Overview

Generally, this kind of drug is being used to attend to pain, fever, and inflammation. It helps to moderate-severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthritis. It is also a good source in treating painful shoulders like tendinitis and bursitis.

Indomethacin drugs work by blocking the cause of inflammation in the body. It reduces pain and inflammation at the same time.

Side Effects

The use of this drug may cause you drowsiness. It’s advisable not to take this drug if you are driving a car or operates heavy machinery. As much as possible, don’t do any activities that need alertness and focus. There might have some light side effects as well but can also disappear. The best thing to do is to seek advice from your doctor if the side effect doesn’t go away.

Most common side effect includes:

• constipations
• headaches
• getting dizzy
• feeling tired
• nausea
• vomiting
• heartburn
• diarrhea
• stomach pain

On the other hand, severe side effects include:

• heart attack (given symptoms: pain in your chest, breath’s shortness, upper body’s discomfort)
• stroke (given symptoms: drooping face, arm weakness, speaking difficulty)
• high BP (given symptoms: headache, nosebleed, dizzy spell)
• heart failures (given symptoms: swelling of feet or ankle, weight gain)
• kidney issues (given symptoms: changes in urine volume, feet and ankles swelling, breath’s shortness)
• Intestinal and stomach bleeding (given symptoms: black and bright red-colored stool, vomiting red-like color.
• lowness of red-blood cells or low anemia count (given symptoms: breath’s shortness, pale skin, heartbeat’s fast, skin rashes with blisters
• allergic reaction (given symptoms: breathing trouble, throat, tongue, and lips swelling
• liver issues (given symptoms: yellowing of the skin, nausea, over fatigue, itchiness, muscle pain, tiredness, and asthma attacks)

Dosage and Administration

Below is the dosage information for the indomethacin capsule drug. Other possible dosages may not be present here. Remember that the dosage and how many times you will take it depend on:

• your years of age
• how the condition being attend to
• how serious the condition of the person
• other medical histories of the person
• your reaction to the 1st dose

Dosage is given to moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, moderate to severe ankylosing spondylitis, and moderate to severe osteoarthritis

Adult (ages 18 and above) Dosage

• Immediate Release Capsule: Usually 2 – 3 times a day, it starts at 25 mg dose. It depends on the doctor if he adds up your dose to 50 mg a day. The max dose for this group is 200 mg/day only.
• Extended-Release Capsule: 75 milligrams once or twice/day. The max dose is 150 mg/day only.

Child (ages 0-17) Dosage

• Immediate Release Capsule: Giving a dose for kids is base on weight. It is your doctor who can tell the right dosage for them. The starting dose is 1-2 mg or kg per day, and it’s divided into 2 to 4 doses. The max dose is 3 mg/kg each day or 200 mg/day.
• Extended-Release Capsule: An effective and safe dosage hasn’t recognized yet for this age group.

Dosage under acute shoulder pain (tendinitis or bursitis)

Adult (ages 18 and above) Dosage

• Immediate Release Capsule: 75 to 150 mg in 3 – 4 divided doses each day for 1 – 2 weeks.
• Extended-Release Capsule: 75 mg capsule once or twice/day. The max dosage is 150 mg/day.

Child (ages 0-17) Dosage

• Immediate Release Capsule: Giving a dose for kids is base on weight. It is your doctor who can tell the right dosage for them. The starting dose is 1-2 mg or kg per day, and it’s divided into 2 to 4 doses. The max dose is 3 mg/kg each day or 200 mg/day.
• Extended-Release Capsule: An effective and safe dosage hasn’t recognized yet for this age category.

Dosage for acute gouty arthritis (Note: Immediate Release Capsule ONLY)

Adult (ages 18 and above) Dosage

• Immediate Response Capsule: It’s usually 50 mg capsule; take it three times a day until the pain goes away.

Child (ages 0-17) Dosage

• Immediate Release Capsule: Giving a dose for kids is base on weight. It is your doctor who can tell the right dosage for them. The starting dose is 1-2 mg or kg per day, and it’s divided into 2 to 4 doses. The max dose is 3 mg/kg each day or 200 mg/day.

