Management of primary dysmenorrhea often requires a multifaceted approach. The nurse who provides care for a patient with this condition should be aware that the optimal pharmacologic therapy for pain relief is:

Question

a. Acetaminophen.
b. Oral contraceptives (OCPs).
c. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
d. Aspirin.

Answer 1

C

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A Preparations containing acetaminophen are less effective for dysmenorrhea be-cause they lack the antiprostaglandin properties of NSAIDs.
B OCPs are a reasonable choice for women who also want birth control. The ben-efit of OCPs is the reduction of menstrual flow and irregularities. OCPs may be contraindicated for some women and have a number of potential side effects.
C This pharmacologic agent has the strongest research results for pain relief. Often if one NSAID is not effective, another one will provide relief. Approximately 80% of women gain relief from these prostaglandin inhibitors.
D NSAIDs are the drug of choice. If a woman is taking an NSAID, she should avoid taking aspirin.