Menstrual Cramp Remedies?

Boiron Homeopathic pellets - the ones for "menstrual cramps". You can get them at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe. I've had terrible menstrual cramps since I was a teen. This stuff completely prevents the cramps. I thought it was maybe all in my head, a placebo effect. But my SIL, who suffers even worse cramps than me, tried them and they worked for her, too!

A good old fashioned hot water bottle. You can buy them at Target in the pharmacy for $5. Just keep heat on your belly and it really helps. You can also add some advil which is an anti-prostaglandin which targets the specific cause of cramps.

Pre-emptive ibuprofen doses-I start taking it a couple of days before at regular dosing levels. And I sometimes front load as well, meaning I will take a prescription strength dose of OTC ibuprofen (translated to 3-4 200mg pills instead of just 2). I only need to take one or two of these to conquer the cramps and other pain. This is all per doctor's orders for ME. Consult your ob-gyn.

Ibuprofen and heating pad were my go to items.

If you have bloating Midol or similar item may help because they also contain a diaretic. I would retain so much fluids I sometimes thought that if I was poked with a pin I would squirt water instead of blood. My quads would hurt like I had run a marathon. Then in a few days the pain went away but I was constantly running to the bathroom.

I did tons of reading on this and actually did a term paper on PMS when I was in college and another key is SALT. How much salt or sodium is in your diet? Do you eat a lot of processed foods, canned/jared soups and sauces? By cutting the salt in your diet your symtoms will improve on their own.

Midol can get me out of the fetal position and return me to a fully-functioning human being when my cramps are really bad.

A warm or hot shower really helps me! Letting the water hit directly on my stomach brings me such relief. I have actually read that Sue's suggestion is a very real way to get relief. I will say, it makes mine immensely worse.

I love the Thermacare menstrual pads...they're a heating pad you can stick into your underpants and wear during the day.

My cramps were terrible too, to the point I was missing work sometimes. (I'm not a wimp-- I actually found unmedicated labor easier than the cramps I got.) I agree with Donna's suggestion of taking 3 Advil pre-emptively in the days before you usually start cramping. Take it regularly, and drink lots of water.

If the pain is worse, do consult your Gyn.

I have terrible cramps. I got a prescription about 1 year ago that has really helped, not completely tho. It's called Naproxen 550mg

I don't get crampy or bloaty.
Just moody.
LOL

I dunno, there are those "PMS" pills in drugstores that is supposed to help with bloating/cramps.
Midol?

Or maybe try Aleve. Versus Advil. Aleve is supposed to help with menstrual cramps too.