How long does advil take to work for period cramps

Anti-inflammatory painkillers like diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen can help relieve severe period pain. These medications sometimes have side effects such as stomach problems.

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Painkillers block prostaglandin production
The research shows: NSAIDs can relieve period pain
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Lifestyle and home remedies
Alternative medicine
Preparing for your appointment
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor
What you can do in the meantime
How long does it take for Advil to kick in for cramps?
How much Advil should I take for period cramps?
How much ibuprofen can I take at once for period cramps?
Is it OK to take Advil for period cramps?

Period pain and cramps (dysmenorrhea) are common. Most girls and women have pain of varying intensity at some point during their period. In some women the pain is so bad that they're unable to carry out their usual daily activities, like going to work or school, on one to three days every month.

In women who have bad period pains, the womb often produces too much of the chemical messenger prostaglandin. This leads to painful cramps in the lower abdomen that might also radiate into the back or thighs. Benign (non-cancerous) growths such as fibroids sometimes play a role too. Very severe period pain can also be a symptom of endometriosis, where the type of tissue that lines the womb grows outside of the womb.

Painkillers block prostaglandin production

Anti-inflammatory painkillers are often used to relieve period pain, especially the drugs diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. These medications are all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They inhibit the production of prostaglandins and can relieve period pain in that way. Many NSAIDs are available from pharmacies without a prescription.

Researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration – an international network of researchers – looked for clinical studies of these drugs to find out whether they help and how well they are tolerated. The researchers found 80 good-quality studies involving more than 5,800 girls and women between the ages of 12 and 47. These studies compared the effectiveness of the painkiller with that of a placebo (fake drug) or other medications. The studies included women with and without endometriosis.

The research shows: NSAIDs can relieve period pain

The studies show that NSAIDs were more effective than placebos at relieving period pain:

82 out of 100 girls and women who didn't take NSAIDs still had severe pain after a few hours.
51 out of 100 girls and women who took NSAIDs still had severe pain after a few hours.

So the painkillers relieved pain in 31 out of 100 girls and women.

Some studies compared NSAIDs with acetaminophen (paracetamol). They suggest that NSAIDs are a little more effective than acetaminophen at relieving period pain. There's not enough good research to be able to say whether some NSAIDs are more effective than others.

The studies also show that NSAIDs can sometimes have side effects: 2 to 3 out of 100 girls and women experienced stomach problems, nausea, headaches or drowsiness.

Sources

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.
Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.
Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

Diagnosis

Your health care provider will review your medical history and perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. During the pelvic exam, your provider checks for anything unusual with the reproductive organs and looks for signs of infection.

Your provider may also recommend certain tests, including:

Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to create an image of your uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Other imaging tests. A CT scan or MRI scan provides more detail than an ultrasound and can help your doctor diagnose underlying conditions. CT combines X-ray images taken from many angles to produce cross-sectional images of bones, organs and other soft tissues inside your body.
MRI uses radio waves and a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed images of internal structures. Both tests are noninvasive and painless.
Laparoscopy. Although not usually necessary to diagnosis menstrual cramps, laparoscopy can help detect an underlying condition, such as endometriosis, adhesions, fibroids, ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancy. During this outpatient surgery, your doctor views your abdominal cavity and reproductive organs by making tiny incisions in your abdomen and inserting a fiber-optic tube with a small camera lens.

Treatment

To ease your menstrual cramps, your health care provider might recommend:

Pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), at regular doses starting the day before you expect your period to begin can help control the pain of cramps. Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also are available.
Start taking the pain reliever at the beginning of your period, or as soon as you feel symptoms, and continue taking the medicine as directed for two to three days, or until your symptoms are gone.
Hormonal birth control. Oral birth control pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. These hormones can also be delivered in several other forms: an injection, a skin patch, an implant placed under the skin of your arm, a flexible ring that you insert into your vagina, or an intrauterine device (IUD).
Surgery. If your menstrual cramps are caused by a disorder such as endometriosis or fibroids, surgery to correct the problem might help your symptoms. Surgical removal of the uterus also might be an option if other approaches fail to ease your symptoms and if you're not planning to have children.

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Lifestyle and home remedies

Besides getting enough sleep and rest, things you might want to try include:

Exercise regularly. Physical activity, including sex, helps ease menstrual cramps for some women.
Use heat. Soaking in a hot bath or using a heating pad, hot water bottle or heat patch on your lower abdomen might ease menstrual cramps.
Try dietary supplements. A number of studies have indicated that vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-1 (thiamin), vitamin B-6 and magnesium supplements might reduce menstrual cramps.
Reduce stress. Psychological stress might increase your risk of menstrual cramps and their severity.

Alternative medicine

Most alternative therapies for treating menstrual cramps haven't been studied enough for experts to recommend them. However, some alternative treatments might help, including:

Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves inserting extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. Some studies have found that acupuncture helps relieve menstrual cramps.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A TENS device connects to the skin using adhesive patches with electrodes in them. The electrodes deliver a varying level of electric current to stimulate nerves.
TENS might work by raising the threshold for pain signals and stimulating the release of your body's natural painkillers (endorphins). In studies, TENS was more effective than a placebo in relieving menstrual cramp pain.
Herbal medicine. Some herbal products, such as pycnogenol, fennel or combination products, might provide some relief from menstrual cramps.
Acupressure. Like acupuncture, acupressure also involves stimulating certain points on the body, but with gentle pressure on the skin instead of needles. Although research on acupressure and menstrual cramps is limited, it appears that acupressure may be more effective than a placebo in easing menstrual cramps.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have bothersome menstrual cramps, make an appointment with either your primary physician or a doctor who specializes in the female reproductive system (gynecologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Track your menstrual periods, when they begin and how severe your cramps are. Also, make a list of:

Medical problems you've had and recent major stresses in your life
All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take
Questions to ask your doctor

For menstrual cramps, basic questions include:

What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Are my symptoms likely to change over time?
Do I need any tests done?
What treatments or home remedies might help?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions as they occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

How old were you when you began menstruating?
How far apart are your menstrual periods, and how long do they typically last?
How heavy is your menstrual bleeding? Do you ever bleed between periods?
Where do your cramps hurt?
Do you have other symptoms with your cramps, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, back pain, dizziness or headaches?
Do your symptoms cause you to limit your activities, stay home from work or school, or avoid exercise?
If you're sexually active, is intercourse painful?
What treatments have you tried so far, if any? Has anything helped?
Do women in your family have a history of similar symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

When you have cramps, try taking a warm bath or applying a heating pad, hot water bottle or heat patch to your abdomen. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, also might help.

How long does it take for Advil to kick in for cramps?

How long does it take to work? Generally it takes about 30 minutes for you to begin feeling the effects of ibuprofen.

How much Advil should I take for period cramps?

Give 2 ibuprofen 200 mg tablets 3 times per day for 3 days.

How much ibuprofen can I take at once for period cramps?

For menstrual cramps: Adults—400 milligrams (mg) every four hours, as needed.

Is it OK to take Advil for period cramps?

To ease your menstrual cramps, your health care provider might recommend: Pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), at regular doses starting the day before you expect your period to begin can help control the pain of cramps.