Indomethacin: What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Indomethacin
Content provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking indomethacin?
Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.
 | Do not use this medication if you are allergic to indomethacin, or if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs. |
Before taking indomethacin tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
- heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure;
- a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;
- liver or kidney disease,
- a seizure disorder such as epilepsy;
- asthma;
- polyps in your nose;
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
- if you smoke.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take indomethacin.
 | FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Taking indomethacin during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Do not take indomethacin during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to. |
 | Indomethacin passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take indomethacin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
 | Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 14 years old without the advice of a doctor. |
| Last updated: | September 11, 2008 |
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© 2007, Cerner Multum, INC. Version: 5.02.
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