Indometacin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Indometacin?

What are the uses of indomethacin?

Indomethacin is an oral drug that belongs to the class of drugs known as NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This drug works by stopping the production of substances in the body that can cause pain, fever, or inflammation.

Indomethacin is used to relieve joint pain, swelling, and stiffness caused by arthritis, gout (gout), bursitis, and tendonitis. By reducing these symptoms, it will help you to carry out your daily activities.

If you are treating a chronic condition such as arthritis, talk to your doctor about non-drug treatments and / or using other medications to manage your pain. Also pay attention to how to use it.

Other uses: this section contains uses that are not approved by the professional label for the drug, but may be recommended by your healthcare professional.

Indomethacin can also be used to relieve pain caused by inflammation of the sac around the heart and other conditions, as recommended by your doctor.

How should I take indomethacin?

Here are the procedures for using indomethacin that you should know:

• Take indomethacin by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily with a full glass of water (240 milliliters).
• Do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking this medicine. Take this medication with food, after meals, or with antacids to prevent stomach pain.
• Dosage depends on your health condition and response to treatment.
• In adults, do not use more than 200 milligrams per day.
• In children, the dose also depends on body weight. The maximum dose for children is 4 milligrams per kilogram per day or 150 to 200 milligrams per day, or less.
• To reduce the risk of side effects (such as stomach bleeding), use this medication at the lowest effective dose in the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose or take more than recommended. For chronic conditions such as arthritis, continue taking this medication as directed by your doctor. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor or pharmacist.
• In some conditions (such as arthritis), it may take up to 4 weeks when taken regularly to see benefits.
• If you are taking this medicine sparingly (not regularly), remember that the best treatment is done as soon as possible when the first signs of disease appear. If you wait for the pain to get worse, the treatment may not work as well.
• Tell your doctor if your condition worsens.

How do I store indomethacin?

Indomethacin is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Do not store indomethacin in the bathroom or freezer. Other brands of indometacin may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush indomethacin down the toilet or down the drain, unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist about how to safely dispose of this product.

Indometacin dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the indomethacin dose for adults?

Adult dosage for ankylosing spondylitis

• Immediate-release: 25 mg orally every 8-12 hours. The dosage can be increased to 25 or 50 mg each week until you reach a maximum daily dose of 150-200 mg.
• Extended-release: 75 mg orally once a day. The dosage can be increased up to 75 mg twice daily.

Adult dosage for osteoarthritis

• Immediate-release: 25 mg orally every 8-12 hours. The dosage can be increased to 25 or 50 mg each week until you reach a maximum daily dose of 150-200 mg.
• Extended-release: 75 mg orally once a day. The dosage can be increased up to 75 mg twice daily.

Adult dosage for rheumatoid arthritis

• Immediate-release: 25 mg orally every 8-12 hours. The dosage can be increased to 25 or 50 mg each week until you reach a maximum daily dose of 150-200 mg.
• Extended-release: 75 mg orally once a day. The dosage can be increased up to 75 mg twice daily.

Adult dose for acute gout

• 50 mg orally or rectally 3 times a day until the soreness subsides, usually 2-3 days.

Adult dosage for bursitis

• 75-150 mg per day in 3-4 separate doses.

Common adult dosage for tendonitis

• 75-150 mg per day in 3-4 separate doses.

Common adult dose for cluster headaches

• Immediate-release: 25-50 mg orally 3 times a day.
• Extended-release: 75 mg orally once or twice a day.

Indomethacin dose for children?

Child dosage for patent ductus arteriosus

Intravenous indomethacin:

Less than 48 hours:

• First dose: 0.2 mg / kg intravenously.
• Second dose: 0.1 mg / kg intravenously.
• Third dose: 0.1 mg / kg intravenously.

The dosage is given at 12-24 hour intervals for 2-7 days:

• First dose: 0.2 mg / kg intravenously.
• Second dose: 0.2 mg / kg intravenously.
• Third dose: 0.2 mg / kg intravenously.

The dosage is given at 12-24 hour intervals, over 7 days:

• First dose: 0.2 mg / kg intravenously.
• Second dose: 0.25 mg / kg intravenously.
• Third dose: 0.25 mg / kg intravenously.

Dosage is given at intervals of 12-24 hours.

Child dosage for rheumatoid arthritis

• 2-14 years: 2 mg / kg / day as a separate dose. The titration dose is up to a maximum of 4 mg / kg / day or 200 mg daily.

