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MEFENAMIC ACID

1 general benefit · 1 not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (M01A) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Diclofenac (Voltaren): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Diclofenac + misoprostol (Arthrotec 50): general benefit
  • Flurbiprofen (Ansaid): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Indomethacin (Indocid): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ketoprofen (Ketoprofen): general benefit, Not a benefit

12 more in the class list below

Mefenamic · DIN 02229452 · 250mg · capsule

General benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-02
StatusGeneral benefit
Write on scriptno code needed
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
1 brand, same coverage
Mefenamic · DIN 02229452 Manufacturer: A A Pharma Inc.; listing date 1997-04-10 Health Canada: Marketed since 2024-09-03 · brand MEFENAMIC · ATC M01AG01 MEFENAMIC ACID · form Capsule · route Oral · ingredients MEFENAMIC ACID 250 MG · company Aa pharma inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Mefenamic: Formulary list price $0.4988/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Ministry pays: $0.4988 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=47338 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02229452)

Source record
DIN 02229452: Mefenamic Raw flags: sec3=Y Item: 280804031; group id 386; item number 0924; lccId None; manufacturer id AAP Source form: Cap; strength: 250mg Recorded listing: General benefit Source prices (unrounded): $0.4988; ministry $0.4988 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02229452 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=47338 Therapeutic Notes (formulary) NSAIDs have a high rate of serious adverse effects in the elderly. When prescribing NSAIDs, the minimal effective dose for the shortest period of time should be used. In nonspecific pain and/or osteoarthritis, in the absence of joint inflammation (swelling), acetaminophen is a better first choice for analgesia. The most effective treatment to prevent NSAID-gastritis is misoprostol; although H-2 antagonists, such as ranitidine or cimetidine, are commonly used, they are not as effective. NSAIDs can significantly aggravate hypertension and congestive heart failure; ASA in doses below 1 gram per day is a better choice than other NSAID options if anti-inflammatory effects are required in patients with these conditions. Low dose ASA has additional benefits for anti-platelet indications that are not provided by other NSAIDs, and should be given in preference or in addition to other NSAIDs for patients with vascular indications.
Interchangeable products
Ponstan · DIN 00155225 · not recorded
Shortage status: resolved shortage (ended 2026-07-22); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=02229452
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00

Ponstan · DIN 00155225 · 250mg · capsule

Listed, not a benefitDormant since 2019-07-31 · checked 2026-09-02 · What does dormant mean?
StatusListed, not a benefit
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
1 brand, same coverage
Ponstan · DIN 00155225 Manufacturer: A A Pharma Inc.; listing date 1996-10-01 Health Canada: Dormant since 2019-07-31 · brand PONSTAN · ATC M01AG01 MEFENAMIC ACID · form Capsule · route Oral · ingredients MEFENAMIC ACID 250 MG · company Aa pharma inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Ponstan: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=1598 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 00155225)

Source record
DIN 00155225: Ponstan Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y Item: 280804031; group id 386; item number 0924; lccId None; manufacturer id AAP Source form: Cap; strength: 250mg Recorded listing: Listed, not a benefit; ODB pays only for the benefit products in this interchangeable category Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=00155225 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=1598 Therapeutic Notes (formulary) NSAIDs have a high rate of serious adverse effects in the elderly. When prescribing NSAIDs, the minimal effective dose for the shortest period of time should be used. In nonspecific pain and/or osteoarthritis, in the absence of joint inflammation (swelling), acetaminophen is a better first choice for analgesia. The most effective treatment to prevent NSAID-gastritis is misoprostol; although H-2 antagonists, such as ranitidine or cimetidine, are commonly used, they are not as effective. NSAIDs can significantly aggravate hypertension and congestive heart failure; ASA in doses below 1 gram per day is a better choice than other NSAID options if anti-inflammatory effects are required in patients with these conditions. Low dose ASA has additional benefits for anti-platelet indications that are not provided by other NSAIDs, and should be given in preference or in addition to other NSAIDs for patients with vascular indications.
Interchangeable products
Mefenamic · DIN 02229452 · $0.4988
Shortage status: discontinued (2020-07-28, reported by AA PHARMA INC); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=00155225
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00
Health Canada lists this DIN as Dormant since 2019-07-31 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents) and how they are covered

