Indomethacin (Intravenous Route) Side Effects

Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

Indocin

Descriptions

Indomethacin injection is used to treat patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants (babies born too early) who weigh between 500 and 1750 grams. PDA is a heart problem where a blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus, fails to close normally after birth. This blood vessel is only used before birth, and is no longer needed after the baby is born. Indomethacin injection works by causing the PDA to constrict, and this closes the blood vessel. This medicine is used when other medical treatment for PDA fails after 48 hours.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

Powder for Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of indomethacin injection in premature babies.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of indomethacin injection in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Ketorolac

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abciximab
Acenocoumarol
Amiloride
Amineptine
Amitriptyline
Amitriptylinoxide
Amoxapine
Anagrelide
Apixaban
Ardeparin
Argatroban
Aspirin
Bemetizide
Bemiparin
Bendroflumethiazide
Benzthiazide
Betrixaban
Bivalirudin
Budesonide
Bumetanide
Cangrelor
Certoparin
Chlorothiazide
Chlorthalidone
Cilostazol
Citalopram
Clomipramine
Clopamide
Clopidogrel
Cyclopenthiazide
Cyclosporine
Cyclothiazide
Dabigatran Etexilate
Dalteparin
Danaparoid
Deflazacort
Desipramine
Desirudin
Desmopressin
Desvenlafaxine
Dexamethasone
Diazoxide
Dibenzepin
Diflunisal
Digoxin
Dipyridamole
Dothiepin
Doxepin
Duloxetine
Edoxaban
Emtricitabine
Enoxaparin
Eplerenone
Epoprostenol
Eptifibatide
Escitalopram
Ethacrynic Acid
Feverfew
Fluoxetine
Fluvoxamine
Fondaparinux
Furosemide
Ginkgo
Glucagon
Gossypol
Heparin
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrocortisone
Hydroflumethiazide
Ibuprofen
Iloprost
Imipramine
Indapamide
Inotersen
Ketoprofen
Lepirudin
Levoketoconazole
Levomilnacipran
Lithium
Lofepramine
Lornoxicam
Loxoprofen
Lumiracoxib
Macimorelin
Magnesium Salicylate
Meadowsweet
Meclofenamate
Mefenamic Acid
Melitracen
Meloxicam
Melphalan
Mesalamine
Methotrexate
Methyclothiazide
Methylprednisolone
Metolazone
Milnacipran
Morniflumate
Nabumetone
Nadroparin
Naproxen
Nefazodone
Nepafenac
Niflumic Acid
Nimesulide
Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
Nortriptyline
Olsalazine
Opipramol
Oxaprozin
Oxyphenbutazone
Parecoxib
Parnaparin
Paroxetine
Pemetrexed
Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium
Pentoxifylline
Phenindione
Phenprocoumon
Phenylbutazone
Phenyl Salicylate
Piketoprofen
Piroxicam
Polythiazide
Potassium
Potassium Citrate
Prasugrel
Prednisolone
Prednisone
Probenecid
Proglumetacin
Propyphenazone
Proquazone
Protein C
Protriptyline
Quinethazone
Reviparin
Rivaroxaban
Rofecoxib
Salicylamide
Salicylic Acid
Salsalate
Selexipag
Sertraline
Sibutramine
Sodium Salicylate
Spironolactone
Sulfasalazine
Sulfinpyrazone
Sulindac
Sulodexide
Tacrolimus
Tenofovir Alafenamide
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
Tenoxicam
Tianeptine
Tiaprofenic Acid
Ticagrelor
Ticlopidine
Tinzaparin
Tirofiban
Tolfenamic Acid
Tolmetin
Torsemide
Trazodone
Treprostinil
Triamterene
Trichlormethiazide
Trimipramine
Trolamine Salicylate
Valdecoxib
Vasopressin
Venlafaxine
Vilazodone
Vorapaxar
Vortioxetine
Warfarin
Xipamide

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acebutolol
Atenolol
Azilsartan
Azilsartan Medoxomil
Benazepril
Betaxolol
Bisoprolol
Candesartan
Captopril
Carteolol
Carvedilol
Celiprolol
Enalapril
Enalaprilat
Eprosartan
Esmolol
Fosinopril
Gentamicin
Irbesartan
Labetalol
Levobunolol
Lisinopril
Losartan
Metipranolol
Metoprolol
Moexipril
Nadolol
Nebivolol
Olmesartan
Oxprenolol
Penbutolol
Perindopril
Pindolol
Propranolol
Quinapril
Ramipril
Sotalol
Spirapril
Telmisartan
Timolol
Trandolapril
Valsartan

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give this medicine to your baby. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your baby's veins.

Precautions

Indomethacin injection may change how the body reacts during an infection. Your baby's doctor will monitor your baby for any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, or other unusual behavior).

This medicine may affect the action of platelets, which are necessary for clotting the blood. This may increase the chance of bleeding for your baby. Your baby's doctor will monitor your baby for any unusual bleeding or bruising, any dark-colored urine or stools, or other signs of bleeding in your baby.

This medicine may decrease your baby's urine volume. This may increase your baby's chance of having kidney problems or low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia). Blood and urine tests will be needed to check for any signs of these risks.

Liver problems may occur while your baby is receiving this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your baby's doctor right away if your baby is having more than one of these symptoms: abdominal pain or tenderness; clay-colored stools; dark urine; decreased appetite; fever; headache; itching; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; skin rash; swelling of the feet or lower legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Abdominal or stomach pain
ammonia-like breath odor
bloody or black, tarry stools
coma
confusion
constipation
convulsions
decreased urine output
difficult breathing
dizziness
fast or irregular heartbeat
headache, sudden, severe
increased thirst
irregular heartbeat
loss of appetite
muscle pain or cramps
nausea and vomiting
nervousness
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
severe stomach pain
shortness of breath
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
weakness or heaviness of the legs
weight loss

Less common

Anxiety
blurred vision
chills
cold sweats
cool, pale skin
depression
full or bloated feeling
heartburn
increased hunger
indigestion
nightmares
noisy, rattling breathing
pressure in the stomach
seizures
severe abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning
severe constipation
severe vomiting
shakiness
slurred speech
swelling of the abdominal or stomach area
swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
troubled breathing at rest
unusual bruising or bleeding
vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds, severe and continuing
weight gain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/indomethacin-intravenous-route/side-effects/drg-20069693

Indomethacin (Intravenous Route)