Hi all. I'm 50, going to pre-menopause. Have only missed my period about 3 times since my 40's. My periods are still pretty bad. Am on no medications of any kind. Why is it that my cramps are so different than when I was younger? Now the cramps are constant rather than on/off and certainly more severe. 800 mg of ibuprofen hardly touches it. Could I have a tolerance to it now? Heat doesn't do much either. I do have some demerol - would that be more effective. Gyno won't prescribe anything else except the ibuprofen.