What Are Indomethacin Capsules Used For?

What Are Indomethacin Capsules Used For?

Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) - more on those here - that is used to relieve musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. It is available in various forms, including capsules, and in the United Kingdom, it is a prescription-only medication.

How does Indomethacin work?

When a tissue is injured, it releases – amongst other chemicals – arachidonic acid from the cell membrane. This compound is catalysed by the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX), specifically COX 2 to produce prostaglandins. These are compounds that act as signalling molecules and have a wide range of effects, including stimulating local tissue inflammation and sensitising nerve endings, which ultimately results in your feeling more pain.

Indomethacin works by non selectively inhibiting the COX enzymes. This means it blocks the activity of both COX1 and COX2 enzymes. Many of the side effects experienced as a result of taking indomethacin are due to the fact in inhibits COX1.

What conditions are Indomethacin capsules used to treat?

As mentioned above, Indomethacin is indicated to treat various inflammatory musculoskeletal concerns. It can help manage the chronic inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A study undertook by Lund et al (1980) found that indomethacin – along with another sulindac (another NSAID) - was slight more effective in reducing the pain in terms of the speed with which pain relief set in, and was effective at reducing joint swelling typically associated with RA.

A study by Calin et al (1988) compared Indomethacin’s effect with another NASID: Tiaprofenic acid. Although finding that Tiaprofenic acid was a useful medication to assists with arthritic symptoms, it also found that indomethacin was effective at improvement mobility and reducing pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

A study by Mena & Good (1977) investigated the efficacy of indomethacin in managing the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. They found It is effective for reducing the pain and tenderness within affected joints.

Types of capsule

There are various types of capsules for indomethacin. They are sold as immediate release, which means the active ingredient is released as soon as the capsule dissolves in the stomach. This is useful for those patients who want quicker pain relief, although the effects wear off quicker. Another formulation is modified release. These are designed to release indomethacin at a steady rate over an extended period of time. This provides longer lasting pain relief. What type of capsule your healthcare provider decides to prescriber, will depend on the severity of your pain and individual preferences.

Conclusion

If you are in pain an inflammatory musculoskeletal concern, I can help.

References

1. BNF is only available in the UK. (n.d.). NICE. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/indometacin/

2. Lucas, S. (2016). The Pharmacology of Indomethacin. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 56(2), 436–446. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.12769

3. Lund, H. I., Donde, R., & Petersen, P. H. (1980). A double-blind study comparing sulindac with indomethacin in rheumatoid arthritis. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement, 37, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009748109095327

4. Calin, A., Cawley, M. I., Pal, B., Rosenberg, J. N., Silas, A. M., & Williams, P. I. (1988). Multicentre double-blind comparison of sustained action formulations of tiaprofenic acid and indomethacin in osteoarthritis. Drugs, 35 Suppl 1, 57–63. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198800351-00013

5. Mena, H. R., & Good, A. E. (1977). Management of ankylosing spondylitis with flurbiprofen or indomethacin. Southern Medical Journal, 70(8), 945–947. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-197708000-00014