Comparison between mefenamic acid and danazol in the treatment of established menorrhagia

Abstract

Summary. Forty women with established menorrhagia were treated with either mefenamic acid (500 mg thrice daily for 3–5 days in two cycles) or danazol (100 mg twice daily for 60 days) in an open parallel group randomized study. Mefenamic acid reduced mean menstrual blood loss from 160ml to 127ml (20%, P<0·01). Danazol reduced mean menstrual loss from 163 ml to 65 ml (60%, P<0·001). The percentage reduction in menstrual blood loss was significantly greater in the danazol group than in the mefenamic acid group, but the adverse sideeffects occurred significantly more often in the danazol group (75%) than in the mefenamic acid group (30%, P<0–005). Overall, approximately half the women in each group were prepared to continue with the treatment they received to reduce their menstrual bleeding.

Treatment of menorrhagia during menstruation: randomised controlled trial of ethamsylate, mefenamic acid, and tranexamic acid

“…In a previous study we found that mefenamic acid reduced the mean menstrual loss by 20% compared with 60% with danazol over two consecutive menstrual periods; adverse side effects were significantly more common with danazol (75% of patients) than with mefenamic acid (30%) 17. The percentage reduction in menstrual blood loss reported with mefenamic acid is usually in the range 20-35%,11 18 19 though reductions of up to 46% have been reported 20…”

The medical management of abnormal uterine bleeding in reproductive-aged women

“…mefenamic acid. 69 In clinical trials, danazol reduced menstrual blood loss by as much as 80%. 66, 70 However, danazol is associated with significantly more adverse effects, including weight gain, acne, and androgenic effects, than other medical therapies.…”

Randomised trial of mefenamic acid versus tranexamic acid in management of menorrhagia

“…Dockeray et al 12 in comparison of mefenamic acid with danazol in 40 patients with menorrhagia found an improvement rate of 77% in patients treated with mefenamic acid. Bonnar et al 11 in comparative study of ethamsylate, tranexamic acid, mefenamic acid show improvement in dysmenorrhoea in 4%, 9%, 13% in patients treated with ethamsylate, tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid respectively.…”