Drug Interaction

You can use this oral capsule drug along with other medications you have. It can be with the herbs you used, or any vitamins you might be taking. It is very important to seek the advice of your doctor regarding this matter.

Below are some drugs that can cause interactions when using indomethacin:

• The Aspirin – this medication, when combine, increases possible stomach pain like ulcers.
• Drugs used for Bipolar Disorder – this drug, when combine, cause lithium’s take a long span of time to be clear out from the person’s body. It may cause nausea and dizziness.
• Anti Rheumatic Medicines – this medication, when combine, increases the value of methotrexate in the person’s body to its toxic levels. It’s a high risk of infection and kidney problems.
• Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Medicine – taking these drugs (ibuprofen and naproxen) along with indomethacin, increases the risk of getting stomach related problems. 
• Oral Anti-Coagulants Medicine – drugs under this category when combine increases the risk of intestines or stomach bleeding.

Warnings and Precautions

For Allergies

Taking indomethacin can give you an allergic reaction. Some symptoms include problems in breathing, tongue and throat swelling, and hives. If you experience these, stop or do not try taking this drug along with aspirin and other NSAIDs. It could be fatal.

For Alcohol Interaction

Indomethacin, when combine with alcohol increases the risk of getting bleeding intestines and stomach. If you’re trying to drink alcohol, go to your doctor so he can give you enough precautions. He might limit your alcohol intake.

For Those with Health Conditions 

Heart Condition – It may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and higher BP.

Stomach Problem – It may increase the risk of bleeding and swelling of the intestines and stomach.

Kidney Problems – It may not work when taking this indomethacin drug. It can cause kidney damage and lower its blood flow.

Asthma – If you diagnose with aspirin-sensitive asthma, it’s not advisable to take indomethacin. It can cause fatal allergic reactions.

For Pregnancy

This indomethacin capsule drug belongs in Category-C pregnancy medicine. This means two important things: it shown dangerous effects on your fetus as researched done with animals though there are no studies done yet in humans.

For Seniors

If you belong to the senior group, there are even more side effects. One is stomach and intestinal bleeding. Your kidney will not function well because it may not get rid of the drugs from the person’s body. Your life is at risk with these side effects.

For Dangerous Skin Reactions

Skin reactions can be fatal when taking this capsule drug. If you believe that you have a skin reaction to such medicine, make sure to consult your doctor right away. It can be a blistering, peeling, and swelling of your skin. Fever can also occur.

Overdose and Contraindications

If you are under medication with this kind of drug, your healthcare professional or doctor must know it, especially if you are also taking any other medicine like Ketorolac. Remember that some drugs should not be used together. It is not recommended at all. The doctor knows exactly how to treat this medication and tell you to change some medicines or doses you take.

Clinical Pharmacology

You can reversibly inhibit cyclooxygenase-one and two enzymes. This will result in decreasing the formation of the prostaglandin precursors, which has antipyretic, analgesic properties and anti-inflammatory substances too.

Other proposed mechanism but not advisable (because it can contribute to some anti-inflammatory effects) includes inhibiting chemotaxis, neutrophil aggregation or activation, altering lymphocyte activity and decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine level.

Medication Guide

For effective and safety reasons, do not take more of this medicine. If your doctor ordered not to take it longer, then follow his advice. This will prevent unnecessary effects that may take place. 

It is important as well to follow the medication guide. Be responsible enough to read those instructions. It’s better always to ask your doctor if there is something you don’t understand. 

It is not advisable to open it right away, break, crush, or chew the capsule. Swallow the whole of it. When it comes to oral suspension, shake it well first. If there’s a need to use a measuring spoon, then do it. Oral syringe and medicine cup is another alternative. 

Do not forget to eat first before taking this medicine. If you want to change your dosage, don’t decide for yourself. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional. 

When it comes to storage information, it’s best to store it in a close container, away from direct light, moisture and heat. If you’re done taking this medication, there is a proper way of disposing of it too. Again, you can ask your doctor’s advice about it. 

There is nothing to lose if you know how to follow. Remember that your health is at stake here. When under medication, always seek the help of your healthcare professional because they know better.