Additional advice
Additional advice
Customers can use self-help measures that may provide a soothing effect, such as:1
- Putting a hot water bottle or heat pad on the site of pain
- Gentle exercise
- Taking a warm bath or shower.
You should refer customers with the following symptoms to the pharmacist:1,2
- Severe pain
- Changes to normal menstrual patterns, e.g. if periods have become irregular or heavier than usual
- Bleeding in between periods
- Pain during sex
- Bleeding after sex.
References:
1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/period-pain/
2. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/dysmenorrhoea/
3. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/dysmenorrhoea/management/primary-dysmenorrhoea/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6347048/
Online references last accessed October 2022.
Essential information:
Name: Boots Period Pain Reliever 250mg Gastro-resistant Tablets. Active ingredients: Naproxen. Indications: For the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea in women aged 15 to 50 years. Dosage and administration: For oral use. Swallow whole with water, with or after food. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Women aged 15 to 50 years old: On the first day of treatment initially take two tablets then if needed, one tablet after 6-8 hours. On the second and third day of treatment if needed, take one tablet (250mg) every 6-8 hours. Do not take more than the maximum dose of three tablets a day for longer than three days during each month (menstrual cycle). Contraindications: Do not take if you allergic to naproxen, medicines containing naproxen sodium or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine; allergic to aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), or if they have developed signs of asthma, runny nose, swelling of the skin or rash when taking these medicines; have or have had stomach or duodenal (gut) ulcers, bleeding in the stomach or intestines or have had two or more episodes of stomach ulcer, perforation or bleeding; have severe heart failure, liver or kidney failure; are in the last three months of pregnancy. Precautions: Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking if you are on a low potassium diet; have a history of gastrointestinal disease e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease; are elderly or frail; have or have had high blood pressure, a stroke or any heart, liver or kidney problems; have asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol; are a smoker; drink alcohol; have systemic lupus erythematosus or other connective tissue disorders; have Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis; have any blood clotting disorders; first experienced period pain more than a year after starting your periods; are a woman trying to become pregnant or undergoing investigation of infertility. This medicine may hide the symptoms of an infection. Medicines such as naproxen may be associated with a small increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Any risk is more likely with high doses and prolonged treatment. Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment. Undesirable effects: Serious side effects include an allergic reaction; severe skin rash with flushing, blisters or ulcers (Stevens-Johnson syndrome); a severe rash with reddening, peeling and swelling of the skin that resembles burns (toxic epidermal necrolysis); blistering of skin when exposed to sunlight (pseudoporphyria); heart attack or stroke; serious stomach problems; sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea (may be signs of hyperkalaemia); meningitis; liver problems including jaundice, feeling tired, loss of appetite, feeling or being sick, pale coloured stools (hepatitis shown in blood tests). Refer to the SmPC for further information. Legal category: P. Cost: RP post tax: £4.49, CP- £1.60 Marketing Authorisation Number: PL 20075/0619 Marketing Authorisation Holder: Accord Healthcare Limited, Sage House, 319 Pinner Road, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 4HF, UK. Date of revision of the text: November