The Efficacy and Safety of Leard-Ngam Remedy Powder versus Mefenamic Acid for Relieving Primary Dysmenorrhea

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea refers to uterine contractions and pain during menstruation. Leard-ngam remedy (LG) is listed as a Thai Herbal Medicine Product for the treatment of the menstrual period. Objective: To study the efficacy and side effects of LG compared with mefenamic acid (MFA) for reducing menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Thammasat University Hospital in women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was used for the pain score assessment, which was scaled from 0 to 10. The LG group received two capsules of 1 g, three times a day before meals for three days. The MFA group received two capsules of 500 mg, three times a day after meals for three days. Matching placebo capsules before and after meals were to be taken the same way as the LG and MFA capsules. Both groups started from the first day of menstruation and were told to repeat the same treatment for the subsequent two menstrual cycles. Results: Eighty-nine participants were enrolled, with 45 in the LG group and 44 in the MFA group. The groups had similar baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Both drugs reduced menstrual pain when given for the first three days of the menstrual cycle. The mean pain scores in the first three months, as M1 to 3, were 5.22, 3.38, and 1.76 in the LG group versus 5.00, 4.16, and 2.24 in the MFA group on the first-, second-, and third-day period, respectively. They were not significantly different, and pain recurred when both drugs were stopped. Conclusion: LG was effective and well tolerated in young women with primary dysmenorrhea.