Feminax Ultra - An Additional Period Pain (Feminax Ultra)

Member Name: Carysb

Product:	Feminax Ultra
Date:	26/07/09 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Compact

Disadvantages: Expensive, designed only to relieve period pain & menstrual cramp

As a young girl I learnt to rely on Feminax during the early years of my periods as my body painfully adjusted to my menstrual cycle. Nowadays as a young woman I only take them as and when the pain is really bad, which isn't often, as it is controlled by my contraceptive pill.

However, one month last year was extremely painful and I decided that as I was out of Feminax and had seen Feminax Ultra advertised on the television that this would be a fantastic and stronger substitute for my period pain. Feminax Ultra is designed to give "Maximum strength pain relief from period pain and menstrual cramps". They were a new form of painkillers designed specifically to relieve this sort of pain and I hadn't seen them in the shop before.

I was expecting just a stronger version of the normal Feminax which treats headaches, stomach cramps, backache and many other symptoms associated with that time of the month; however this medication is completely different. After shelling out nearly £5 for the normal sized blue box which boasted maximum strength, I read the instructions - something I am normally very bad at doing.

**The Packaging **

The box is designed for maximum attention as with the normal Feminax packaging, though the box is blue with the contour of a female breast embedded in the design. The word "new" is in large red letters with a yellow background in the corner meaning you cannot fail to stop it is a new product. The other very noticeable thing about this box is that it has brail on the back of it. Obviously I cannot tell you what it says but I think it's a very good idea and not something I have come across before on the back of my painkiller packets.

Unlike the normal Feminax which comes in a pink box, each tablet of Feminax Ultra is 250mg of Naproxen in a gastro-resistant coating preventing the tablets from dissolving before they are required to do so. It also contains Lactose as one of its inactive ingredients and so if an intolerance has been diagnosed it is advised to contact a doctor before taking Feminax Ultra.

**What is Naproxen?**

Naproxen, like Ibuprofen and Aspirin belongs to the group of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. As a result it should not be taken in conjunction with Ibuprofen, Aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It should also not be taken if you have suffered an allergic reaction to any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the past.

**How to take Feminax Ultra!**

Please read this carefully if you are considering substituting your Feminax tablets for Feminax Ultra. The whole process of taking these tablets is completely different and definitely a good job I read the leaflet.

These tablets are broken down into 3 days worth. Each box contains 9 tablets.

Day 1: When the pain starts take 2 tablets if needed and after 6 - 8 hours take 1 more that day if needed.
Day 2: Take 1 tablets every 6-8 hours if needed
Day 3: Take 1 tablet every 6-8 hours if needed.
The instructions state very clearly not to take any more than 3 tablets in one day (which I assume to be a 24 hour period). The instructions also state in bold never to take the tablets for more than 3 days in any 1 month.
As with most medication there is a list of examples when you should not take this medication without consulting a doctor, they include:
When breast feeding, or pregnant, if you started having period pain more than a year after your first period, if you suffer from heart problems, have had a stroke or have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoke. A doctor should be consulted prior to taking Feminax Ultra if you suffer kidney or liver problems, blood clotting problems, asthma or allergies which cause breathing problems, stomach disorders such as ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease.

It categorically states that if you suffer from bleeding in the stomach or stomach pain which does not go away and if you have or have ever had a stomach ulcer you should not take these tablets.

There is also an extensive list of other medications which if you are taking your should consult a doctor before taking Feminax Ultra. They include many anti-depressants, tablets for high blood pressure and medication for blood clots and epilepsy. It is very important than anybody considering taking this medication for menstrual cramps reads this list of other medications.

As will all medication the instructions also list possible side effects, these differ no more than other painkillers (but the instructions do stress that when driving and using machinery that if dizziness, drowsiness, lack of concentration or sleepiness become a problem then to not drive or use machinery) and come with the standard warning to consult a doctor if you believe you are experiencing any abnormal effects from the medication.

**Why am I writing this review? **

Because I found these tablets to be completely ineffective and made me quite ill. I have never experienced any of the listed ailments which required a consultation with my GP prior to taking this form of painkiller. I found that my quite painful cramps and period pain was not relieved by taking this medication, it appeared to have no effect on me what so ever, however it made a mild headache turn into a migraine, something which the normal Feminax tablets have never done before, as they made to combat other pains as well as menstrual pain. My migraine got so bad I had to cancel my evening out and go to bed. After my 6 hours had passed having taken Feminax Ultra I took Ibuprofen which combated the migraine and the period pain within an hour of taking it.

**Would I use Feminax Ultra again? **

No I wouldn't I have decided that these tablets made me worse and did not treat my period pain and menstrual cramps as they claim to do. I also have to be honest and say whilst I took the initial two tablets I took no more due to how ill I felt and the belief that it was these tablets which cause my migraine. I now have a nearly full box of tablets which I will be disposing of carefully. I wouldn't recommend this painkiller and would recommend the normal Feminax painkillers if you were trying to weigh up the benefits of the two.

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Summary: Painkiller