Indomethacin
Brand names: Indomethacin, Indomethacin Er
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 55,255
- Medicare drug cost
- $717,354
- Average cost per prescription
- $12.98
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 3,199
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of indomethacin extended-release capsules and other treatment options before deciding to use indomethacin extended-release capsules. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS). Indomethacin extended-release capsules have been found effective in active stages of the following: 1. Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis including acute flares of chronic disease. 2. Moderate to severe ankylosing spondylitis. 3. Moderate to severe osteoarthritis. 4. Acute painful shoulder (bursitis and/or tendinitis). Indomethacin extended-release capsules, USP are not recommended for the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. Indomethacin may enable the reduction of steroid dosage in patients receiving steroids for the more severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis. In such instances the steroid dosage should be reduced slowly and the patients followed very closely for any possible adverse effects. The use of indomethacin in conjunction with aspirin or other salicylates is not recommended. Controlled clinical studies have shown that the combined use of indomethacin and aspirin does not produce any greater therapeutic effect than the use of indomethacin alone. Furthermore, in one of these clinical studies, the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects was significantly…
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated December 2024). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use. • Indomethacin extended-release capsules are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Gastrointestinal Risk • NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events (see WARNINGS).
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 37.0%
- Internal Medicine 18.6%
- Nurse Practitioners 15.7%
- Neurology 6.7%
- Physician Assistants 6.3%
- Rheumatology 2.8%
- Orthopedic Surgery 2.0%
- Podiatrists 1.9%
- General Practice 1.8%
- Pain Medicine 1.5%
- Emergency Medicine 1.3%
- Sports Medicine 0.8%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions fell 7% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Alabama +43%
- Louisiana +37%
- Texas +11%
- North Carolina +7%
- Minnesota +6%
- Massachusetts (smallest change) −30%
- New York (smallest change) −23%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 4 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
A-S Medication Solutions
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mg | green capsule, 16 mm | H 103 |
| 50 mg | green capsule, 19 mm | H 104 |
Advanced Rx Pharmacy of Tennessee, LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mg | yellow capsule, 18 mm | H 105 |
Northstar Rxllc
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | white bullet suppository | |
Nucare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | green capsule, 19 mm | H 104 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
No industry payments to clinicians named this drug in 2025.
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
5 recalls since 2020
- May 2025 · Amerisource Health Services LLC · Class II
cGMP deviations - May 2025 · Kvk Tech, Inc. · Class II
cGMP deviations - Mar 2025 · Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA · Class II
CGMP Deviations - Jul 2024 · Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA · Class II
Failed Dissolution Specifications: below specification results - Nov 2023 · Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA · Class II
Labeling: Label Mix-Up-Indomethacin bottles may be labeled as Naproxen
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.