Indomethacin (Intravenous)

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, does not close normally after birth. This blood vessel is only needed before birth, and is no longer necessary after the baby is born. Indomethacin injection works by causing the PDA to constrict, which closes the blood vessel. This medicine is used when other medical treatments for PDA do not work after 48 hours.

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

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

This medicine may lower your baby's urine output. This may raise your baby's risk of kidney problems or low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia). Blood and urine tests will be needed to look for any signs of these risks.

Liver problems may happen while your baby is receiving this medicine. Stop using this medicine and contact your baby's doctor right away if your baby has 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 you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor need to consider the risks of taking the medicine against the benefits it may provide. The following points should be taken into account for this medicine:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For over-the-counter products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any specific problems in children that would limit the use of indomethacin injection in premature babies.

Geriatric

There is no information available about how age affects the use of indomethacin injection in older patients.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be taken together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines can be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. It is very important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the following medicines while receiving this medicine. The interactions listed below are based on their potential significance and may not include all possible interactions.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or may 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 necessary in certain cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust 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
• Betamethasone
• Betrixaban
• Bivalirudin
• Budesonide
• Bumetanide
• Cangrelor
• Certoparin
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Cilostazol
• Citalopram
• Clomipramine
• Clopamide
• Clopidogrel
• Cortisone
• 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
• Fluocortolone
• 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
• Paramethasone
• 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 increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs might be necessary for your treatment. 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

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect how you can use this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Active bleeding (e.g., brain hemorrhage or stomach bleeding) or
• Bleeding problems (e.g., thrombocytopenia) or
• Congenital heart disease or
• Untreated infection or
• Kidney problem or
• Known or suspected necrotizing enterocolitis (an inflamed intestine)—This medicine should not be used in babies with these conditions.

• Liver disease—Use with caution. Effects may be stronger because the medicine may be removed from the body more slowly.

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.

In the U.S.

• Indocin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Analgesic

Pharmacologic Class: NSAID

Chemical Class: Acetic Acid (class)

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.

• What is Ardosons called in the U.S?
• Can I take Tylenol while taking indomethacin and can these drugs be alternated every 3 hours?
• Why is my poop green? What does this mean?