Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: INDOCIN SR versus RELAFEN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: INDOCIN SR versus RELAFEN.
INDOCIN SR vs RELAFEN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing synthesis of prostaglandins, which mediate inflammation, pain, and fever. It also has a direct effect on renal blood flow and platelet aggregation.
Nabumetone is a nonacidic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is a prodrug, rapidly metabolized to the active metabolite 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA), which inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and thereby prostaglandin synthesis.
75 mg orally once daily, extended-release capsules.
1000 mg orally once daily, or 500 mg twice daily. Maximum dose 2000 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal half-life is 4.5 hours (range 2.6-11.2 hours) in young adults; prolonged in elderly (up to 16 hours) and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
Terminal elimination half-life approximately 24 hours (range 20-30 hours), allowing once-daily dosing.
Approximately 50% renal (as unchanged drug and metabolites, primarily glucuronide conjugates), 33% biliary/fecal. Indomethacin undergoes enterohepatic recirculation.
Primarily renal (90% as metabolites, ~5% unchanged); biliary/fecal minor (<5%).
Category C
Category C
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)