furosemide vs mefenamic acid
Side-by-side comparison of furosemide and mefenamic acid. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Diuretics Clinical Impact: Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to check your blood pressure and fluid levels more often while you are taking both drugs.
Lasix
Ponstel
Furosemide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
Mefenamic acid is a medicine used to treat mild to moderate pain and menstrual cramps. It is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease. It can also treat high blood pressure. Furosemide is helpful when you need a stronger diuretic.
Mefenamic acid is used to relieve mild to moderate pain in people 14 years and older. It should not be used for more than 7 days. It is also used to treat menstrual cramps.
Furosemide works in your kidneys. It helps your kidneys remove more salt and water from your blood. This lowers the amount of fluid in your body and lowers blood pressure.
Mefenamic acid reduces pain and inflammation in the body. It does this by blocking substances in the body that cause pain and swelling. This medicine helps to reduce pain and discomfort.
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Abdominal pain
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Gas
- Difficulty breathing 29,099
- Tiredness 20,389
- Diarrhea 19,940
- Feeling sick to your stomach 18,682
- Sudden kidney damage 18,530
- Feeling sick to your stomach 296
- Feeling tired 253
- Head pain 227
- General pain 202
- Feeling lightheaded 177
Furosemide can cause you to lose too much fluid and electrolytes. This can lead to dehydration, low blood pressure, and kidney problems. Your doctor should check your blood regularly while you are taking this medicine.
Mefenamic acid may increase the risk of serious heart problems, including heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with longer use. You should not take this medicine if you are having heart bypass surgery. Mefenamic acid can also increase the risk of serious stomach and intestinal problems, including bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. These problems can occur without warning. The elderly and those with a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding are at higher risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Furosemide may not be safe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Mefenamic acid may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if mefenamic acid passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare furosemide with
Compare mefenamic acid with
How to Read This furosemide vs mefenamic acid Comparison
furosemide is classified in the Loop Diuretic drug class, while mefenamic acid sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, furosemide has 106,640 submissions while mefenamic acid has 1,155. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to mefenamic acid can block the effects of furosemide, making it harder for your body to remove extra salt and water through your urine.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between furosemide and mefenamic acid - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.