# Mefenamic Acid in Nigeria

Mefenamic Acid has 2 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 2 registration holders; 2 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/mefenamic-acid/
- Drug class: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (fenamate) (Pain & Fever)
- Also known as: Ponstan, Mefenamic, Mefanemic acid
- Prescription required: yes
- Last updated: August 2026

## Price in Nigeria

Mefenamic Acid prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.

## What is Mefenamic Acid?

Mefenamic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug from the fenamate family, and in Nigeria almost everyone knows it by one name: Ponstan. It blocks the COX enzymes that make prostaglandins — the chemical messengers behind pain, inflammation and fever — and it has an additional property that sets it slightly apart from other NSAIDs, blocking prostaglandin action at the receptor as well as its production. That is part of why it has such a strong reputation for period pain specifically.

Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows only two active mefenamic acid registrations: Ponstan capsules from Pfizer, made in Germany, and Fenamex-DT dispersible tablets from Greenlife. That is a strikingly thin field for a medicine this widely used, and it means much of what is sold as mefenamic acid in Nigerian markets is worth checking carefully against the register before you buy it.

Mefenamic acid is a genuinely effective medicine for the thing most people take it for. It is also the NSAID most associated with stomach upset and, in overdose, with seizures — so it is a short-course drug, taken for the days you need it, not a daily painkiller.

## What is Mefenamic Acid used for?

- Period pain (primary dysmenorrhoea) — where it is one of the most effective options available
- Heavy menstrual bleeding — it reduces blood loss as well as pain, which paracetamol does not
- Headache, including some tension-type headache
- Dental pain and pain after minor surgery
- Muscular and joint pain, and pain from soft-tissue injury
- Fever in adults, where an NSAID is suitable

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: The usual adult dose is 500mg three times a day, started at the first sign of pain, or 250mg every six hours for milder pain. For period pain it works best taken at the very start of the period — or, on medical advice, the day before it is expected — rather than waited on until the cramps are severe. It should always be taken with or just after food. Treatment is normally limited to seven days at a time; if you need it for longer than that every month, the underlying cause needs looking at.
- Children: Mefenamic acid is not generally recommended for children under twelve in Nigerian practice, and paracetamol or ibuprofen are the usual choices for younger children. Where a doctor does prescribe it for an older child or adolescent — most often for period pain — the dose is set by weight and the course kept short.
- Elderly: Older adults are at markedly higher risk of stomach bleeding, kidney injury and heart problems from all NSAIDs, and mefenamic acid is no exception. It should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time, and often avoided altogether in favour of paracetamol where there is kidney disease, heart failure or a history of ulcers.

Take it with food, always. Do not combine it with another NSAID — that means not taking it alongside ibuprofen, diclofenac, piroxicam or aspirin for pain, since doubling up multiplies the stomach and kidney risk without adding much relief. Paracetamol, which is not an NSAID, can generally be combined with it. In overdose mefenamic acid causes seizures more readily than other NSAIDs, so accidental or deliberate overdose is an emergency.

## Side effects

Common: Indigestion, heartburn and stomach pain — the most frequent complaint; Diarrhoea, which is more common with mefenamic acid than with other NSAIDs; Nausea and vomiting; Headache and dizziness; Drowsiness.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Stomach or duodenal ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding — signalled by black tarry stools or vomiting blood; Kidney injury, especially in dehydration, existing kidney disease or with other kidney-stressing drugs; Severe allergic reactions and asthma attacks in people sensitive to NSAIDs; Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome — rare; Haemolytic anaemia and, in overdose, seizures.

When to see a doctor: Stop the medicine and seek urgent care for black or tarry stools, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, severe abdominal pain, or a spreading rash. Seek help for wheezing or facial swelling. See a doctor if diarrhoea is severe or persistent, if you pass much less urine than usual, or if period pain needs a full course every single month — that pattern can point to endometriosis or fibroids rather than ordinary cramps.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Active stomach or duodenal ulcer, or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding on an NSAID; Severe kidney or liver impairment; Severe heart failure; Asthma, hives or nasal polyps triggered by aspirin or other NSAIDs; Inflammatory bowel disease — mefenamic acid can worsen it; The third trimester of pregnancy.

