Could ibuprofen stop periods temporarily?

Oh my goodness! Please someone tell me this will work!!! I was talked in to getting the depo shot, even though I have my tubes tied! The doctor suspects I have endometriosis, and told me depo will stop my period. Well it didn't! Instead every period has lasted longer and longer! The sit should be out of my system, it's been four months since I got it. My last period lasted three weeks, then a week off and it started again. I've been on my period since July fourth, it's August 17th and not letting up! I'm always tired, and my husband is very frustrated. I can't believe the doctor didn't warn me that this could happen! I'm in Hell! Please tell me the ibuprofen will work! I have 600 mg tabs, lots of them! Or does anyone know a better way to stop it? I am NOT open to taking any more birth controll ever!

Yes, I believe it does work.  I am 40 years old and began having heavy periods about 6 months ago...the second day is heavy enough that I've missed work.  The doctor told me to either take ibuprofen or naproxen just on the days that my period is heavy.  She prescribed naproxen, but I actually think the over the counter ibuprofen works better.  I take one 200mg tablet every 4-6 hours on the first and second days of my period.  It seems to start working within a couple of hours, and makes a noticeable difference.  I have been doing this for the last 3 months, and my period still comes on time the next month, so it doesn't seem to have any lingering effects.  Also, since the doctor said to do this, and it seems to be helping, it seems a better solution than birth control or progesterone pills.  Actually, the doctor said that ibuprofen/naproxen was the first step, and those others would come if this didn't work.

Two months ago, I had an important wedding to go to, and was really afraid that I wouldn't be able to make it, or would embarrass myself there.  I started taking the ibuprofen the day before my period was due, to try and delay it.  It came a day late and a LOT lighter, and I didn't miss the wedding. I wouldn't do that on a regular basis...but if I have another event or trip that I can't miss, have to take a flight, etc., I definitely will.  Most of us are not talking about a period simply being inconvenient, but about it interfering with our lives in a way that can be unhealthy, embarrassing. or unduly restricting...sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. 

I posted a few months back re: using ibuprofen. The first time I used it I was on day 3 of my period and my doctor recommended 800 mg twice a day. It worked immediately that first time.

The second cycle, I started the Ibuprofen when my bleeding got heavy, and it did not completely stop the bleeding as it did the first time I tried it.

The 3rd cycle the bleeding was still heavy despite using Ibuprofen, but more manageable (meaning I only had to get up twice during the night to use the restroom, rather than 7 or 8 times). My doctor had given me a prescription for norethindrone acetate, a hormone, which I just finished taking. I'm not sure it helped decrease the bleeding.

Now I'm on my 4th cycle since starting ibuprofen use, and I started it the moment the bleeding began. I'm on day 3, and the flow is only heavy when I get to say 10 or 11 hours after taking the last dose. I take it at dinner and breakfast. So this morning I had heavy flow while exercising, then I took my dose with breakfast and it's lighter again.

FYI, I am 50 and get my periods every 23 days. My heavy bleeding started about 10 months ago.

The diva cup is great, and I use it, but when you have really heavy bleeding like many of the women posting here, it can fill up every 15 minutes. I have to use a diva, a tampon and a pad to get through heavy bleeding days.

Ibuprofen can work (make you period lighter, or stop it all together) but it is not completely reliable and you need to be aware of the risks of using that medication. My doctor said 800 mg twice per day, and that has not caused me any problems to my knowledge after 4 months of using this approach to address my heavy bleeding (up to 10 days).

Halleuiah!  That is all I can say right now.  I have tried taking Ibuprofen twice now for ridiculously heavy bleeding and it has worked to slow the flow surprisingly well and quickly (within 20-60 minutes).  This morning, for example,  I was leaking through my super-plus tampons every 10-20 minutes. Wearing 2 tampons and a pad lengthened the changing/leaking time to about every 20-40 minutes.  I have been to the Dr and they could not find anything wrong, simply told me this is "normal" for women my age (51) although I am supposedly not in menopause yet.  Dr suggested going on the pill or IUD but I have a family history of blood clots so those options are too risky for me. Dr. also suggested doing an Ablation procedure, but I haven't decided about that.  That procedure can only be done if you're sure you do not want more children.  My periods sometimes last several weeks long and the heavy bleeding sometimes makes me fatigued, light-headed and causes me to become low in Ferritin (iron stores)

I appreciate the health cautions about taking too much Ibuprofen.  It is always good to be cautious and careful but for those of us whose lives are seriously impacted by heavy bleeding the pros may outweigh the cons.  I have only taken normal doses of Ibuprofen--400mg (2 tablets) so I would suggest starting with a normal dose first to see how well it works rather than jumping immediately to the higher doses first

I agree, Robinsnest, my bleeding was getting to the point where I was going to have to take time off work (unpaid) to stay home, rather than try to see my clients and risk having accidents. The cramps were pretty bad as well.

