Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
Molecule Description
Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid is a combination medicine. It is used for the treatm
ent of muscle spasm and pain. Drotaverine is an anti-spasmodic medicine, and mefenamic acid has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid is available in the form of tablet, capsule. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding and about all the medicines and supplements you take and all the conditions or diseases you suffer from, before starting this medicine.
Uses of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
- Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid is used to treat menstrual cramps, stomach pain and muscle spasms.
- This combination may also be useful in pain due to bowel disorders, after surgery and due to kidney stones.
Contraindications of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
When should one not use Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
- If you are allergic to mefenamic acid, drotaverine or similar medicines
- If you had a heart attack recently, undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft. Do not take this medicine right before the surgery or after the surgery without consulting a doctor.
- If you have a kidney or liver function problem, history of asthma or stomach or intestinal ulcers.
- If you have any blood-related disorders like unusual bleeding and porphyria (related to haemoglobin function).
Side effects of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
Common side effects of this drug are:
- Diarrhoea
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash
- Itching
Precautions and Warnings of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
Pregnancy
Q:
Can I take drotaverine+mefenamic acid during pregnancy?
A:
Consult your doctor before taking drotaverine+mefenamic acid during pregnancy as limited information is available about its safety in pregnant women.
Breast Feeding
Q:
Can I take drotaverine+mefenamic acid while breastfeeding?
A:
Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid is not recommended while breastfeeding, consult a doctor before using it.
Driving
Q:
Can I drive if I have taken drotaverine+mefenamic acid?
A:
Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid may make you feel dizzy and drowsy, thus you need to be cautious while driving.
Alcohol
Q:
Can I consume alcohol with drotaverine+mefenamic acid?
A:
Avoid consuming alcohol with drotaverine+mefenamic acid, as it may worsen the side effects.
Other General Warnings
Talk to your doctor if
- You have a heart-related problem or high blood pressure, history of heart failure
- You have problems with your liver or kidney
- You are an elderly patient
- You have a history of any kind of respiratory disorders like asthma
- You are suffering from fits, tremors or epilepsy
- You are suffering from ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestine.
- Women may experience infertility. Thus, women who are trying to conceive or taking any fertility treatment should avoid consuming this medicine.
Mode of Action of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
How Does It Work?
- Pain and spasm are experienced due to the production of an inflammatory mediator called prostaglandin and due to reduced calcium levels.
- Drotaverine works by inhibiting an enzyme that reduces calcium uptake by the cells, thereby correcting the calcium levels in the body it reduces the spasms in the smooth muscles.
- Mefenamic acid acts by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins which is responsible for pain.
Interactions of Drotaverine+Mefenamic Acid
Interactions with other medicines
- Some medicines can affect the way drotaverine+mefenamic acid works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
- Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements, or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
- Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid should not be taken along with other pain killers or analgesic medicines.
- There is an increased risk of bleeding and ulceration if drotaverine+mefenamic acid is taken along with steroids and certain medicines used for mental illness.
- Concomitant use of medicines used to treat blood pressure like Aliskiren, Captopril and Valsartan should be avoided.
- This combination can aggravate the blood-glucose-lowering action of anti-diabetic medicines, and you may experience symptoms of low blood sugar.
- Water pills, Cyclosporin, and Tacrolimus if taken along with this medicine can increase the risk of toxicity to kidneys.
- Blood thinners such as Warfarin should be used cautiously with this medicine as there is increased risk of bleeding.
- Medicines like prednisone, methotrexate, fluconazole, zidovudine, digoxin, probenecid, and certain antibiotics should be used cautiously along with this combination.
Content Details
WRITTEN BY
Dr. Arpit Verma
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
REVIEWED BY
Dr. Ritu Budania
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: In which all dosage form is drotaverine+mefenamic acid available?
A: Drotaverine+Mefenamic acid is available in the form of tablet, capsule
Q: Is drotaverine+mefenamic acid useful for menstrual cramps?
A: Yes, drotaverine+mefenamic acid helps relieve spasm and cramps associated with periods. However, for prolonged and painful episodes consult your doctor.
References
View All
- Ponstan Capsules 250mg - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) [Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2021 [cited 13 December 2021]
- Drotafix [Internet]. Bionova.co.in. 2021 [cited 13 December 2021]
- Drotaverine: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank Online [Internet]. Go.drugbank.com. 2021 [cited 13 December 2021]
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