Matched class: 28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DICLOFENAC SODIUM & MISOPROSTOL Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): DICLOFENAC SODIUM, FLURBIPROFEN, IBUPROFEN, INDOMETHACIN, KETOPROFEN, MELOXICAM, NAPROXEN, PIROXICAM, SULINDAC, TIAPROFENIC ACID 28:08:04 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents

DICLOFENAC SODIUM

· 19 products · Listed, not a benefit (3), General benefit (11), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (5) · strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 1.5% W/W · Ent Tab, LA Tab, Sup, Top Sol

DICLOFENAC SODIUM & MISOPROSTOL

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mg & 200mcg, 75mg & 200mcg · Tab

FLURBIPROFEN

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 50mg, 100mg · Tab

IBUPROFEN

· 11 products · Listed, not a benefit (3), General benefit (8) · strengths: 200mg, 300mg, 400mg, 600mg · Tab

INDOMETHACIN

· 10 products · Listed, not a benefit (4), General benefit (6) · strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg · Cap, Sup

KETOPROFEN

· 9 products · General benefit (4), Listed, not a benefit (5) · strengths: 50mg, 100mg, 200mg · Cap, Ent Tab, LA Tab

MELOXICAM

· 14 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (12) · strengths: 7.5mg, 15mg · Tab

NAPROXEN

· 21 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (9), General benefit (8), Listed, not a benefit (4) · strengths: 250mg, 375mg, 500mg, 25mg/mL, 125mg · Ent Tab, O/L, Tab

PIROXICAM

· 6 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (4) · strengths: 10mg, 20mg · Cap

SULINDAC

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 150mg, 200mg · Tab

TIAPROFENIC ACID

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (2) · strengths: 200mg, 300mg · Tab

CELECOXIB

· 36 products · Limited Use, codes 316, 317 · strengths: 100mg, 200mg · Cap Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 28:08:04 and 6 more
Full class listing Related classes: 28:08:08 Opiate Agonists, 28:08:12 Opiate Partial Agonists, 28:08:92 Miscellaneous Analgesics and Antipyretics, 28:16:04 Antidepressants, 28:16:08 Tranquilizers, 28:16:12 Other Psychotropics, 28:36:08 Anticholinergic Agents, 28:36:20 Dopamine Receptor Agonists Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1 INDICATIONS Adult (>18 years old) MEFENAMIC (mefenamic acid) is indicated for the relief of pain of moderate severity in conditions such as: • muscular aches and pains • primary dysmenorrhea • headache • dental pain For patients with an increased risk of developing CV and/or GI adverse events, other management strategies that do NOT include the use of NSAIDs should be considered first (see 2 CONTRAINDICATIONS and 7 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Cardiovascular, and 7 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Gastrointestinal). Use of MEFENAMIC should be limited to the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration of treatment in order to minimize the potential risk for cardiovascular or gastrointestinal adverse events (see 2 CONTRAINDICATIONS and 7 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Cardiovascular, and 7 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Gastrointestinal). MEFENAMIC, as a NSAID, does NOT treat clinical disease or prevent its progression. MEFENAMIC, as a NSAID, only relieves symptoms and decreases inflammation for as long as the patient continues to take it. 1.1 Pediatrics Pediatrics (< 18 years of age): MEFENAMIC is contraindicated in the pediatric population (see 2 CON… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00076905.PDF PM date: OCT 25, 1996 Source product: MEFENAMIC; DIN 02229452; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Availability

Ponstan · DIN 00155225 Shortage status: discontinued (2020-07-28, reported by AA PHARMA INC); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=00155225

Check this DIN again
Health Canada: dormant products
Health Canada defines dormant products as: “products that were previously marketed in Canada but for which the manufacturer has suspended sale for period of at least 12 months.” (canada.ca, Sep 10, 2026 ↗)

Other review policies

For Ponstan: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026