Now I know why 800mg of ibuprofen is recommended after surgery - it prevents bleeding from whatever wound you might have.

This bleeding is normal for women at our time of life, however it's good to get checked for possible uterine cancer, as very long periods (10 days or longer) are a symptom of this cancer. I can't afford the biopsy for that right now under my plan (major medical) so am just waiting to see if I have further symptoms.

Good luck to you!

I tried it, and it did not work for me. I still have my period from july 4th to august 26th, I'm not sure how much longer I can take this. Whatever you do, stay away from depo provera, it's the devil.

I was advised this years ago by a nurse and it really does work!

guys listen ib does stopr ur period once it started. i did it and it worked. you just have to take 800 mg every 6 hrs. it works girl but u got to be on time. every 6 hrs

that's double the dose my doctor recommended. You might want to run that by your physician.

NEWSFLASH: I was using the ibuprofen 800 mg per day 8-10 days at a time, with decreasing success each cycle. This last cycle on night 3, I was up 8 times to use the bathroom despite taking ibuprofen at 8pm the night before. The next day I took it again at 8am and by noon I was having some kidney pain, despite following my doctor's recommendation. So I decided to investigate the herbal alternatives, and stopped by a wonderful natural foods market in my neighborhood. Here I was advised to try a tincture of shepherd's purse (1 dropper full) in a tea of red raspberry leaf (which I had dry at home purchased bulk some time ago). I took that in the evening and the bleeding subsided right away.

I did more research online, and next day picked up a tincture of yarrow and added that to the tea and shepherd's purse (again, 1 dropper full).

From wiki: Yarrow intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it,[16] and helps eliminate toxins from the body[citation needed]. It is reported[17] to be associated with the treatment of the following ailments:
Pain,[18] amenorrhea, antiphlogistic,[19][20] bleeding, blood clots, blood pressure (lowers), blood purifier, blood vessels (tones), catarrh (acute, repertory), colds, chicken pox, circulation, contraceptive (unproven), cystitis, diabetes, digestion (stimulates), gastrointestinal disorders,[19] choleretic [21] dyspepsia, eczema, fevers, flu, gastritis, gum ailments, heartbeat (slow), influenza, inflammation,[22] emmenagogue,[23] internal bleeding, liver (stimulates and regulates), lungs (hemorrhage), measles, menses (suppressed), menorrhagia, menstruation (regulates, relieves pain), nipple soreness, nosebleeds, piles (bleeding), smallpox, stomach sickness, toothache, thrombosis, ulcers, urinary antiseptic, uterus (tighten and contract), stomachache,[24] and varicose veins.

and this on shepherd's purse from an herbalist site: When dried and infused, it yields a tea which is still considered by herbalists one of the best specifics for stopping haemorrhages of all kinds - of the stomach, the lungs, or the uterus, and more especially bleeding from the kidneys.

Importantly NO SIDE AFFECTS AT ALL!! No need to worry about kidney or liver failure!

I took two droppers full per day of each and it worked beautifully.

I paid $11 per tincture for 1 oz, which it looks like will last 6 cycles if I have to dose twice a day for 5 days. Pretty reasonable if you ask me, and so much better for your health.

Yes I tried it and it worked. I was on period three weeks straight with no end in sight. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen and witin the hour my period was gone!

My periods are so heavy and last for about a week taking motrin really worked...

They work great hae to be changed every 8 hours. they don't last 10 years

Ibuprofen indeed WORKS ive been bleeding for 12 days straight (heavy) i went to the doctor and he prescribe me 800mg of ibuprofen to take 3 times a day with food after 2/3 days of taking them my period completly stop..it does work ladies