Child dosage for pain

• 1-2 mg / kg / day in 2-4 separate doses. The maximum daily dose is 4 mg / kg.

Child dosage for Bartter syndrome

• 0.5-2 mg / kg / day in separate doses.

Child dosage for gitelman syndrome

• Reported case (n = 3): 1-2 mg / kg / day given in 3 different doses. The maximum dose is 4 mg / kg / day if development is slow.

Child dosage for Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis

• Research (n = 10)
  Over 2 years: 1-2.5 mg / kg / day given in 2-3 separate doses over a mean time of 6 weeks (mean 2-16 weeks).

How is indomethacin available?

Indomethacin is available in the following forms:

• Capsules, Oral: 25 mg, 50 mg.
• Capsule Extended Release, Oral: 75 mg.
• Solution Reconstituted, Intravenous: 1 mg.
• Suppository, Rectal: 50 mg.
• Suspension, Oral: 25 mg / 5 mL (237 mL).

Indometacin side effects

What side effects can indomethacin have?

Get emergency medical help if you experience allergy symptoms, such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking indomethacin and seek medical help or contact your doctor if you experience serious side effects such as the following:

• Chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, problems with vision or balance
• Stools that are black, bleeding, or difficult to pass
• Coughing up blood or vomiting that looks like coffee grounds
• Swelling or weight gain
• Urinating rarely or not at all
• Nausea, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, waxy stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Fever, sore throat, and headache with skin disorders and rash
• Bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness

Less serious side effects include:

• Abdominal pain, burning, diarrhea, constipation
• Bloating, gas
• Dizziness, nervousness, headache
• Skin rash, itching
• Blurry vision
• Ringing in ears

Not everyone experiences the same side effects. There are side effects not listed above. If you have certain concerns about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Indometacin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should I know before using indomethacin?

Before taking Indomethacin, there are several things you should do and know, such as:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have an allergy to Indomethacin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and maproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), other medications, or any other ingredients contained in capsules, suspensions, extended release capsules, or suppositories. indomethacin. Ask your pharmacist for a list of drug ingredients.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription or nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or intending to take.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have had asthma, especially if you have a runny nose or nasal polyps (swelling of the nose line); Parkinson's disease; depression or mental illness; or bile or kidney disease. If you are going to use indomethacin suppositories, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had proctitis (swelling of the rectum) or have or have had rectal bleeding.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last months of pregnancy. You are planning to become pregnant; or if you are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking indomethacin, tell your doctor.
• Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking indomethacin if you are 65 years or older. Older adults are not recommended to take indomethacin because it is not as safe as other medications that can treat the same disease.
• If you are going to have surgery, including oral surgery, tell your doctor or dentist if you are taking indomethacin.
• You should know that this drug will make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• Talk to your doctor about the safety of using alcohol during your treatment with indomethacin. Alcohol can make the side effects of indomethacin worse.

Is it safe to use indomethacin during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the pregnancy risk category C for the first 6 months and D for the last 3 months according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Indometacin Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with indomethacin?

Indomethacin can interact with other drugs that you are currently taking. Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

• Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)
• Diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix)
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Probenecid (Benemid)
• Steroids (prednisone and others)
• Aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol) , mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others
• Beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others

Does food or alcohol interact with indomethacin?

Indomethacin may interact with food or alcohol by changing the way drugs work or increasing the risk of serious side effects. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist about food or alcohol that has the potential to cause interactions before taking this drug.

What health conditions can interact with indomethacin?

Indomethacin can interact with your health condition. These interactions can worsen your health condition or change the way the drugs work. It is very important to always let the doctor and pharmacist know everything about the health condition you are currently undergoing, especially:

• Anemia
• Bleeding problems
• Blood spots
• Depression or mental changes
• Edema (fluid buildup or body swelling)
• Heart attack, including history
• Heart disease (for example congestive heart failure)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Kidney illness
• Bile disease (hepatitis), including history
• Parkinson's disease
• Epilepsy, including history
• Abdominal bleeding or intestinal ulcers, including history
• Stroke, including its history -Using it well can make this condition worse.
• Aspirin sensitive asthma, including history
• Aspirin sensitivity, including history - Should not be used in patients with the following conditions.
• Heart surgery (coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery - Should not be used to relieve pain before or after surgery.

Indometacin overdose

What should I do in case of an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose include:

• Nausea
• Gag
• Dizzy
• Headache
• Confusion
• Very tired
• Feelings of numbness, prickling, burning, or creeping in the skin
• Seizures.

What should I do when I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of indomethacin, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.