Indomethacin (often sold under the Indocin brand name) is the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug for reducing painful gout swelling. It acts upon the hormones that cause swelling and pain.
It is available as regular capsules, sustained release capsules, liquid and suppositories. You may need to take
capsules or liquid with milk or food to reduce the chance of stomach upset. Do not open sustained release (SR) capsules - they must be taken whole.
Over-the-counter medicines can contain similar anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. Ibuprofen, aspirin. Do not take any other medication alongside Indomethacin without consulting your doctor. Never exceed the prescribed dosage. Always wait the prescribed time before taking your next dose. If you think you have overdosed, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Symptoms of overdose include any of the following:
Blurred vision
Breathing
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Headache
Nausea
Ringing in the ears
Seizures
Stomach pain
Sweating
Tingling or numbness
Urine much reduced or stopped
Vomiting
Side Effects
Not everybody suffers side-effects. The most common problem is stomach upset, but more serious stomach problems can occur. As with all treatments, you must decide what is best for you in your particular circumstances. You must discuss side-effects fully with your doctor before you start to take any drug and whenever you experience any adverse effects.
The following list may not be complete - if you experience any other problem that you think may be related to taking the drug, then you must consult your doctor.
Minor side effects that may go away
You only need consult your doctor if these become severe or prolonged
Constipation
Depression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Headache
Stomach pain
Unusual hair loss
Nausea, unless with skin rash - this is serious - see below
Vomiting
Serious side effects
You must stop taking Indomethacin and consult your doctor if you have any of the following
Aching or painful muscles
Blood in stools or black, tarry stools
Blood in vomit
Breathing troubled or short
Bruising or bleeding without obvious cause
Chest tight or wheezing
Eyes yellow
Hands or feet numb, tingling, painful or weak
Hearing diminished or ringing in ears
Hives
Itching
Lethargy (tiredness or weakness without obvious cause)
Mouth ulcers
Rash, especially with vomiting or nausea
Skin yellow
Swelling of hands, feet, lower legs or ankles
Tarry, black stools
Urine suddenly decreases in amount
Health warnings
Indomethacin is a member of the NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) group of drugs. All these drugs can have severe, even fatal, effects on the stomach. It is appropriate for short term use, at the lowest dose possible, to treat pain from gout flares, but never for more than a few days.
Vision problems are associated with this drug.
Alternative Spellings
This drug is sometimes referred to as:
Indocin (this is a brand name)
indomethacine
indomethicin
indometacin - most common outside USA
Indomethacin and Gout Pain
Indometacin works by controlling the bodies reaction to uric acid deposits in the joints. It reduces pain, but does nothing to help reduce those deposits. See the
Reaction
part of U-D-R-P for more information.
Indometacin works by controlling the bodies reaction to uric acid deposits in the joints. It reduces pain, but does nothing to help reduce those deposits. See the
Reaction
part of U-D-R-P for more information.
