An open clinical trial of Mefenamic Acid in Primary Dysmenorrhoea of Medical Students of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet

Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecological disorders among adolescent girls. Materialand Methods: This was an open clinical trial conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet from July 2018 to June 2019. It involved 45 unmarried female medicalstudents of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet with primary dysmenorrhea and moderate to unbearablepain during menstruation (baseline VAS score 4cm or above). Diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea was confirmed bygynaecologist. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) were used for grading of painseverity and duration of pain respectively before treatment. Result: Each participant received 250 mg Mefenamic acidevery 12 hourly for 5 days. The treatment course continued for three menstrual cycles. VAS and CMSS were assessedin each cycle. The VAS score was significantly decreased from baseline (7.02 ± 0.72) to end of treatment at 3rd cycle(3.56 ± 0.55 (p<0.001). The CMSS also significantly decreased from baseline (3.96 ± 0.21) to end of treatment at 3rdcycle (1.33 ± 0.48) (p<0.001). Recorded adverse effects were nausea and or vomiting (24.4%), heart burn (31.1%) anddizziness (2.2%) were mild and no discontinuation was needed. Conclusion: Mefenamic acid is effective and safe inprimary dysmenorrhoea.