indometacin
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about ARTHREXIN. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ARTHREXIN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What ARTHREXIN is used for
ARTHREXIN contains the active ingredient, indometacin. It belongs to a group of medicines called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
ARTHREXIN is used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation (swelling, redness and soreness) that may occur in the following conditions:
different types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative joint disease of the hip
gout
muscle and bone injuries such as sprains, strains, low back pain (lumbago) and tendonitis, such as tennis elbow
pain and swelling after setting broken or dislocated bones
menstrual cramps (period pain)
Although ARTHREXIN can relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation, it will not cure your condition.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
It is available only with a doctor's prescription.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for children under the age of 2 years.
Before you take ARTHREXIN
When you must not take it
Do not take ARTHREXIN if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing indometacin
aspirin or any other NSAID medicines
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Many medicines used to treat headache, period pain and other aches and pains contain aspirin or other NSAID medicines.
If you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
If you are allergic to aspirin or NSAID medicines and use ARTHREXIN, the above symptoms may be severe.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established.
Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medicine.
The active ingredient in ARTHREXIN passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Do not take ARTHREXIN if:
you have an active peptic ulcer (i.e. a stomach or duodenal ulcer) or have had peptic ulcers more than once before
you have severe heart failure
you have recently had heart bypass surgery
you have severe liver failure
you experience asthma attacks, hives or rash or itching of the nose, throat or eyes with aspirin or other NSAIDs
you are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
you are bleeding from the back passage, have black sticky bowel motions or bloody diarrhoea
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any of the following medical conditions:
stomach ulcers or other stomach problems
bowel or intestinal problems such as ulcerative colitis
kidney or liver disease
diabetes
high blood pressure or heart disease
history of chest pain (angina), heart problems or stroke
heartburn or indigestion
history of swelling in the feet or ankles
a tendency to bleed or other blood problems
psychiatric problems
seizures or fits (epilepsy)
Parkinson's disease
asthma
eye disease
Tell your doctor if you currently have an infection.
ARTHREXIN may hide some of the signs of an infection. This may make you think, mistakenly, that you are better or that it is less serious than it might be.
Signs of an infection include fever, pain, swelling or redness.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking ARTHREXIN.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and ARTHREXIN may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines (e.g. ibuprofen)
anticoagulants such as warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure or irregular heart beats
lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
diuretics, also known as fluid or water tablets
some medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions, including ACE inhibitors or betablockers or medicines used in combination with a thiazide diuretic
decongestants
ciclosporin, a medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection or suppress the immune system
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat arthritis and certain types of cancers
These medicines may be affected by ARTHREXIN or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking ARTHREXIN.
Use in the elderly
Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects or side effects of this medicine.
How to take ARTHREXIN
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box/bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how many capsules you need to take each day. The dose will depend on the condition being treated and your response to the treatment. Your initial dose will be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is noted.
The dose varies from patient to patient. The usual dose is between 50 mg and 200 mg per day, given in divided doses.
Elderly patients may need smaller doses.
Tell your doctor of any changes in your condition, as you may require a change in the dose of ARTHREXIN.
The dose for menstrual cramps (period pain) is usually one 25 mg capsule every eight hours, starting with the onset of bleeding or cramps.
How to take it
Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.
ARTHREXIN may also be taken with an antacid, if advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
This may help reduce the possibility of stomach and bowel problems.
When to take it
Take ARTHREXIN with or immediately after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Depending on your condition, you may need this medicine for a few days, a few weeks or for longer periods.
As with other NSAID medicines, if you are using ARTHREXIN for arthritis, it will not cure your condition but it should help to control pain, swelling and stiffness. If you have arthritis, ARTHREXIN should be taken every day for as long as your doctor prescribes.
For sprains and strains, ARTHREXIN is usually only needed for a few days.
For gout, ARTHREXIN can be stopped when the joint pain disappears.
For menstrual cramps, ARTHREXIN should be taken at the start of bleeding or cramps and continued for as long as the cramps last.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much ARTHREXIN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, numbness or fits.
While you are taking ARTHREXIN
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking ARTHREXIN.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
ARTHREXIN may cause prolonged bleeding and may need to be stopped before surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor if you get an infection while taking ARTHREXIN.
ARTHREXIN may hide some of the signs of an infection and may make you think, mistakenly, that you are better or that it is less serious than it might be.
Signs of an infection include fever, pain, swelling or redness.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
ARTHREXIN can increase blood pressure in some people, so your doctor will want to check your blood pressure from time to time.
As blurred vision is a possible side effect of long term therapy with ARTHREXIN, patients should visit their optometrist for regular eye checks.
Things you must not do
Do not take ARTHREXIN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ARTHREXIN affects you.
As with other NSAID medicines, this medicine may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
If you drink alcohol, the dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ARTHREXIN.
This medicine helps most people with pain or inflammation, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
If you are over 65 years of age, have liver or kidney problems or are diabetic, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
stomach upset or pain including nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, cramps, loss of appetite, wind
heartburn or indigestion (possible symptoms of an ulcer in the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach)
Some of the stomach upset, such as nausea and heartburn, may be reduced by taking the capsules with food or an antacid, if advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
constipation, diarrhoea
hearing disturbances such as buzzing or ringing in the ears
headache, dizziness, light-headedness may occur in the first few days of treatment. If this worries you or continues, contact your doctor
tiredness
change in mood such as depression, anxiety or irritability
These are the more common side effects of ARTHREXIN.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
severe pain or tenderness in the stomach
eye problems such as blurred vision or difficulty seeing
fast or irregular heartbeats, also called palpitations
signs of frequent or worrying infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
signs of anaemia, such as tiredness, being short of breath, looking pale
yellowing of the skin and eyes, also called jaundice
unusual weight gain or swelling of ankles or legs
dark coloured or cloudy urine or pain in the kidney region
difficulty in passing water (urinating) or a sudden decrease in the amount of urine passed
sore mouth or tongue
drowsiness, disorientation, forgetfulness
shakiness, sleeplessness, nightmares
tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
hair loss or thinning
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. This may occur at any time during use and without warning
bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea. This may occur at any time during use and without warning
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
sudden or severe itching, skin rash or hives on the skin
asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath
severe dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
seizures or fits
pain or tightness in the chest
red or purple skin (possible signs of blood vessel inflammation)
painful red areas, large blisters, peeling of layers of skin, bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals, which may be accompanied by fever and chills, aching muscles and feeling generally unwell (possible serious skin reaction)
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After taking ARTHREXIN
Storage
Keep your capsules in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the capsules out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store ARTHREXIN or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
ARTHREXIN capsules are white and are marked with "IN-25".
Each bottle contains 50 capsules.
Ingredients
ARTHREXIN contains 25 mg of indometacin as the active ingredient.
The capsules also contain:
lactose monohydrate
sodium starch glycollate
sodium lauryl sulfate
magnesium stearate
colloidal anhydrous silica
gelatin
titanium dioxide CI 77891
The capsules are gluten free.
