From the Guidelines
Medications for Menorrhagia (Hypermenorrhea) Menorrhagia can be managed with medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and tranexamic acid, as well as hormonal therapies like combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS) 1.
First-Line Treatments
- NSAIDs: ibuprofen (400-800 mg every 8 hours) or naproxen (250-500 mg every 8 hours) for 2-3 days during menstruation to reduce menstrual blood loss and alleviate symptoms 1.
- Tranexamic acid: 650 mg every 8 hours for 3-5 days to reduce menstrual blood loss 1.
Second-Line Treatments
- Hormonal therapies: COCs or LNG-IUS for long-term management, especially when NSAIDs are contraindicated or ineffective 1.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists: leuprolide acetate, and oral GnRH antagonists like elagolix, linzagolix, and relugolix, which can reduce bleeding symptoms and tumor volume, but may have hypoestrogenic effects 1.
- Progesterone receptor modulators: ulipristal acetate, which can reduce bleeding and bulk symptoms, and can be administered intermittently, allowing for menstruation during medication breaks 1. It is essential to consider the potential side effects and interactions of these medications, as well as the patient's medical history and preferences, when selecting a treatment option 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ... 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 medication for dysmenorrhea (which is related to menorrhagia or hypermenorrhea) is ibuprofen. The recommended dose is 400 mg every 4 hours as necessary for the relief of pain.
- Key points:
- Ibuprofen is used to treat dysmenorrhea
- The dose is 400 mg every 4 hours
- It is used for the relief of pain 2
From the Research
Medications for Menorrhagia (Hypermenorrhea)
There are no research papers provided that directly address the medications for menorrhagia (hypermenorrhea). The studies provided focus on the use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen for pain management in various conditions, but do not specifically discuss their use in treating menorrhagia.
Related Information
- The studies provided do show the efficacy of ibuprofen and acetaminophen in managing pain, which may be relevant to treating dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), a related condition to menorrhagia 3, 4, 5.
- However, menorrhagia is characterized by heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, and the treatment for this condition may involve different medications, such as hormonal therapies or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) specifically for their anti-prostaglandin effects.
- Further research would be needed to determine the effectiveness of ibuprofen or acetaminophen in treating menorrhagia specifically.