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Safe Arthritis Pain Relief From Indocin

Indocin is a trademarked version of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication indomethacin. It is commonly used to treat tenderness, swelling, stiffness and moderate to severe pain in sufferers of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) and gouty arthritis. As with other NSAID medications, indomethacin use comes with the risk of serious side effects. Safe pain relief with this product requires adherence to a number of common treatment guidelines.

  1. Allergies and Harmful Combinations

    • According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, you should talk with your doctor before using Indocin or other indomethacin products. You should tell your doctor if you have any known allergies to indomethacin or other NSAID medications such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diflunisal (Dolobid) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). You should also communicate any known problems with the inactive ingredients contained in Indocin capsules or suppositories. Additionally, tell your doctor about other medications you take that may cause bad reactions with Indocin use. These include warfarin (Coumadin) and other anti-coagulants and oral steroids such as methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone) and dexamethasone (Dexone, Decadron). Ask your doctor for a full list of potentially dangerous medication combinations.

    Medical Conditions

    • You will also need to tell your doctor about certain health conditions, including seizures, current or previous asthma, Parkinson's disease, kidney or liver disease, a history of stomach bleeding or ulcers and mental illness or depression. Additionally, you will need to discuss any history of rectal inflammation or bleeding if you use Indocin in suppository form. Also tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to get pregnant in the future or breast-feed your child. You may not be suitable for Indocin use if you have a history of stroke, heart attack or heart disease. Additional potential conflicts include smoking, diabetes, high-blood pressure and high cholesterol.

    Side Effects

    • Potential side effects of Indocin use include increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other serious risks include blisters, fever, rash, unexplained weight gain, cloudy or discolored urine, yellowing of your skin or eyes, breathing difficulties, nausea, heartburn, stomach pain, black or bloody stool and dark or bloody vomit. If you experience any of these signs, discontinue Indocin use and contact your doctor immediately.

    Dosages and Overdose

    • Always follow the dosing instructions provided by your doctor precisely. If you miss a scheduled dose, you may take it at a later time as long as you are not nearing your next scheduled dose. If your next dose is near, skip the missed dose and return to your normal schedule.
      If you overdose on Indocin, your symptoms may include nausea, diarrhea, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, headache, confusion, abnormally high- or low-blood pressure, agitation, drowsiness and convulsions. If these signs occur, call the National Poison Control Center immediately (1-800-222-1222). Do not try to induce vomiting unless you are told to do so. If you overdose on oral Indocin and are not experiencing symptoms that make it difficult to swallow, immediately drink either water or milk, unless a medical professional tells you otherwise.

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