Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

Brand names - Indocid, Indocid SR, Indocin SR, Novo-Methacin, Artracin, Imbrilon, Indomod, Rimacid.

Medication type - NSAID

Common side effects - Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness, drowsiness.

Rare side effects - Ulcers or sores in mouth, rashes or blistering, unusual tingling or numbness of the hands and feet, depression, ringing in the ears, seizures, blurred vision. Also high blood potassium levels and decreased blood counts; such problems can be detected by your doctor.

Serious side effects - Wheezing or breathing difficulty, with or without swelling of the legs or other signs of heart failure; chest pain; peptic ulcers with vomiting of blood; black, tarry stools; decreased kidney function causing blood in the urine, decreased urine output, and shortness of breath. NSAIDs may cause constriction of the airways or severe allergic reactions in patients who are sensitive to aspirin, especially those with aspirin-induced nasal polyps or asthma.

Dosage - Capsules: For arthritis: 25 to 50 mg, 2 to 4 times daily, up to a usual maximum of 200 mg a day at first. Extended-release capsules: For arthritis: 75 mg, 1 to 2 times a day. (adults).

Uses - To treat mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Because of its greater risk of toxicity, indomethacin should be taken only when other NSAIDs prove ineffective.

Other notes - Starts to take effect in 30 minutes-several hours. Take with food; maintain your usual food and fluid intake. Avoid alcohol. Do not use this drug while pregnant. Do not use indomethacin while breast feeding. Because NSAIDs can interfere with blood coagulation, this drug should be stopped at least 3 days prior to any surgery. Do not take with aspirin or other NSAIDs.