One of the representatives of the group of non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs is the drug "Indomethacin" (tablets). Due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effect, it is used to treat inflammatory diseases, eliminate pain, reduce swelling and to restore joint mobility.
Description of the drug
The main active ingredient of the drug is indomethacin, which is referred to as indoleacetic acid derivatives. The instruction describes the tablets inside the package of the drug “Indomethacin” as elements with a protective enteric coating, which allows the active substance to be released in the intestine, bypassing the stomach. The tablets are round in shape, biconvex, covered with a light brown shell on top.
Tablets come in several dosages: 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg of indomethacin. Available in 10 or 40 pieces per pack.
All dosage forms
In addition to tablets, there are other forms of the drug "Indomethacin" for oral use, for example, capsules with prolonged action with a dosage of 75 mg. For rectal administration, suppositories with a dose of 50 mg are used. For external use, ointment 5% and 10% and gel 3% are created.
Mechanism of action
The medication is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent of systemic action, which has anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic and antipyretic effects. The instruction attached to the Indomethacin preparation (tablets) contains a description of the mechanism of work of its active component associated with a decrease in cyclooxygenase activity of types 1 and 2. In turn, this enzyme has a lesser effect on arachidonic acid, which reduces its conversion to prostaglandins. It is these substances that cause inflammation and pain.
Indomethacin exhibits an antiplatelet effect, reducing platelet adhesion. The substance weakens pain during joint pain in a calm and mobile state, reduces morning stiffness and swelling, increases range of motion.
The action of indomethacin is aimed at reducing inflammation. This effect is maximally manifested on the seventh day of treatment with tablets of the drug.
What heals
Based on the mechanism of action, Indomethacin tablets are recommended for use for systemic treatment:
- joint syndrome;
- inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system caused by rheumatoid, psoriatic, rheumatoid, juvenile arthritis, shoulder-shoulder periarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, joint damage with deforming osteitis and urethrooculosinovial syndrome;
- degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system caused by osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, deforming osteoarthritis of the joints, excluding hip and intervertebral arthrosis;
- diffuse disease covering the connective tissue;
- rheumatism;
- purulent inflammatory lesions of the periarticular sac and tendons;
- acute pain symptom in the lower back and other parts of the spine with sciatic and other nerve neuralgia, muscle inflammation;
- traumatic inflammation in soft tissues or joints.
With its help, you can cope with a headache, menstrual, toothache, algodismenorea.
As an aid in infectious and inflammatory diseases, such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, Indomethacin medication (tablets) is used. Indications for use include the treatment of cystitis, adnexitis, prostatitis.
The drug is effective for relieving febrile syndrome associated with lymphogranulomatosis, lymphoma, tumor metastases, when paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid do not work.
How to take
The medicine "Indomethacin" in tablets is prescribed to the patient in one or another dosage based on the degree of the disease. Adults usually start with a dose of 25 mg three times a day after meals.
If the effect of the treatment is not sufficiently pronounced, the dosage is doubled to 50 mg 3 times a day. The maximum allowable dose should not exceed 200 mg of indomethacin. After a noticeable improvement caused by drug therapy, treatment is stopped only after 4 weeks, using the previous or reduced dose during this period. If patients take Indomethacin tablets for a long time, the instructions for use recommend a dose of not more than 75 mg of the active substance per day.
Treating children
For a child, the daily dose is calculated by multiplying 2.5 or 3 mg by his body weight, it is taken 3-4 times. For each age category, the use of an initial daily dose is provided:
- children from 3 to 7 years of age are prescribed from 50 mg to 75 mg, which corresponds to 2 or 3 tablets;
- children from 7 to 12 years of age are prescribed from 75 mg to 100 mg, which corresponds to 3 or 4 tablets;
- children from 12 years of age are prescribed from 100 mg to 125 mg, which corresponds to 4 or 5 tablets.
In the first few days, you should find out how the medicine acts on the child's body, so a small dose of the drug is used. The duration of therapy with Indomethacin (tablets) is indicated as a period of 6 to 7 days.
Features of the reception
Due to the existing probability of developing undesirable effects from taking Indomethacin in tablets, it is better not to use it for the treatment of acute rheumatic fever in childhood. Entering breast milk, the active substance penetrates the baby’s blood, strengthens the physiological jaundice of the baby and damage to liver cells. To prevent this, breastfeeding is canceled.
Elderly people, patients with a sick liver, kidneys, digestive tract, dyspeptic symptoms, high blood pressure, heart failure, after operations, with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, pregnant women in the I and II trimester, when prescribing treatment with indomethacin, monitoring the body condition is required. It is necessary to control the function of problem organs, once every 7 days to examine peripheral blood.
If in the past there have been allergic reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, then the drug "Indomethacin" (tablets) is prescribed in extreme cases.
It is not recommended to perform dangerous types of work during treatment, as attention and psychomotor activity are disturbed.
When not to take
There are diseases in which Indomethacin (tablets) is contraindicated. Its use is impossible:
- with increased sensitivity to indomethacin;
- in the presence of erosive and ulcerative lesions of the digestive system in the acute phase;
- with the “aspirin triad”, characterized by intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid, polyps in the nose and bronchial asthma;
- with impaired hematopoiesis;
- with a pronounced change in the work of the liver and kidneys;
- with salt and fluid retention with possible peripheral edema;
- in severe chronic myocardial insufficiency;
- at elevated pressure;
- with bronchial asthma;
- with inflammation of the pancreas;
- in the III trimester of bearing a child;
- when breastfeeding;
- in children under 3 years old.
Adverse reactions
Taking the medicine “Indomethacin” (tablets) may be accompanied by side effects that adversely affect the state of the human body. Frequent adverse reactions include nausea, anorexia, pain in the abdomen, flatulence, constipation, digestive upset.
In isolated cases, side effects can manifest themselves as an erosive-ulcerative lesion, bleeding and perforation of the walls of the stomach and intestines; aplastic or hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, rash, hair loss, skin itching, seizures, Quincke's edema, bronchospasm.
Very rarely there are signs of Lyell syndrome, anaphylactic shock, erythema nodosum.
During treatment, the excretory function of the kidneys and liver is possible, which increases the content of bilirubin, hepatic transaminase.
Long-term use of Indomethacin (tablets) does not exclude adverse reactions associated with sleep disturbances, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, headache, agitation, irritability, fatigue. They are characterized by clouding of the cornea, conjunctivitis, hearing impairment, tinnitus, high blood pressure, edema.
Reviews
It is very important to observe all the rules for the use of the drug, eliminate all contraindications.
There are mixed reviews regarding the use of Indomethacin. Tablets have more side effects than dosage forms for external use. In addition, this medication refers to type 1 and 2 cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which are considered less effective and cause a number of adverse reactions from the gastrointestinal tract.
Rheumatologists and surgeons often prescribe more modern drugs from the oxycam group to their patients. They inhibit only type 2 cyclooxygenase, without affecting type 1 enzyme, which ensures the production of prostaglandins that protect the digestive system. That is why oksikama cause less harm to the stomach than the medicine "Indomethacin" (tablets). Negative instructions include reviews in the description of side effects, but this does not mean that they should all appear during treatment. It all depends on the characteristics of the body.
This remedy saves many patients from back pain, myalgia, intercostal neuralgia, when other medicines do not help. And negative effects practically do not arise from treatment with Indomethacin. Testimonials from patients who have recovered receive positive reviews. Although the risk is always present, and only the attending physician can prescribe such a serious drug.
Analogs
Tablets with the active substance indomethacin are produced by many foreign and domestic enterprises, such as the companies Sopharma, Ludwig Meckle, Nycomed, Farmahim, Berlin Chemie Menarini, Altfarm. Only each drug has its own trade name, its composition of auxiliary components. All analogues have the same indications for use, side effects, contraindications.
The most popular drug is Indomethacin Sofarma (tablets). Available in dosage of 50 and 100 mg by the company "Sopharma" (Bulgaria). Refers to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
A couple of no less well-known analogues are the medicines Indomethacin 50 mg Berlin-Chemie and Indomethacin 100 mg Berlin-Chemie. They are produced in two dosages (50 and 100 mg each) by the Italian company Berlin-Chemie Menarini.
Indomethacin (tablets) has analogues of Russian origin. They are available in different dosage forms. The main analogues are:
- Indomethacin-Acri Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant OJSC Akrikhin;
- Indomethacin-Altpharm, Altpharm LLC;
- "Indomethacin-Biosynthesis", OJSC "Biosynthesis";
- Vero-Indomethacin, OJSC Veropharm.