ibuprofen vs mefenamic acid
Side-by-side comparison of ibuprofen 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.
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Ibuprofen is a drug that can reduce pain and fever. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
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).
Ibuprofen can help with minor aches and pains. You can use it for headaches, toothaches, backaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. It can also help with the common cold, minor arthritis pain, and fever.
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.
Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain signals.
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.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Dizziness
- • Abdominal pain
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Gas
- Drug not working 24,339
- Pain 18,851
- Tiredness 17,869
- Feeling sick to your stomach 17,349
- Headache 15,814
- The medicine did not work 352
- Feeling sick to your stomach 296
- Feeling tired 253
- Head pain 227
- General pain 202
NSAIDs like ibuprofen may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use. NSAIDs also increase the risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.
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.
Ask a doctor before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. NSAIDs like ibuprofen may cause harm to the fetus.
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.
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How to Read This ibuprofen vs mefenamic acid Comparison
ibuprofen is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while mefenamic acid sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ibuprofen has 94,222 submissions while mefenamic acid has 1,330. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 ibuprofen 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.