title: A comparative study of ethamsylate and mefenamic acid in dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
abstract: The effects of ethamsylate and mefenamic acid on menstrual blood loss were compared in a double-blind trial in 34 women with menorrhagia. Both drugs produced statistically significant reductions in blood loss during the 3 months of treatment; the overall reduction was 20% in the ethamsylate group and 24% in the mefenamic acid group. Compared with pretreatment values, blood loss was significantly less in each of the 3 treatment months in the mefenamic acid group, but only in the second and third months of treatment in the ethamsylate group. However, more women had a clinically useful reduction in blood loss (greater than 40%) in the ethamsylate group. The onset of effect of mefenamic acid was rapid but ethamsylate showed a comparatively greater effect as the trial progressed. Cessation of treatment was followed by an increase in blood loss, more pronounced in mefenamic acid group who reverted to pre-treatment levels. A greater number of side-effects were reported with mefenamic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eve
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004979:Ethamsylate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004979:Ethamsylate; D008528:Mefenamic Acid