease oxygen flow, contract muscles, induce pain, etc.). It is thought that much of the pain of endometriosis, especially menstrual pain, is due to inflammation that may be caused in part by high levels of “bad prostaglandins.” Prostaglandins are hormone-like chemicals that can be found in every cell of the body. However, when used incorrectly, NSAIDs don’t work. Too often, women are prescribed NSAIDs without clear instructions about their use, so they use them the same way they use analgesic drugs. These drugs can be effective in alleviating pain and inflammation, but to do so, they must be used correctly. Some of the more common NSAIDs include ibuprofen (ACT-3, Advil, Brufen, Motrin, Nurofen), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Naprogesic, Naprosyn, Naproxen), ketoprofen (Orudis KT), and mefenamic acid (Ponstan). These drugs alleviate pain by reducing the body’s sensitivity to pain.įewer of us are familiar with the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for managing pain. In our attempts to deal with pain, many of us have used various medications such as aspirin, Paracetamol, Panadol, or Tylenol. Unfortunately, we know a lot less about how to manage that pain. Painkillers by Ros Wood and Ellen T Johnson Most of us with endometriosis know quite a bit about having pain. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |