Indocin Rect

Indomethacin is used to relieve pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by arthritis, gout, bursitis, and tendonitis. Reducing these symptoms helps you do more of your normal daily activities. This medication is known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
If you are treating a chronic condition such as arthritis, ask your doctor about non-drug treatments and/or using other medications to treat your pain. See also Warning section.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This medication may also be used to relieve pain caused by inflammation of the pouch surrounding the heart and other conditions as prescribed by your doctor.

How to use Indocin Rect
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using indomethacin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If the suppository is too soft to insert, put it in cold water or refrigerate it for 30 minutes before removing the foil wrapper. Unwrap the foil and moisten the suppository with a little water. Lie down on your left side with right knee bent. Push the suppository into the rectum with your finger. Remain lying down for a few minutes, and avoid having a bowel movement for at least an hour to allow the drug to be completely absorbed.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Adults should not use more than 200 milligrams per day. For children, dosage is also based on weight. The maximum dose for children is 4 milligrams per kilogram a day or 150 to 200 milligrams a day, whichever is less. To reduce your risk of side effects (such as stomach bleeding), use this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose or use it more often than prescribed. For ongoing conditions such as arthritis, continue using it as directed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor or pharmacist.
For certain conditions (such as arthritis), it may take up to 4 weeks of using this drug regularly before you get the full benefit.
If you are using this drug \"as needed\" (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.
Tell your doctor if your condition worsens.

See also Warning section.
Upset stomach, heartburn, headache, drowsiness, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: rectal irritation, bloody stools, feeling the need to have frequent bowel movements, swelling of the hands/feet (edema), sudden/unexplained weight gain, easy bruising/bleeding, unexplained stiff neck, hearing changes (such as ringing in the ears), mental/mood changes (such as confusion, hallucinations), change in the amount of urine, unusual tiredness.
This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including: dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite, severe stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using indomethacin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: recent rectal bleeding, inflammation of the rectum/anus, asthma (including a history of worsening breathing after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), bleeding or clotting problems, a severe loss of body water (dehydration), growths in the nose (nasal polyps), heart disease (such as congestive heart failure, history of heart attack), high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, stomach/intestine/esophagus problems (such as bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), stroke.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.
This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco may increase your risk for stomach bleeding, especially when combined with this medicine. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially stomach/intestinal bleeding, kidney effects, and mental/mood changes.
Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially serious liver problems. Caution is advised when this drug is used by children. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor.
Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the benefits and risks (such as miscarriage). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It is not recommended for use during the first and last trimesters of pregnancy due to possible harm to the unborn baby and interference with normal labor/delivery.
This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor\'s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: aliskiren, ACE Inhibitors (such as lisinopril), angiotensin II receptor blockers (such as valsartan, losartan), cidofovir, corticosteroids (such as prednisone), cyclosporine, lithium, methotrexate (high-dose treatment), pemetrexed.
This medication may increase the risk of bleeding when used with other drugs that also may cause bleeding. Examples include anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel, \"blood thinners\" such as dabigatran/enoxaparin/warfarin, among others.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (aspirin, NSAIDs such as celecoxib, diflunisal, ibuprofen, or ketorolac). These drugs are similar to indomethacin and may increase your risk of side effects if taken together. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking the aspirin unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests, possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

This medicine may be harmful if swallowed. If swallowing or overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. If accidentally swallowed, you may experience symptoms such as: severe stomach pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, extreme drowsiness, slow or shallow breathing, confusion, seizures.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Lifestyle changes (such as weight loss if needed, strengthening/conditioning exercises) may help improve your flexibility, range of motion, and joint function. Consult your doctor for specific instructions.

MISSED DOSE:
If you are prescribed this drug on a regular schedule (not just \"as needed\") and you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Some brands may require refrigeration while others should not be refrigerated. Check the product package for instructions on how to store your product. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Information last revised September 2012. Copyright(c) 2012 First Databank, Inc.