Is taking ibuprofen to relieve pain during menstruation addictive? Is drinking more hot water helpful? Ways to relieve dysmenorrhea include...

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Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological symptom. When the symptoms are severe, they may even affect work and life. In order to relieve the pain, doctors will instruct women with dysmenorrhea to take painkillers, such as the well-known painkiller "ibuprofen". After taking ibuprofen, dysmenorrhea will be greatly relieved, minimizing the impact of dysmenorrhea on life.

However, because menstruation occurs once a month, you may need to take ibuprofen for at least one day each time. Over time, many women think that taking ibuprofen during menstrual cramps will be addictive , so they would rather endure the severe pain than take medicine, and only relieve it by "drinking more hot water".

So, is taking ibuprofen for pain really addictive? Let's find out today.

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What are the types of dysmenorrhea?

Dysmenorrhea refers to lower abdominal pain, heaviness, backache or other discomfort before, during or after menstruation.

Dysmenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea . Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual abdominal pain without organic lesions in the female reproductive system, accounting for 90% of dysmenorrhea. Most of the dysmenorrhea that occurs monthly in young women is primary dysmenorrhea. Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to dysmenorrhea caused by organic diseases of the pelvic cavity. Secondary dysmenorrhea requires detailed examination in the hospital to confirm the cause.

The occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea is mainly related to the increase in the content of prostaglandins in the endometrium during menstruation. High prostaglandin content can cause excessive contraction of uterine smooth muscle, vasospasm, uterine ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in dysmenorrhea. In addition, primary dysmenorrhea is also affected by mental and neurological factors, and the subjective feeling of pain is also related to the individual pain threshold.

Primary dysmenorrhea is common in adolescence. The pain usually starts after menstruation, and first occurs 12 hours before menstruation. The pain is most severe on the first day of menstruation and lasts for 2-3 days before being relieved. The pain is often spasmodic and usually located above the pubic bone in the lower abdomen, and can radiate to the lumbar sacral region and the inner thigh. Some severe primary dysmenorrhea may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. In severe cases, the face becomes pale and cold sweats occur. Patients with primary dysmenorrhea go to the hospital for a gynecological examination and no abnormalities are found.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by some gynecological diseases, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammation, etc. Secondary dysmenorrhea will be found to have some abnormal manifestations during the gynecological examination in the hospital. The treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea needs to solve the primary disease, which is also different from primary dysmenorrhea.

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Can I take ibuprofen to relieve pain during menstrual cramps?

Ibuprofen is a prostaglandin synthase inhibitor that inhibits the activity of prostaglandin synthase, reduces the production of prostaglandins, prevents excessive uterine contractions and spasms, and thus relieves and eliminates dysmenorrhea.

For dysmenorrhea, the therapeutic efficacy of ibuprofen can reach more than 80%. The best effect is to start taking it at the onset of menstruation. If the dysmenorrhea lasts for a long time, you can take it for 2-3 days. Ibuprofen is a very effective analgesic drug for relieving dysmenorrhea and can be a choice for women with dysmenorrhea.

So, will taking ibuprofen during menstrual cramps be addictive?

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and is not addictive. Addictive drugs are generally neurological and psychiatric drugs. Addictive drugs will cause psychological cravings and physical discomfort after discontinuation of the drug. For example, long-term use of opioid painkillers will cause dependence and lead to addiction. Common opioid painkillers include pethidine and morphine. These painkillers are not suitable for use during dysmenorrhea.

Who or in what situations should not take ibuprofen?

For primary dysmenorrhea, taking ibuprofen to relieve pain can improve the quality of life of women during menstruation and no longer suffer from dysmenorrhea. However, in some special cases, we should be cautious when taking ibuprofen.

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First of all, we must rule out secondary dysmenorrhea, which is often accompanied by organic lesions in the female pelvis. To determine whether it is primary or secondary dysmenorrhea, you need to go to the hospital for a gynecological examination to make it clear . Secondary dysmenorrhea requires treatment of the primary disease, and ibuprofen alone cannot be used to relieve the pain.

In addition, ibuprofen as a drug also has its contraindications and precautions. It is contraindicated for those who experience asthma, urticaria or other allergic reactions after taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is contraindicated for those who have hypersensitivity reactions to ibuprofen or its drug ingredients. It is contraindicated for breastfeeding women with dysmenorrhea because ibuprofen will enter breast milk secretion. Ibuprofen should be used with caution in patients with bleeding diseases and digestive tract diseases; it should be used with caution in patients with edema and systemic lupus erythematosus.

What other methods can relieve dysmenorrhea?

Are the methods that are circulated online such as drinking more hot water, brown sugar water, ginger sugar water, etc. to relieve dysmenorrhea reliable?

Many women take more conservative measures to deal with dysmenorrhea, such as drinking more hot water, brown sugar water, ginger sugar water, etc. These methods can also play a certain role. Hot water can accelerate blood circulation in the body and help discharge menstrual blood, which can also relieve some pain. However, for relatively severe dysmenorrhea, these methods may not be able to completely relieve the pain, and oral ibuprofen is also needed to relieve abdominal pain.

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In addition, there are some other things you can try.

First of all, we should pay attention to psychological treatment. Mild discomfort during menstruation is a normal physiological reaction of menstruation. Eliminating tension and worries can relieve some of the pain.

Secondly, getting enough rest and sleep, keeping warm, and applying hot compresses to the lower abdomen can all help relieve pain.

In addition to painkillers such as ibuprofen, women who need contraception can take short-acting oral contraceptives to inhibit ovulation and reduce the content of prostaglandins in menstrual blood, which can also play a role in treating dysmenorrhea. Women who have difficulty taking oral medications can use another prostaglandin inhibitor, indomethacin suppositories, to administer anally, which can also effectively relieve primary dysmenorrhea.

in conclusion

Dysmenorrhea is the most common problem for women and may occur once a month. Please understand dysmenorrhea correctly and do not be afraid when you encounter dysmenorrhea. You can go to the hospital for examination to exclude organic diseases.

After being diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, if the pain cannot be relieved by resting, drinking hot water or applying local hot compresses, we can take ibuprofen for pain relief under the guidance of a doctor.

Taking ibuprofen during monthly dysmenorrhea will not be addictive. Taking ibuprofen to relieve pain will effectively improve the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, allowing women suffering from dysmenorrhea to work, study and live normally during their menstrual period.

References:

[1] Xie Xing, Kong Beihua, Duan Tao. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 9th edition[M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2018:239-240.

[2] Chinese Pharmacopoeia Committee. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. 2015 edition. Beijing: China Medical Science and Technology Press, 2015.

Author: Zhai Yan, Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Wang Shuzhen, Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Planning丨Zhong Yanping

Editor｜Li Mengxin