Mefenamic acid

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug — MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM

Key facts

Mefenamic acid is an ofp drug in the Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug class catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the FDA in 1967. Its mechanism of action is classified as Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors. DrugCentral lists 15 molecular targets, including NAPRT, PTGS2 and AKR1C2. Recorded indications include Dysmenorrhea and Pain.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1967 by the FDA).
• Drug class: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug.
• Mechanism of action: Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors.
• Molecular targets: NAPRT, PTGS2, AKR1C2 and AKR1C3 (15 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Dysmenorrhea and Pain.
• ATC code: M01AG01 (Fenamates).
• Molecular formula: C15H15NO2; molecular weight 241.29 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (2)

• Dysmenorrhea
• Pain

Off-label uses (1)

• Vascular headache

Contraindications (14)

• Blood coagulation disorder
• Cardiovascular event risk
• Chronic heart failure
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Disease of liver
• Disorder of cardiovascular system
• Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• Gastrointestinal ulcer
• Hypertensive disorder
• Kidney disease
• Myocardial infarction
• Peptic ulcer
• Pregnancy, function
• Smokes tobacco daily

Mechanism & targets

• Mechanism of action (MoA): Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
• Established pharmacologic class: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug

Molecular targets (15)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase	NAPRT	unknown	Ki 10.30
Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2	PTGS2	inhibitor	IC50 6.83
Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C2	AKR1C2	unknown	Ki 6.66
Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3	AKR1C3	unknown	Ki 6.52
Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1	AKR1C1	unknown	Ki 6.09
Myeloperoxidase	MPO	unknown	IC50 6.01
Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10	AKR1B10	unknown	IC50 5.80
Cytochrome P450 2C9	CYP2C9	unknown	EC50 5.30
Acetylcholinesterase	ache	unknown	IC50 5.21
Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1	TRPA1	unknown	EC50 4.80
Prostaglandin G/H synthase 1	PTGS1	inhibitor	IC50 4.78
NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3	Nlrp3	unknown	IC50 4.60
Dihydrofolate reductase	DHFR	unknown	Ki 4.14
Aldose reductase	AKR1B1	unknown	IC50 4.11
Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1	KCNMA1	activator	EC50 4.00

Regulatory approvals (1)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
1967-03-28	FDA	—	SHIONOGI INC

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
M01AG01	MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM › ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIRHEUMATIC PRODUCTS › ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIRHEUMATIC PRODUCTS, NON-STEROIDS › Fenamates

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Paranasal cyst	126.3
Vascular malformation	124.6
Infusion site coldness	118.3
Gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased	108.5
Mastoiditis	94.6
Spinal pain	86.4
Stress	84.2
Infusion site induration	77.1
Post-traumatic neck syndrome	69.9
Mean cell haemoglobin decreased	63.7
Otitis media	63.3
Vasodilatation	61.2

Chemical structure

Full physicochemical, ADMET and 3D-structure analysis of Mefenamic acid is on its molecule page.

• Molecular formula: C₁₅H₁₅NO₂
• Molecular weight: 241.29 g/mol
• CAS number: 61-68-7
• InChIKey: HYYBABOKPJLUIN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• PubChem CID: 4044

CC1=CC=CC(NC2=C(C=CC=C2)C(O)=O)=C1C

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Mefenamic acid used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Mefenamic acid: Dysmenorrhea and Pain.

How does Mefenamic acid work?

Mefenamic acid is classified as Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; its molecular targets in DrugCentral include NAPRT, PTGS2 (inhibitor), AKR1C2 and AKR1C3.

When was Mefenamic acid first approved?

Mefenamic acid was first approved by the FDA in 1967.

What drug class does Mefenamic acid belong to?

Mefenamic acid is in the Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug class.

What is the chemical formula of Mefenamic acid?

Mefenamic acid has the molecular formula C15H15NO2 and a molecular weight of 241.29 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 1663 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL686 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 4044 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB00784 — drug record
• FDA UNII 367589PJ2C — substance identity
• DailyMed: FDA labels for Mefenamic acid — current prescribing information (label search)
• UniProt Q6XQN6 (NAPRT) — target protein
• UniProt P35354 (PTGS2) — target protein
• UniProt P52895 (AKR1C2) — target protein
• UniProt P42330 (AKR1C3) — target protein
• UniProt Q04828 (AKR1C1) — target protein
• UniProt P05164 (MPO) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.