I have always found that exercise helps stomach cramps when you have a period. The cramps that you get are mostly to do with stagnation, so if you exercise you start to move this stagnation and your pain will be resolved easily.
Heat pads are good also, as warmth will relax your stomach muscles and when you relax, pain normally goes.
There are lots of natural remedies available for pain relief now, so why not try out a few of these rather than just pill popping?
Unfortunately, almost all analgesic medication has side effects, including Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen and Aspirin can give you stomach ulcers/bleeds and other stomach problems and Tylenol taken in exess can cause liver failure. Narcotic and other analgesics also carry risks, so strictly speaking you are wrong to say there are no side-effects!!
Cramps...what's the best non drowsy med??? 