Interactions: Other NSAIDs including ibuprofen, diclofenac, piroxicam and aspirin — never combine for pain; Warfarin and other anticoagulants — substantially increased bleeding risk; ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, ARBs such as losartan, and diuretics — the combination can injure the kidneys, sometimes called the triple whammy; Lithium and methotrexate — mefenamic acid raises their levels toward toxicity; Corticosteroids such as prednisolone — added ulcer risk; SSRIs such as fluoxetine and sertraline — increased risk of stomach bleeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Mefenamic acid should be avoided in the third trimester of pregnancy, where NSAIDs can close a vital fetal blood vessel early, reduce amniotic fluid and delay labour. In the first and second trimesters it is used only if clearly necessary and on medical advice; paracetamol is the usual first choice for pain in pregnancy. Only small amounts pass into breast milk and short courses are generally considered compatible with breastfeeding, but check with your doctor or pharmacist.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Ponstan Capsules (Pfizer Specialties Ltd, made in Germany); Fenamex-DT Tablet (Greenlife Pharmaceutical Limited, made in India).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/mefenamic-acid/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC number on the pack — Ponstan capsules carry 04-9502 and Fenamex-DT carries B4-3764 in our copy of the register.
2. Only two mefenamic acid products hold active registrations in our copy. If the brand in front of you is neither, ask questions and check it with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
3. Beware loose capsules sold by the piece in open markets — Ponstan is one of the most widely copied painkiller brands in West Africa, and a blister strip with a verifiable number is far safer.
4. Look for a clear batch number and expiry date, and for crisp printing on the foil.
5. If you are offered a much cheaper 'Ponstan' than the pharmacy price, treat the discount as information rather than a bargain.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### Is mefenamic acid the same as Ponstan?

Yes. Mefenamic acid is the generic name; Ponstan is Pfizer's original brand name and the one almost everyone in Nigeria uses. Fenamex-DT from Greenlife is the other mefenamic acid product with an active NAFDAC registration in our copy of the register. Any other product sold as mefenamic acid should be checked against the register before you buy it.

### How much is Ponstan in Nigeria?

Ponstan is an imported Pfizer product and prices it accordingly, while the locally registered dispersible tablet is cheaper. With only two active registrations, mefenamic acid does not have the price competition that a drug like ibuprofen enjoys, and market prices vary widely. Check the price section of this page for current sampled figures, and be sceptical of unusually cheap Ponstan — this is a heavily counterfeited brand.

### Is mefenamic acid better than ibuprofen for period pain?

Both work well and both are reasonable first choices. Mefenamic acid has a particular reputation for menstrual pain, partly because it also reduces menstrual blood loss, which makes it a good fit when periods are heavy as well as painful. Ibuprofen is cheaper, more widely available and better tolerated by the stomach for many people. If one does not work for you, the other genuinely may. Whichever you use, starting it at the first sign of the period rather than waiting for severe cramps makes a real difference.

### How many days can I take mefenamic acid?

For period pain, the usual course is the two to three days of worst symptoms, and treatment is normally limited to seven days at a time. It is not a daily painkiller. If you find you need a full course every month, or the pain is getting worse over time, see a doctor — persistent severe period pain can be a sign of endometriosis, fibroids or adenomyosis, all of which are treatable and none of which are helped by simply taking more painkillers.

### Can I take mefenamic acid with paracetamol?

Yes. Paracetamol is not an NSAID and works by a different route, so the two can be taken together and are often more effective combined than either alone. What you must not do is combine mefenamic acid with another NSAID — ibuprofen, diclofenac, piroxicam or aspirin taken for pain — because that multiplies the risk of stomach bleeding and kidney injury without adding much relief. Check the labels of any combination cold or pain remedy, which often contain a hidden NSAID.

### Why does mefenamic acid upset my stomach?

All NSAIDs reduce the prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining, and mefenamic acid is among the more irritating of them — diarrhoea in particular is more common with it than with other NSAIDs. Always take it with or straight after food. If it still causes trouble, tell your doctor: switching NSAID, adding a stomach-protecting medicine such as omeprazole, or using paracetamol instead are all reasonable options. Severe abdominal pain, black stools or vomiting blood are not side effects to manage at home — they need urgent care.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)