Indocin MedFacts

Indocin

Indocin is used for:

Treating moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. It is used to treat gout or certain types of bursitis and tendonitis. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Indocin is an NSAID. Exactly how it works is not known. It may block certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation. NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. They do not treat the disease that causes those symptoms.

Do NOT use Indocin if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Indocin
• you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, trouble breathing, growths in the nose, dizziness) to aspirin or an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen, celecoxib)
• you have recently had or are going be have bypass heart surgery
• you are taking diflunisal, another NSAID (eg, ibuprofen), or triamterene
• you are in the 3rd trimester (last 3 months) of pregnancy

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Indocin

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Indocin . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, perforation, ulcers, inflammation)
• if you have a history of swelling or fluid buildup, depression, mental or mood problems, seizures, Parkinson disease, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), or mouth inflammation
• if you have high blood pressure, a blood disorder, bleeding or clotting problems, heart problems (eg, heart failure), or blood vessel disease, or if you are at risk for any of these diseases
• if you have poor health, dehydration or low fluid volume, low blood sodium levels, or high blood potassium levels, you drink alcohol, or you have a history of alcohol abuse

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Indocin . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), diflunisal, heparin, other NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen), salicylates (eg, aspirin), or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of stomach bleeding may be increased
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone, triamterene) because the risk of kidney problems or increased blood potassium levels may be increased
• Cyclophosphamide because low blood sodium levels may occur
• Probenecid because it may increase the risk of Indocin 's side effects
• Cyclosporine, digoxin, lithium, methotrexate, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), or sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Indocin
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), angiotensin receptor blockers (eg, losartan), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Indocin

This is not a full list of all interactions that may occur. Clarify with your health care provider whether Indocin may interact with other medicines you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Indocin Usage Guidelines

You should use Indocin as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Indocin comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Indocin refilled.
• Take Indocin by mouth with food. This may not lower the risk of stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, ulcers). Talk with your doctor if you have persistent stomach upset.
• Take Indocin with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL) as directed by your doctor.
• If you miss a dose of Indocin and you are taking it regularly, take it as soon as you get it remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Indocin .

Important safety information on indocin

• Indocin may cause dizziness or drowsiness. There effects may be worsened when this medicine is taken with aclohol or other medicines. Use Indocin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Serious stomach ulcers or bleeding can occur with the use of Indocin . Taking it in high doses or for a long time, smoking, or drinking alcohol increases the risk of these side effects. Taking Indocin with food will NOT reduce the risk of these effects. Contact your doctor or emergency room at once if you develop severe stomach or back pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or unusual weight gain or swelling.
• Do NOT take more than the dose recommended by your doctor. Do NOT take it longer than prescribed. However, if you are going to do it, check with your doctor first.
• Indocin is an NSAID. Before you start taking any new medicine, read the ingredients. If it also has an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen) in it, check with your doctor. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not take aspirin while you are using Indocin unless your doctor tells you to.
• Indocin may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know that you take Indocin .
• Lab tests, including kidney function, complete blood cell counts, and blood pressure, may be done to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Indocin with caution in OLDER PATIENTS, because they may be more sensitive to its effects, including stomach bleeding, kidney problems, confusion, or mental changes.
• Indocin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 15 year old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Indocin may harm the fetus. Do not use it during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Indocin while you are pregnant. Indocin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Indocin .

Side effects may be caused by Indocin

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; gas; headache; heartburn; nausea; stomach upset.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine; bloody or black, tarry stools; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; rectal bleeding; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; severe vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual joint or muscle pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; unusual vaginal bleeding; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; decreased urination; loss of consciousness; seizures; severe dizziness or drowsiness; severe headache; severe nausea or stomach pain; slow or troubled breathing; unusual bleeding or bruising; vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Indocin storage instructions:

Store Indocin at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Indocin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Indocin , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Indocin is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about this medicine. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.