Indométacine pour la douleur et l'inflammation

About indometacin

Anti-inflammatory painkillers like indometacin are sometimes called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or just 'anti-inflammatories'. Indometacin is used to treat painful conditions such as arthritis, sprains and strains, back pain, period (menstrual) pain, and gout pain.

Indometacin works by blocking the effect of chemicals in your body, called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. These enzymes help to make other chemicals in the body, called prostaglandins. Some prostaglandins are produced at sites of injury or damage, and cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the effect of COX enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are produced, which means pain and inflammation are eased.

Before taking indometacin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking indometacin, it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous souffrez d'asthme ou de tout autre trouble allergique.

• Si vous avez déjà eu un ulcère de l'estomac ou du duodénum, ou si vous souffrez d'un trouble inflammatoire de l'intestin tel que la maladie de Crohn ou la colite ulcéreuse.

• Si vous êtes enceinte ou si vous allaitez.

• If you are over 65 years of age.

• Si vous avez des problèmes hépatiques ou rénaux.

• Si vous souffrez d'une maladie cardiaque ou d'un problème de vaisseaux sanguins ou de circulation.

• Si vous souffrez d'hypertension artérielle.

• If you have a high blood sugar level or cholesterol level.

• Si vous êtes fumeur.

• If you have epilepsy, or Parkinson's disease, or a mental health problem.

• Si vous avez des problèmes de coagulation sanguine.

• If you have a connective tissue disorder, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. This condition is also called lupus, or SLE.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un autre AINS (comme l'aspirine, le naproxène, le diclofénac et l'ibuprofène) ou à tout autre médicament.

How to take indometacin

• Before you start taking indometacin, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. There are several strengths of indometacin capsule available. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about the strength of capsule you have been given, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience.

• Follow the instructions given by your doctor for taking indometacin. Your dose will depend upon the reason why you are taking it - you may be asked to take just one dose a day, or several doses each day. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack, but if you are still unsure what to do, ask your pharmacist for advice.

• Take indometacin capsules with a meal or after a snack. Doing this can help to prevent side-effects such as indigestion. Many people find it helps to swallow the capsules with a drink.

• Si vous oubliez de prendre une dose, prenez-la dès que vous vous en rendez compte (sauf s'il est presque temps de prendre la dose suivante, auquel cas ne prenez pas la dose oubliée). Ne prenez pas deux doses en même temps pour compenser une dose oubliée.

Tirer le meilleur parti de votre traitement

• Your doctor will try to prescribe you the lowest dose for the shortest time in order to reduce the risk of side-effects. If you need to take indometacin for a long time, your doctor may want to prescribe another medicine along with it to protect your stomach from irritation.

• Try to keep any regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress, and is especially important if you are taking indometacin for a long-term condition.

• If you have asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness can be made worse by anti-inflammatories. If this happens to you, you should stop taking indometacin and see your doctor as soon as possible.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with an anti-inflammatory. This is because you should not take indometacin with any other anti-inflammatory painkiller, some of which are available in cold and flu remedies which can be bought over the counter.

• Si vous devez subir une opération ou un traitement dentaire, indiquez à la personne chargée du traitement les médicaments que vous prenez.

Can indometacin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with indometacin. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important: if you experience any of the following less common but more serious symptoms, stop taking indometacin and contact your doctor for advice straightaway:

• Si vous avez des difficultés respiratoires telles qu'une respiration sifflante ou un essoufflement.

• Si vous présentez des signes de réaction allergique, tels qu'un gonflement autour de la bouche ou du visage, ou une éruption cutanée accompagnée de fortes démangeaisons.

• Si vous avez du sang ou des selles noires, si vous vomissez du sang ou si vous avez de fortes douleurs abdominales.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes qui pourraient être dus au médicament, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien.

How to store indometacin

• Conservez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.
  

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments