Having to put off meeting up with family or friends or call off sick from work because of your period pain can be awkward to explain and annoying to deal with. Whether you’ve never used it before or it’s a option you turn to every time you have cramps, naproxen can help to alleviate period pain for many.

Naproxen isn’t a one-size-fits-all relief from period pain, but depending on your experiences and the causes behind your cramps, it might be helpful to you. Keep reading to learn more about this medication and seek advice from a pharmacist or your doctor if you think naproxen might be a good option for you. 

What is naproxen used for?

Naproxen is a type of painkiller known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Although the name is a bit of a mouthful, it’s just a way to tell you more about the medication. It’s an anti-inflammatory drug, which means that it works to reduce pain.   The term ‘non-steroidal’ simply distinguishes NSAIDs from another type of anti-inflammatory drug, corticosteroids.  

Can naproxen help period cramps?

For many, one of naproxen’s key uses is in relieving menstrual cramps. You don’t need to get a doctor’s prescription to buy some - you can simply get it from a pharmacy.  

Researchers at the Cochrane Collection have completed a review of studies that explore the effectiveness of NSAIDs including naproxen in order to compare their effectiveness with other period pain treatments. Some of those studies compared NSAIDs to a placebo - a sugar pill with no medication inside - and found that 49% of those who took NSAIDs felt reduced levels of pain within a few hours, compared to only 18% of those who took a placebo. This suggests that NSAIDs have a real, measurable effect on period pain. 

Naproxen is only one of several different examples of NSAID, including other well-known medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin. While naproxen can be used to ease period pain, you shouldn’t try to ‘double up’ the effects by taking too much naproxen or by taking naproxen alongside other NSAIDs. This could result in an overdose which would make it more likely that you could experience unwanted side effects.  

As paracetamol is a different kind of painkiller, it can sometimes be taken alongside naproxen to treat period pain if naproxen isn’t working on its own. However, you should always speak to your pharmacist or doctor before you do this to make sure it’s the right choice for you. It’s also important to speak to a medical professional about your period pain if you often find you feel the need to ‘double up’ on your pain medication. 

How does naproxen work?

Naproxen works in a similar way to other NSAIDs by stopping the production of prostaglandins.  Prostaglandins are compounds made naturally within your body that perform a range of tasks, including controlling your body’s inflammatory response.  

The purpose of the inflammatory response is to increase the blood flow to an area of injury so that the damage can be repaired. On a flesh wound like a paper cut, you would likely notice the skin becomes reddened, warm and appears swollen as well as being painful - this is the inflammatory response.  

When you have period pain, the same process occurs to encourage healing after the lining of the womb has been shed. Because this all happens inside of you, though, the pain is the most noticeable symptom.  Nevertheless, by working to stop the production of prostaglandins, naproxen helps to reduce signs of inflammation such as cramping. 

We mentioned earlier that there are other types of NSAID, the most well-known being ibuprofen and aspirin. These work in much the same way as naproxen to inhibit prostaglandin production,  which is why it’s so important not to take them at the same time. Taking higher doses of NSAIDs than recommended can increase the risk of experiencing harmful side effects, so you should only do it on the advice of a qualified medical professional. 

For many, medications containing naproxen such as Ultravana® Period Pain Relief tablets are helpful for easing pain associated with your period.  However, this medication isn’t suitable for everyone, so it’s important to get personalised medical advice before taking it to be sure you’re making the right choice for your health. If you’re thinking about taking Ultravana or any other naproxen medication for your cramps, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor about your options. 

Sources

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/naproxen/about-naproxen/  
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nsaids/   
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroids/  
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/naproxen/who-can-and-cannot-take-naproxen/  
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Period pain: Research summaries – Period pains: Can anti-inflammatory drugs help? [Updated 2023 May 12]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279323/  
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/naproxen/taking-naproxen-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/  
Ricciotti, Emanuela, and Garret A FitzGerald. “Prostaglandins and inflammation.” Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology vol. 31,5 (2011): 986-1000. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.207449 Available  at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3081099/  
Barcikowska, Zofia et al. “Inflammatory Markers in Dysmenorrhea and Therapeutic Options.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 17,4 1191. 13 Feb. 2020, doi:10.3390/ijerph17041191 Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7068519/