The pain that arises when you experience tooth pain is very disturbing activity. Especially if the pain does not disappear or even get worse over time. To help relieve pain due to toothache, doctors will usually recommend the use of pain medications such as mefenamic acid.
Toothache is pain or pain around the tooth caused by various factors, such as cavities, teeth cracking, fractures or broken teeth, to gum infections. Besides pain, other symptoms that you can feel when you experience toothache are swelling around the teeth or gums, fever, and headache. One drug that works to relieve symptoms of toothache is mefenamic acid.
Benefits of Mefenamic Acid to Overcome Toothaches
Mefenamic acid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug group (NSAID) that serves to reduce mild to moderate pain, and inflammation caused by certain diseases. Usually, its use is intended to deal with various pains, such as:
- Pain due to toothache and menstruation.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Headache.
- Postoperative pain and childbirth.
- Pain caused by injury.
This oral medication works by inhibiting the production of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX) which will reduce prostaglandins. In general, prostaglandins are produced by the body when you experience certain injuries, illnesses, or conditions that cause pain, inflammation and swelling. By inhibiting prostaglandin production, the pain caused by prostaglandins will be reduced.
Therefore, the use of mefenamic acid can help reduce pain due to toothache. However, this drug is not recommended for treating sensitive teeth. Mefenamic acid is also not recommended for consumption in the long term. The recommended limit for using mefenamic acid to treat pain in toothache is 7 days.
Side Effects of the Use of Mefenamic Acid
Like other medicines, mefenamic acid also has serious side effects. Here are some of the side effects that may occur when consuming mefenamic acid for toothache, namely:
- Gastrointestinal disorders, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and flatulence.
- Headache and dizziness.
- The skin feels itchy and rashes.
- The view becomes blurred.
- Sprue.
- Impaired kidney and liver function.
In addition, mefenamic acid can also cause serious side effects if used by people with gastric acid disease (GERD). This is because the drug mefenamic acid can increase stomach acid which causes stomach irritation, intestinal bleeding, and stomach ulcers. Therefore, the use of this drug in patients with stomach acid and stomach ulcers should be avoided. However, if you still have to use mefenamic acid, it is advisable to take it with gastric protective drugs to avoid irritation.
Research shows that some NSAIDs, including mefenamic acid, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, also increase the risk of heart disease recurrence in people who have a history of heart disease. This risk will increase if you use mefenamic acid in high doses or for a long period of time.
Not all people may use mefenamic acid for toothache. Especially for those with the following conditions:
- Allergy to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
- Pregnant women who have entered the third trimester
- Just had heart surgery.
- Have a history of gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and peptic ulcers.
- Women who are breastfeeding.
- Elderly aged over 65 years.
- Children and adolescents under 14 years.
- Have a history of certain diseases such as kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and liver failure.
- Patients with hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy.
- Patients with blood clotting disorders.
Before taking this drug, you should first read the instructions for use listed on the packaging label. The use of mefenamic acid in a long time and exceeds the dose, can cause serious side effects to the body. If the toothache does not heal after you consume mefenamic acid, it is advisable to see a dentist immediately for proper treatment and treatment.
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