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Indomethacin Data - Uses, Dosage, Drug class, Brand name, Warnings, etc



Pharmacology Indomethacin is an indoleacetic acid NSAID, a potent nonselective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor with prominent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties.
It is also used to suppress uterine activity and prevent premature labor.
Adult Dosage PO for rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid (ankylosing) spondylitis, osteoarthritis of the hip:
- Initial: 25 mg bid or tid
- Increase by 25 mg/day weekly until satisfactory response or max 150–200 mg/day
- Alternative: Up to 100 mg of daily dose at bedtime for night/morning stiffness
PO for acute gouty arthritis:
- Initial: 100 mg, then 50 mg tid until resolved
SR Capsule (75 mg):
- 1–2 times/day for all uses except gouty arthritis, based on non-SR dosage
Pediatric Dosage IV for pharmacologic closure of patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants:
- Initial: 0.2 mg/kg
- Followed by 2 doses of 0.1–0.25 mg/kg (age-dependent) at 12–24 hr intervals
Alternative:
- Single dose: 0.3 mg/kg
- Or ≥1 doses of 0.1 mg/kg via retention enema/orogastric tube
Dosage Forms - Capsule: 25 mg, 50 mg
- Sustained-Release Capsule: 75 mg
- Suppository: 50 mg
- Suspension: 5 mg/mL
- Injection: 1 mg
Pharmacokinetics Absorption: Rapid, well absorbed from GI tract; bioavailability 98%
Peak Levels: Within 2 hr; effective concentrations 0.3–3 mg/L (0.8–8 µmol/L)
Protein Binding: 90%
Metabolism: Extensive O-demethylation, N-deacylation to inactive metabolites
Distribution: Vd = 0.29 ± 0.04 L/kg
Clearance: Cl = 0.084 ± 0.012 L/hr/kg; lower in premature infants, neonates, aged
Excretion: 15 ± 8% unchanged in urine
Half-life: 2.4 ± 0.4 hr; higher in premature infants, neonates, aged
Adverse Reactions Frequent (~20% intolerance):
- Frontal lobe headache, drowsiness, dizziness, mental confusion, GI distress (especially >100 mg/day)
Occasional:
- Peripheral neuropathy, occult bleeding, peptic ulcer
Rare:
- Pancreatitis, corneal opacities, hepatotoxicity, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aggravation of psychiatric disorders, allergic reactions
Other: May provoke asthma, angioedema, nasal polyps in susceptible patients
Precautions, drug interactions, monitoring similar to other NSAIDs (see Ibuprofen).
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