Before taking mefenamic acid,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to mefenamic acid, aspirin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in mefenamic acid capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the inactive ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: antacids; angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril, lisinopril (in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon, in Prestalia), quinapril (Accupril, in Quinaretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone); angiotensin receptor blockers such as azilsartan (Edarbi, in Edarbyclor), candesartan (Atacand, in Atacand HCT), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor), telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT, in Twynsta); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin, in Tenoretic), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), nadolol (Corgard, in Corzide), and propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, InnoPran); atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotax); clopidogrel (Plavix); diuretics ('water pills'), efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla); fluconazole (Diflucan); fluvastatin (Lescol); metronidazole (Flagyl); lithium (Lithobid); lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor); methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Trexall); ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra); sulfamethoxazole (in Bactrim, in Septra); sulfinpyrazone (no longer available in U.S.; Anturane); trimethoprim (Primsol, in Bactrim, in Septra); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or asthma, especially if you also have frequent stuffed or runny nose or nasal polyps (swelling of the inside of the nose); heart failure; swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs (fluid retention); or liver or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, you plan to become pregnant, or you are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking mefenamic acid, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking mefenamic acid.