A clinical trial of indomethacin and ibuprofen in dysmenorrhea.

Forty patients with primary dysmenorrhea were treated with antiprostaglandin agents. Seventeen were treated with indomethacin, with 71% obtaining significant relief. Of 23 treated with ibuprofen, 87% obtained significant relief. Nausea occurred in 49%, vomiting in 23% and stool frequency in 35%. All of these gastro-intestinal symptoms were relieved by both drugs. Ibuprofen was free of side effects, but four patients had headaches or peculiar psychic effects on indomethacin.