World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

EFFECTIVENESS OF GINGER AND MEFENAMIC ACID ON PAIN RELIEF IN PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA AMONG NURSING STUDENTS OF NEPALGUNJ NURSING CAMPUS

Dr. Dabal Bahadur Dhami* and Seema Bharati

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent menstrual pain affecting adolescent girls and young women worldwide, impacting their physical, psychological, social, and academic well-being. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for pain relief, but herbal medications like ginger have shown promise. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ginger and mefenamic acid in alleviating primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students, focusing on pain reduction and adverse reactions. Aims: The study aims to assess the efficacy of ginger and mefenamic acid in pain relief among nursing students with primary dysmenorrhea and to observe the prevalence of adverse reactions associated with each treatment. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students of Nepalgunj Nursing Campus. Participants were administered mefenamic acid and ginger capsules during consecutive menstrual cycles, and pain severity was assessed using a verbal multi-dimensional scoring system (VMSS). Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: Out of 120 participants, 78 (65%) reported dysmenorrhea. Both mefenamic acid and ginger showed comparable efficacy in reducing pain severity, with minimal adverse effects observed in the ginger group. The majority of participants experienced moderate pain, with significant pain relief observed in both treatment groups. Conclusion: Ginger demonstrates effectiveness comparable to mefenamic acid in relieving pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students, with fewer adverse effects. These findings underscore the importance of considering alternative treatments like ginger for effective management of dysmenorrhea, thus advocating for broader education and awareness among healthcare professionals and patients.

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