Skip to main content
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1975 Jul 12;3(5975):69–11. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5975.69

Indomethacin--aspirin interaction: a clinical appraisal.

P M Brooks, J J Walker, M A Bell, W W Buchanan, A R Rhymer
PMCID: PMC1673635  PMID: 1095133

Abstract

Plasma profiles of indomethacin after a 50-mg oral dose were constructed in six healthy volunteers before and after a week of aspirin treatment. Aspirin did not interfere with indomethacin plasma levels. To examine the clinical effect of concurrent indomethacin and aspirin treatment 20 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were given indomethacin 100 mg/day, aspirin soluble 4 g/day, and the two drugs taken together in random order. Analysis of the clinical indices of inflammation--articular index and mean pain score--and of the efficacy of each treatment showed no significant differences between the three treatment groups. With the proliferation in the number of anti-rheumatic drugs available, the case for giving two or more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs concurrently remains unproved.

Full text

PDF
69

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brooks P. M., Stephens W. H., Jr, Stephens M. E., Buchanan W. W. How safe are anti-rheumatic drugs? A study of possible iatrogenic deaths in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Health Bull (Edinb) 1975 May;33(3):108–111. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Champion G. D., Paulus H. E., Mongan E., Okun R., Pearson C. M. The effect of aspirin on serum indomethacin. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1972 Mar-Apr;13(2):239–244. doi: 10.1002/cpt1972132239. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Emori H. W., Champion G. D., Bluestone R., Paulus H. E. Simultaneous pharmacokinetics of indomethacin in serum and synovial fluid. Ann Rheum Dis. 1973 Sep;32(5):433–435. doi: 10.1136/ard.32.5.433. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Jeremy R., Towson J. Interaction between aspirin and indomethacin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Med J Aust. 1970 Jul 18;2(3):127–129. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb87342.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lee P., Baxter A., Dick W. C., Webb J. An assessment of grip strength measurement in rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. 1974;3(1):17–23. doi: 10.3109/03009747409165124. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lee P., McCusker S., Allison A., Nuki G. Adverse reactions in patients with rheumatic diseases. Retrospective analysis of causes of admission and out-patient attendance in a specialist centre. Ann Rheum Dis. 1973 Nov;32(6):565–573. doi: 10.1136/ard.32.6.565. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lee P., Webb J., Anderson J., Buchanan W. W. Method for assessing therapeutic potential of anti-inflammatory antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. Br Med J. 1973 Jun 23;2(5868):685–688. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5868.685. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lindquist B., Jensen K. M., Johansson H., Hansen T. Effect of concurrent administration of aspirin and indomethacin on serum concentrations. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1974 Mar;15(3):247–252. doi: 10.1002/cpt1974153247. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mason D. I. In-patient prescribing in a rheumatic diseases centre. A study in self-abasement. Health Bull (Edinb) 1975 Mar;33(2):72–75. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Melmon K. L. Preventable drug reactions--causes and cures. N Engl J Med. 1971 Jun 17;284(24):1361–1368. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197106172842408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. O'Brien W. M. Indomethacin: a survey of clinical trials. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1968 Jan-Feb;9(1):94–107. doi: 10.1002/cpt19689194. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Pinals R. S., Frank S. Relative efficacy of indomethacin and acetylsalicylic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 1967 Mar 2;276(9):512–514. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196703022760906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Pitkeathly D. A., Banerjee N. R., Harris R., Sharp J. Indomethacin in in-patient treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1966 Jul;25(4):334–339. doi: 10.1136/ard.25.4.334. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Swingle K. F., Grant T. J., Jaques L. W., Kvam D. C. Interactions of anti-inflammatory drugs in carrageenan-induced foot edema of the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1970 Apr;172(2):423–425. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Yesair D. W., Remington L., Callahan M., Kensler C. J. Comparative effects of salicylic acid, phenylbutazone, probenecid and other anions on the metabolism, distribution and excretion of indomethacin by rats. Biochem Pharmacol. 1970 May;19(5):1591–1600. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(70)90147-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES