Potassium is a mineral your body uses to control muscle contractions. Menstrual cramps are painful muscle contractions that occur in association with certain chemical changes that begin in advance of monthly menstruation. Doctors can treat menstrual cramps with a medication that contains potassium, called diclofenac potassium. Consult your doctor before taking this medication.
Menstrual Cramp Basics
Prior to menstruation, the lining of the uterus produces chemicals called prostaglandins, which trigger contractions when they come in contact with the uterine muscle. Typically, prostaglandin levels rise until menstruation begins, then gradually decrease. Women who have menstrual cramps triggered by the increase in prostaglandins have a condition called primary dysmenorrhea. In many cases, this condition begins at or near the beginning of puberty, then grows less intense as a woman grows older. However, some women experience prominent symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea for longer amounts of time.
Diclofenac Potassium Uses
Diclofenac potassium contains a form of potassium called a monopotassium salt, in combination with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, called diclofenac. In tablet form, it's used to treat the cramping and pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea. While no one knows precisely how it achieves its effects, Drugs.com notes, it may inhibit the normal production of muscle-contracting prostaglandins. When you take diclofenac potassium, roughly 50 percent of the dose is available for use in your body, while the other 50 percent gets eliminated in your liver by a natural chemical reaction called first-pass metabolism.
Suitability of Use
You are an unsuitable candidate for diclofenac potassium use if you have a history of asthma, the allergic reaction called hives or urticaria, or allergic reactions associated with the use of aspirin or other NSAID medications. In some cases, people with these conditions experience severe, non-fatal forms of anaphylactic shock when taking diclofenac potassium. Prolonged use of this medication can raise your risks for experiencing a heart attack, stroke or other potentially fatal cardiovascular problem. Other problems associated with diclofenac potassium use include hypertension, ulcers, intestinal bleeding, anemia, kidney damage and changes in normal liver function.
Additional Considerations
Medications that can cause adverse effects in combination with diclofenac potassium include methotrexate, cyclosporine, aspirin, lithium, furosemide, ACE inhibitors and the blood-thinning drug warfarin. In animal studies, inhibition of prostaglandins has produced problems with labor and delivery that include higher infant death rates, Drugs.com reports. However, no one knows if these findings apply to human beings. Similarly, no one knows the effects of diclofenac potassium on pregnant or nursing women. Before you use diclofenac potassium, thoroughly discuss all potential risks with your doctor.
