indomethacin (Indocin®, Indocin SR®)
Type of medication: Rx, NSAID
How supplied: capsules, liquid, suppositories.
Precautions:
- Avoid alcohol use. Indomethacin may increase risk of stomach bleeding.
- Indomethacin may increase sun sensitivity. Avoid exposure to the sun, wear protective clothing and/or sunscreen..
- May cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication.
- Be sure to check the labels of any prescription and OTC meds you may be taking to be sure not to combine with other medications that contain other NSAIDs.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:
- FDA pregnancy category B, but trimester-specific risk exists; see package insert for more information.
- Possibly Unsafe: Available animal and/or human data demonstrates potential or actual adverse effects to infant/breast milk; consider alternatives or weigh risk/benefit.
Other medical
conditions:
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any
other medical issues, especially those listed below.
- bleeding/coagulation problem
- consumption of three or more alcoholic drinks daily
- fluid retention
- heart disease
- gastrointestinal diseases
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- stomach problems
Other
medications:
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or
over-the-counter medications, especially:
- anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- aspirin
- warfarin (Coumadin)
- atenolol (Tenormin)
- carteolol (Cartrol)
- cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
- digoxin (Lanoxin),
- diuretics
- labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate)
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
- methotrexate
- metoprolol (Lopressor)
- nadolol (Corgard)
- phenytoin (Dilantin)
- probenecid (Benemid)
- vitamins
Potential side effects:
Check with your doctor right away if any of the following side effects occur:
- abdominal cramps, heartburn, indigestion
- allergic reaction --hives or difficulty breathing
- black, tarry stools
- bloody vomit
- fluid retention, swelling of hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- mouth ulcers
- muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling
- ringing in the ears, decreased hearing
- seizures
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. They may stop as your body adjusts to the medication. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
- depression
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- headache
- irregular menstrual cycle
- nausea, diarrhea, gas, constipation
- weakness or fatigue
