Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen reduce pain due to menstrual periods, but ibuprofen appears to have a more potent effect. Researchers from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown found that though ibuprofen is accepted as an effective treatment for painful periods, or dysmenorrhea, there is still controversy about the usefulness of acetaminophen (or paracetamol, the active ingredient in Crocin). To investigate the researchers conducted a small trial involving 12 women with dysmenorrhoea who were given three different treatments in random order for three different periods: 1000 milligrams of acetaminophen, 400 milligrams of ibuprofen, or an inactive placebo, four times daily for three days. The women rated the active medications as being more effective than placebo. However, the findings suggest that ibuprofen has a greater effect and patients also preferred it.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
February 2007