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Indocin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, it is used to lessen the inflammation, swelling, stiffness and joint pain associated with moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis), and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine). It is also used to treat bursitis, tendinitis (acute painful shoulder), severe gouty arthritis, and other kinds of pain.
You should have regular checkups with your physician if you take Indocin on a regular basis. Ulcers or internal bleeding can happen without warning.
Indocin should be consumed with food or an antacid, and with a full glass of water. Never take Indocin on an empty stomach.
Take this medicine precisely as prescribed by your physician.
If you are using Indocin for arthritis, it should be taken regularly.
If you are taking the liquid form of this medication, shake the bottle well before each use.
Indocin SR capsules should be swallowed whole, not crushed or broken.
Do not lie down for about 20 to 30 minutes after taking Indocin. This helps avoid irritation that could lead to trouble in swallowing.
If you are using the suppository form of this medicine:
- If the suppository is too soft to insert, hold it under cool water or chill it before removing the wrapper
- Remove the foil wrapper and moisten your rectal area with cool tap water.
- Lie down your side and use your finger to push the suppository well up into the rectum. Hold your buttocks together for a few seconds.
- Indocin suppositories should be kept inside the rectum for at least 1 hour so that your body can absorb all of the medicine.
Side effects cannot be predicted. If any progress or change in intensity inform your physician ASAP. Only your physician can decide if it is safe for you to resume taking Indocin.
- More likely side effects could include:
Abdominal pain, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, ringing in the ears, sleepiness or excessive drowsiness, stomach pain, stomach upset, vertigo, vomiting
- Less likely or uncommon side effects could include:
Anemia, anxiety, asthma, behavior disturbances, bloating, blurred vision, breast changes, changes in heart rate, chest pain, coma, congestive heart failure, convulsions, decrease in white blood cells, fever, fluid in lungs, fluid retention, flushing, gas, hair loss, hepatitis, high or low blood pressure, hives, itching, increase in blood sugar, insomnia, kidney failure, labored breathing, light-headedness, loss of appetite, mental confusion, muscle weakness, nosebleed, peptic ulcer, problems in hearing, rash, rectal bleeding, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (skin peeling), stomach or intestinal bleeding, sweating, twitching, unusual redness of skin, vaginal bleeding, weight gain, worsening of epilepsy, yellow eyes and skin
If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Indocin, aspirin, or similar drugs, or if you have had asthma bouts caused by aspirin or other drugs of this type, you should not consume this medication. Make sure that your physician is aware of any drug reactions that you have felt.
Do not use Indocin suppositories if you have a history of rectal inflammation or recent rectal bleeding.
Indocin extends bleeding time. If you are taking blood-thinning medication, this drug should be taken with care.
Your physician should administer the lowest achievable effective dose. The incidence of side effects increases as dosage increases.
Peptic ulcers and bleeding can occur without warning, especially in people over 65.
This drug should be used with caution if you have kidney or liver disease, and it can cause liver inflammation in some people.
Do not take aspirin or any other anti-inflammatory medications while taking Indocin, unless your doctor tells you to do so.
If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, this drug can increase water retention.
This medication can disguise the symptoms of an existing infection.
Indocin could make you drowsy or less alert; therefore, driving or operating hazardous machinery or participating in any dangerous activity that entails full mental alertness is not recommended. Indocin may also cause confusion and, rarely, psychosis, especially in older adults.
If Indocin is consumed with certain other medications, the effects of each could be increased, decreased or altered. It is particularly important to check with your physician prior to combining Indocin with the following:
Aspirin
Beta-blockers such as the blood pressure medications Tenormin and Inderal
Blood-thinning medicines such as Coumadin
Captopril (Capoten)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
Diflunisal (Dolobid)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Lithium (Eskalith)
Loop diuretics (Lasix)
Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve, and Motrin
Potassium-sparing water pills such as Aldactone
Probenecid (Benemid, ColBENEMID)
The anticancer drug methotrexate
Thiazide-type water pills such as Diuril
Triamterene (Dyazide)
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