Indometacin

Indometacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to reduce fever, pain, stiffness, and swelling. It works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, molecules known to cause these symptoms.

Indications

• rheumatoid arthritis

• arthritic gout

• psoriatic arthritis

• pseudogout

• tendinitis

• nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (prostaglandin inhibits vasopressin's action in the kidney)

• renal colic (pain due to kidney stones)

Indometacin is a potent drug with many serious side effects and should not be considered an analgesic for minor aches and pains or fever. The drug is more potent than aspirin, but is not a better analgesic. In mild to moderate pain a standard oral dose of indometacin proved as effective as 600mg aspirin.

Contraindications

• concurrent peptic ulcer, or history of ulcer disease

• allergy to indometacin, aspirin, or other NSAIDs

• patients with nasal polyps reacting with an angioedema to other NSAIDs

• children under 2 years of age (with the exception of neonates with patent ductus arteriosus)

• severe pre-existing renal and liver damage

• caution: pre-existing bone marrow damage (frequent blood cell counts are indicated)

• caution: bleeding tendencies of unknown origin (indometacin inhibits platelet aggregation)

• caution: Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, psychotic disorders (indometacin may worsen these conditions)