Midol Maximum Strength Menstrual Formula Makes The Difference Between “Sublime Freak” or “Axe-Wielding Psycho Mom”
Written: Jul 14 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Provides a moderate level of relief, easy to swallow caplets.
Cons: Can be potentially dangerous to those who are caffeine sensitive.
The Bottom Line: If I hear one more person use the term "a complete menstrual case" .. I swear, I will snap.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Midol Maximum Strength 80 Caplets Menstrual Formul... |
Let’s face it, women’s health is a multi billion dollar a year industry. Aside from make up, perfume, shampoo, lotions, anti aging creams and supplements – there are those specifically formulated for “that time of the month”. That particular string of four words that send shivers down the spines of most men – especially when they are asked to ‘stop off at the store’ for supplies. I never really got that mindset – if I were a guy I’d proudly totes those tampons, pads and menstrual related products up and down the aisles – hey, you have a woman in your life and she isn’t pregnant. But hey, that’s a woman thinking like a man and ladies, feel free to chime in here, it’s easier for a woman to think like a man than it is for a man to think like a woman. With that said, my ex-husband lived in fear of me when ‘that time’ arrived. The tell tale signs were always there – craving chocolate, cleaning anything and everything that wasn’t moving and an attitude that would scare even the most hard core sadist. Over the years the cramps, bloating and irritability have decreased a little, mostly due to exercise, weightlifting and a low carbohydrate diet, but that doesn’t mean that I am ever without these babies in my medicine cabinet. Oh no … that wouldn’t be a good thing.
Midol Maximum Strength, Menstrual Formula
Bayer, the manufacturer of this magnificent product, make some hefty claims in regards to what this will do for you. “Relives cramps, bloating, water weight gain, headaches, backaches, muscle aches and fatigue”. On a personal level, my biggest factor in regards to my cycle is the cramps that accompany it. These are not just regular “oh, my back hurts” kind of cramps but rather the ones where your joints hurt, you get aches in places you didn’t think possible and if someone bumps into you, you feel compelled to rips their head from their shoulders. I started taking this when by tried and true B.C. Powder [aspirin, caffeine, salicylamide] just wasn’t cutting it for me anymore, it took away the headaches and fatigue but did nothing for the occasional bloating. I finally perfected the dosage and combine with this the B.C. Powder when I am having a particularly harsh event – however – this isn’t something that I recommend anyone doing. This is something that I take full and complete responsibility for and stress that you should never mix medications – even if they are over the counter. This warning is on the package for Midol Maximum Strength, Menstrual Formula for a reason; if you have had any type of reaction to a caffeine based product you would be wise to stay away from this unless your doctor, physician or primary health care provider allows it.
How does this stack up to similar products designed to relieve monthly pain? For me this is one of the few over the counter products that managed to give me some true relief in my lower back, the area where I get the most of the deep tissue and muscle pain. I’ve tried Pamprin and some of the other products in the Midol family but none of them really made a dent in the pain when I was hurting or having a “month from hell”. Price wise this is average with the larger sized bottle running about six dollars for forty caplets. Break that down and you are looking at about fifteen cents a caplet – not bad for relief in about fifteen minutes [quicker if you crush them up]. But ultimately it isn’t about price or saving a few cents – it’s about how well it manages to tackle the pain with the least amount of side effects possible. Each person can and will react to this differently so, if possible, keep your eyes peeled for the trial sized bottles of this – you will be able to try it out without having to purchased one of the regular or larger sized containers and if it doesn’t work for you, you don’t have something sitting on the shelf wasting space, collecting dust and eventually getting tossed in the trash.
What’s In This Stuff Anyway?
Please keep in mind that the amount of each ingredient is per caplet not per dose. Those who are sensitive to caffeine or any type of diuretic should consult a physician before taking this; he or she may have a more appropriate product for you to take.
• Acetaminophen [hydroxyacetanilide] 500mg – Added as a pain reliever, it’s also the ingredient that gives it a slightly bitter taste when the caplet is crushed prior to consumption [for quicker absorption].
• Caffeine 60mg – Bayer claims that this is added as a diuretic as well as a stimulant – both of which I agree upon however those who are caffeine sensitive or prone to dehydration may experience unwanted side effects from this ingredient.
• Pyrilamine Maleate 15mg – This is listed as a diuretic however everything that I have read about it points to it being an antihistamine.
Inert or inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, croscarmellose, FD&C blue 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, mangnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, starch, propylene glycol, shellac, titanium dioxide, triacetin.
Does It Really Work?
Every person is different so every person is going to have their own view of this product and its overall effectiveness. Personally, when I get hit hard with a combination of menstrual related aches and pains this is one of the first things that I reach for. Naproxen is good in a pinch but doesn’t really manage to take away the bloating, the same can be said for other feminine related products – it’s sort of hit or miss and most of the time you have to have several options available but please remember that in most cases the ingredient breakdowns on the panel are per pill, capsule or caplet not suggested dose so if you do decide to up the amount you are taking, you could put yourself at serious risk for the potential side effects [sweating, tremors, sleeplessness, agitation, increased heart rate etc]. When I’m in what the brood call “full swing” I need to take three of these to get an adequate amount of relief – that’s one more than suggested on the product panel and something that I warn against unless you have taken this product for a period of time and know what to expect from it. So, does it work? For me, yes, it does work – it doesn’t turn me into a happy person that bounces around singing about the joys of life but it does keep me from picking up an axe and lopping off people heads for looking at me the wrong way.
Possible Side Effects
I touched upon their briefly but want to really stress this again, just because this is an over the counter product doesn’t mean that it can or should be used carelessly. If you are caffeine sensitive make sure that you can handle the amount that is in the dose you are taking. You may experience some slight sweating or dry mouth from this, if this is something that gets out of control make sure you stop taking it since this could lead to dehydration. The diuretic compounds in this aren’t extreme but if you exceed the eight caplets per day you could run into some serious trouble, even more so in the summer months if you live in an area with high heat or humidity. Those who are breastfeeding or pregnant should not take this since some ingredients do cross the blood brain barrier – simply put – what you ingest can, most times, be passed on to your child in utero or through breast milk. You would be wise to read the complete list of warnings on the side f the box and the leaflet insert if you have any concerns or currently suffer from any ongoing medical conditions.
The Bottom Line
There is no real way to avoid getting the blues when you get your period – it’s just something that goes hand in hand with being a woman. This product can help to take the edge off when you are experiencing crippling pain but shouldn’t be used for the minor aches and pains – taking this on a regular basis when you have some slight discomfort will only come back to haunt you when the real nasty stuff comes around. There’s only a small chance that your body will build up a resistance to it but if you abuse it – you will pay the price for it. I knowingly overdose myself when I get hit hard with the combination of cramps, bloating and deep muscle pains from my period but you will never hear me give that advice out to someone else. I am an adult and will face the consequences of my choices if there ever comes a day of reckoning. If you suffer from bad cramps, excessive bloating, deep aches or fatigue directly related to your period this is a product that could help you out in your time of need … but on the same token, when abused, it could have dire consequences.
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2004 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
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