Prescription medication · Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
mefenamic acid
Also sold as Ponstel. Mefenamic acid is used to relieve mild to moderate pain in people 14 years and older.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,104
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 15
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- $0.98
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
mefenamic acid (Ponstel) is a prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,104 FDA reports), with 15 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
mefenamic acid (Ponstel) is a prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). Mefenamic acid is used to relieve mild to moderate pain in people 14 years and older.
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).
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.98/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Mefenamic acid is used to relieve mild to moderate pain in people 14 years and older.
Common side effects
Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Mefenamic acid may increase the risk of serious heart problems, including heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from mefenamic acid's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,104 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for mefenamic acid, by number of reports
- Nausea
Nausea
296 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
253 reports
- Headache
Headache
227 reports
- Pain
Pain
202 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
177 reports
- Malaise
Malaise
170 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
152 reports
- Pain In Extremity
Pain In Extremity
139 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
133 reports
- Stress
Stress
130 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for mefenamic acid each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where mefenamic acid sits
mefenamic acid has more FDA adverse-event reports than 13% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is mefenamic acid; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,104 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
2,104
Reports Mentioning Death
81
3.8% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
707
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | NAUSEA | 296 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 253 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 227 |
| 5 | PAIN | 202 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 177 |
| 7 | MALAISE | 170 |
| 8 | ARTHRALGIA | 152 |
| 9 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 139 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 133 |
| 11 | STRESS | 130 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 129 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 121 |
| 15 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 120 |
| 17 | PERIPHERAL SWELLING | 110 |
| 18 | PYREXIA | 108 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Methotrexate Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). Intervention: During concomitant use of mefenamic acid and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity.
Mechanism: This pain medicine can prevent your body from clearing out methotrexate, which can lead to toxic levels in your system.
NSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of mefenamic acid with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy (see Warnings ; Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration and Perforation ).
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together increases the risk of stomach bleeding and ulcers without providing extra relief. Both drugs are similar and can irritate the lining of your digestive system.
Table 3: Drugs that Can Increase the Risk of Bleeding Drug Class Specific Drugs Anticoagulants argatroban, dabigatran, bivalirudin, desirudin, heparin, lepirudin Antiplatelet Agents aspirin, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, prasugrel, ticlopidine Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, sulindac Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, milnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline,...
Mechanism: Mefenamic acid can increase the risk of bleeding when used with warfarin. These drugs work together to slow down blood clotting more than usual.
In the absence of data regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs are NSAIDs that work in the same way, so taking them together increases the risk of stomach issues without helping more with pain.
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.
Mechanism: Mefenamic acid can block the effects of furosemide, making it harder for your body to remove extra salt and water through your urine.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take mefenamic acid with aspirin?
Can mefenamic acid affect my blood pressure?
Can I take mefenamic acid if I have kidney problems?
Can mefenamic acid cause liver problems?
How quickly does mefenamic acid work?
Can I drink alcohol while taking mefenamic acid?
Can mefenamic acid interact with other medications?
What should I do if I experience severe side effects?
Can I use mefenamic acid for long-term pain relief?
Is it okay to take mefenamic acid on an empty stomach?
What are the common side effects of mefenamic acid?
Does mefenamic acid interact with other medications?
What drug class is mefenamic acid?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for mefenamic acid?
Related Medications in Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Other drugs grouped near mefenamic acid - same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
Compare with mefenamic acid →
acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
Compare with mefenamic acid →
acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
Compare with mefenamic acid →
acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
Compare with mefenamic acid →
adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for mefenamic acid: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 2,104.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 3.85%.
- travoprost Δ 0.02 pts · 8,423 reports · Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic) 3.83%death share
- methylphenidate Δ 0.02 pts · 27,931 reports · CNS Stimulant 3.83%death share
- apremilast Δ 0.04 pts · 143,174 reports · PDE4 Inhibitor 3.81%death share
- plecanatide Δ 0.08 pts · 1,831 reports · Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist 3.93%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
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Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for mefenamic acid
The FDA label for mefenamic acid (sold under brand names such as Ponstel) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Mefenamic acid is used to relieve mild to moderate pain in people 14 years and older. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,104 voluntary reports. The database also lists 15 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.98.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 19, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages