I have extremely painful cramps every month. i take about 10-12 220mg aleves (naproxen) a day but it just barely dulls the pain. what else can i do?

Too much Aleve (naproxen): First see your doctor for an evaluation. Stop taking so much Aleve (naproxen). The maximum dose is 3 tablets/24 hours. You run the risk of stomach ulcer, kidney failure etc by taking excessive amounts of medication.

See a GYN MD: You need to make an appointment with a GYN MD to find out what is causing the pain.

Be seen: You are taking too much Aleve (naproxen). You need to see your physician for an exam and diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Dysmenorrhea: Menstrual cramps usually are treated with anti inflammatory agents first. If no response, then hormonal treatment with contraceptive pills. If no improvement with these two approaches, the likelihood of endometriosis is high. Among the anti inflammatory ponstel or bromday like meds have better effect than aleve (naproxen) or ibuprofen. Exercise and heating pad to the lower abdominal wall might help also.

A common problem: Start taking the Aleve (naproxen) on a regular schedule a little BEFORE your period starts. It will always work better this way rather than chasing the pain. You can also try ibuprofen instead of Aleve (naproxen). They are the same type of analgesic but sometimes one will just work better. The birth control pill is commonly used for this and will usually work well, but will require medical supervision.

Painful cramps.: And too much Aleve (naproxen). You should see your doc for an exam and a better pain plan.

Magnesium / hormones: Magnesium is a great muscle relaxer and can help with menstrual cramps. Try taking magnesium glycinate 200 - 300 mg orally 3x/d as soon as the menstrual cramps start. You can also take a warm bath and add 1 - 2 cups of Epsom Salts to the bath water and soak for 30 min to 1 hr. Ask your pharmacist which doctors are using real progesterone to treat menstrual problems and call for an appointment.