Ibuprofen and Naproxen Sodium?

Question

I take either naproxen sodium or mefanamic acid for menstrual cramps, but have just started on ibuprofen and magnesium trisil for my impacted wisdom tooth..

So if i have cramps in my next period, i should just take ibuprofen?

Answer 1

Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as is aspirin. Both can cause gastrointestinal bleeding if taken too frequently or regularly for a long period of time. I would not take them both at the same time. You can alternate doses, or just stick with the one or the other. From personal experience, naproxen seems better for menstrual cramps and dental pain.

Answer 2

One thing to keep in mind about ibuprofen versus naproxen is that they are effective for different amounts of time (see their respective labels for dosing info). Naproxen binds more tightly to plasma proteins than ibuprofen. This gives naproxen a longer life in the blood (about 12 hr. vs. 4 hr for ibuprofen). Although both of these drugs work through similar mechanisms, many people report that one of the drugs works better for particular types of pain and that the other works for different types of pain. In my case, ibuprofen works better for my headaches, but naproxen works better for tendinitis (your mileage may vary). Some women report that naproxen works better for menstrual cramps than ibuprofen.

Answer 3

Without prior knowledge, there's no suggestion that one NSAID is going to work better than another. Drugs of one class tend to work better than those of another in individuals, but across a population there's nothing to chose from, so you can try and see what works and what doesn't for you.

Answer 4

yes just the one