The U.S. FDA approved indomethacin in 1965. Indomethacin helps to reduce the ability of the body to produce Inflammation, which is responsible for causing pain and discomfort.

Indomethacin is used for rheumatoid (disease mainly of the joints) and osteoarthritis  (disease of the joints), ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis which mainly affects the back), post-orthopedic surgery pain and inflammation, musculoskeletal disorders (muscles and bone disorders), period pain, low back pain, hip joint disease, and acute gouty arthritis characterised by joint crystal buildup.

Indomethacin suppositories should not be taken by mouth, and empty your bowel before administration of the medicine. Indomethacin  is available as suppository sheets in 50 mg. Your doctor will provide the appropriate dose and frequency based on your medical condition and other factors.

The common side effects that are experienced while you are on the treatment with indomethacin suppository are Common side effects of the medication may include headache, dizziness, vertigo (a sensation of movement in one's surroundings), tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bleeding, inflammation, and various discomforts such as burning pain, itching, or unusual sensations. Report your doctor immediately, if you experience any allergic reaction like itching, rashes, photosensitivity, hair loss, facial and throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and severe dizziness; gastrointestinal issues like passing blood in stools, black stools, and blood vomiting; as well as symptoms like pancreatic inflammation, upper stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and abdominal pain.

If you take the medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will examine your eye, and it is recommended to consult your doctor if you are facing any vision problems. Consult your doctor if you are in the third trimester of pregnancy, plan to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant or while you are breastfeeding. The safety and effectiveness of the medicine in pediatric patients have not been established, so it is recommended to consult your doctor.

Patients with psychiatric disturbances, epilepsy, and parkinsonism should be cautious while taking medicine and are advised to talk to their doctor about their condition. It is important to talk with your doctor about any drugs you are taking, including inmeth, when undergoing blood tests. This helps to give you a more accurate interpretation of test results and ensure that your treatment is planned according to your specific health needs.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have a peptic ulcer, are suffering from inflammation of the rectum causing soreness, bleeding, and sometimes a discharge of mucus and pus from your anus, asthma, digestive tract, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, or heart failure before taking the medicine. The medicine is contraindicated for individuals who have go-through coronary artery bypass grafts. Hence, it is advised to ask your doctor. Inform your doctor if you take medicines like probenecid (gout medicine), Methotrexate (rheumatoid medicine), Cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent), Lithium (medicine for mental health), diuretics, digoxin (heart failure medicine), phenylpropanolamine (cold relieving medicine), Mifepristone (pregnancy medicine), Vancomycin (antibiotic) and if your allergic to the ingredient in the drug.

1. Aspen Pharma Trading Limited, Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC), [Revised on Dec 2020] [Accessed on 23rd Sep 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2946/pil#gref
2. Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC, US, Food and Drug Administration, [Revised on Jul 2019] [Accessed on 21st July 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/016059s100lbl.pdf
3. Tilo Grosser, Emer M. Smyth, and Garret A. FitzGerald, Pharmacotherapy of Inflammation, Fever, Pain, and Gout, Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Edition, 2018, 685-709.
4. KD Tripathi, Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Antipyretic-Analgesics, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, 8th Edition, 2019, 209-226.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice, it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.