From the FDA Drug Label
Mild to moderate pain: 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as necessary for relief of pain. Dysmenorrhea: For the treatment of dysmenorrhea, beginning with the earliest onset of such pain, ibuprofen tablets should be given in a dose of 400 mg every 4 hours as necessary for the relief of pain.
The treatment for Mittelschmerz (ovulatory pain) is not directly addressed in the provided drug labels. However, Mittelschmerz is a type of ovulatory pain similar to dysmenorrhea. Based on the information for dysmenorrhea, the treatment could be ibuprofen 400 mg every 4 hours as necessary for relief of pain 1.
From the Research
Mittelschmerz typically doesn't require medical treatment as the pain is usually mild and resolves on its own within 24-48 hours. For symptom relief, over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 200-400mg every 4-6 hours or naproxen sodium (Aleve) 220mg every 8-12 hours can be effective, as supported by studies such as 2 which found that naproxen had some effect on reducing pain. A heating pad applied to the lower abdomen may also provide comfort. If the pain is recurrent and bothersome, hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills can prevent ovulation and thus eliminate mittelschmerz, as suggested by 3 which found that combined oral contraceptive pills can reduce menstrual bleeding. For women experiencing severe pain, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended to rule out other conditions like endometriosis or ovarian cysts. Mittelschmerz occurs during ovulation when the release of an egg from the ovary causes minor bleeding or irritation of the peritoneal lining, triggering pain. The discomfort typically occurs on one side of the lower abdomen, corresponding to which ovary is releasing an egg that month, and may be accompanied by light vaginal bleeding or discharge. It's worth noting that while other pain-relieving medications like tramadol/paracetamol fixed-dose combination may be effective for pain management in general, as discussed in 4, they may not be the first line of treatment for mittelschmerz due to their potential side effects and the typically mild nature of the condition. However, the most recent and highest quality study 2 suggests that naproxen can be effective in reducing pain, making it a suitable option for mittelschmerz treatment. Key points to consider in the treatment of mittelschmerz include:
- The use of over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium
- The application of a heating pad to the lower abdomen
- The potential use of hormonal contraceptives for recurrent or bothersome pain
- The importance of consulting a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions.