Arthritis Treatment Pain Relief Indocin (Indomethacin) Drug Interactions By Steph Coelho twitter Steph Coelho is a freelance health writer, web producer, and editor based in Montreal. She specializes in covering general wellness and chronic illness. Learn about our editorial process Steph Coelho Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Mary Choy, PharmD on April 08, 2021 twitter linkedin Mary Choy, PharmD, is board-certified in geriatric pharmacotherapy and is an active leader in professional pharmacy associations. Learn about our Medical Review Board Mary Choy, PharmD Published on April 08, 2021 Print fstop123 / E+ / Getty Images Indocin (indomethacin) is a prescription drug indicated for arthritis and overuse injuries that cause pain and swelling, such as tendonitis and bursitis. You usually take it by mouth as a capsule or an oral suspension, but it also comes in a suppository form. It helps treat swelling, stiffness, and pain caused by conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s part of the class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While it’s an effective treatment option for many types of painful conditions, it may interact with certain medications, causing potentially harmful reactions. NSAIDs Because indomethacin is an NSAID itself, taking it with other NSAIDs, such as over-the-counter (OTC) Advil, can increase your risk of side effects. Don’t take indomethacin with the following NSAIDs unless expressly directed to by your doctor: Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen) Aleve (naproxen) Aspirin Celebrex (celecoxib) Mobic (meloxicam) Voltaren, Zorvolex, Zipsor (diclofenac) Ketorolac What You Should Know About NSAIDs for Arthritis Antidepressants Tell your doctor if you’re taking an antidepressant. Some antidepressants may interact with indomethacin and increase your risk of bleeding. SSRIs The following selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may interact with indomethacin: Celexa (citalopram) Luvox (fluvoxamine) Paxil (paroxetine) Prozac (fluoxetine) Zoloft (sertraline) SNRIs The following selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may interact with indomethacin: Cymbalta (duloxetine) Effexor XR (venlafaxine) Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) Heart Medicines Some heart medicines may interact with indomethacin. Combining indomethacin with ACE inhibitors, AR blockers, or beta blockers can diminish their effectiveness. In older adults, combining indomethacin with heart medicines can cause kidney problems and, in some cases, kidney failure. Indomethacin comes with a black box warning that cautions people to avoid the medication if they have a history of heart disease. Taking it for long periods can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. ACE Inhibitors Your doctor may need to monitor you and adjust the dosage of indomethacin if you take any of the following angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor drugs: Accupril (quinapril) Altace (ramipril) Captopril Fosinopril Lisinopril Lotensin (benazepril) Mavik (trandolapril) Univasc (moexipril) Vasotec (enalapril) ARBs Several angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may interact with indomethacin, including:’ Atacand (candesartan) Avapro (irbesartan) Benicar (olmesartan) Cozaar (losartan) Tenormin (telmisartan) Teveten (eprosartan) Beta Blockers Beta blockers that may interact with indomethacin include: Corgard (nadolol) InnoPran XL (propranolol) Lopressor (metoprolol) Tenormin (atenolol) Trandate (labetalol) Others Other medications that may interact with indomethacin include: Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant used to prevent organ rejection Blood thinners Digoxin, a drug that treats irregular heartbeat and heart failure Diuretics Lithium Methotrexate, a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) Phenytoin, an anti-seizure drug Because blood thinners affect the body’s clotting ability, taking them with indomethacin (which may increase your risk of internal bleeding) can be dangerous. Combining lithium with indomethacin increases the blood concentration of lithium. It can cause lithium to take longer to clear the body. This can also happen when taking indomethacin with digoxin, methotrexate, and cyclosporine, increasing the risk of kidney problems. Supplements You should always tell your doctor about any over-the-counter (OTC) vitamins, supplements, or herbal products you’re taking because they may interact with certain medications. Iron and potassium supplements can interact with indomethacin. Because iron can irritate the stomach, taking it with indomethacin can increase your risk of gastrointestinal side effects, including bleeding and ulcers. Mixing potassium supplements with indomethacin can cause adverse kidney reactions whether or not you have existing kidney problems. Alcohol People who drink a lot of alcohol while taking indomethacin may be more likely to experience certain side effects such as: Ulcers Internal bleeding Perforations in the gastrointestinal tract Liver disease Older adults are more likely to experience dangerous side effects from mixing alcohol with medications like indomethacin. Most NSAIDs don't mix well with alcohol. If you want to keep enjoying alcohol while taking indomethacin, talk to your doctor to determine whether it’s safe to do so. Until you talk to a doctor, avoid drinking alcohol. Symptoms of a Stomach Ulcer Taking indomethacin with certain medications can increase your risk of experiencing side effects such as stomach ulcers. But indomethacin on its own also comes with a chance of gastrointestinal side effects like bleeding and ulcers. Symptoms that point to ulcers or bleeding in the stomach include: Nausea Vomiting (vomit may look like it contains coffee grounds) Weight loss that can’t be explained Blood in the stools If you have any of the above symptoms while taking indomethacin, talk to your doctor. If you’re vomiting blood, go to the emergency room. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Indomethacin. Updated February 17, 2021. University of Michigan: Michigan Medicine. Indomethacin. Updated November 3, 2020. Food and Drug Administration. Highlights of prescribing information: Indocin. May 2016. MedlinePlus. Cyclosporine. Updated February 17, 2021. MedlinePlus. Digoxin. Updated February 17, 2021. Arthritis Foundation. Methotrexate: Managing side effects. Food and Drug Administration. Highlights of prescribing information: Indocin. May 2016. Kaiser Permanente. Indomethacin. March 18, 2015. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Mixing alcohol with medicines.