diflunisal vs indomethacin
Side-by-side comparison of diflunisal and indomethacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
NSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of indomethacin with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ] . Combined use with diflunisal may be particularly hazardous because diflunisal causes significantly higher plasma levels of indomethacin [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ]. In some patients, combined use of indomethacin and diflunisal has been associated with fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Recommendation: Avoid taking these two medicines together. This combination is dangerous and has been linked to fatal bleeding in the stomach.
Dolobid
Indocin
Diflunisal is a medicine that can help with pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Indomethacin is a drug that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Diflunisal can help with mild to moderate pain. It can also treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You should use the lowest dose that works for you, for the shortest time needed.
Indomethacin treats moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthritis. It can also help with acute painful shoulder (bursitis or tendinitis) and gouty arthritis. This medicine reduces pain and swelling in your joints.
Diflunisal reduces pain and swelling by blocking the production of certain chemicals in your body. These chemicals cause inflammation and pain. By blocking them, diflunisal helps to relieve your symptoms.
Indomethacin works by blocking substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. These substances are called prostaglandins. By blocking them, indomethacin helps to reduce swelling, pain, and stiffness.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Upset stomach
- • Stomach pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea
- Feeling sick to your stomach 66
- Feeling very tired 57
- Discomfort or aching 50
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 47
- Pain in your head 45
- The medicine is not working 1,369
- Feeling tired 1,102
- Joint pain 1,002
- Head pain 990
- Using the medicine for a different purpose than approved 939
NSAIDs like diflunisal can increase your risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. This risk is higher if you take it for a long time. You should not take diflunisal if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also raise your risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can also be deadly. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.
Indomethacin may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with longer use. You should not take this medicine before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG). Indomethacin can also increase your risk of serious stomach and intestine problems like bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. These problems can happen without warning. Elderly patients and those with a history of ulcers or GI bleeding are at higher risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking diflunisal late in pregnancy may harm your baby. It is not known if diflunisal passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Using indomethacin during the later stages of pregnancy may harm your unborn baby. Limit use between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, and avoid use after 30 weeks. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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How to Read This diflunisal vs indomethacin Comparison
diflunisal is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while indomethacin sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diflunisal has 265 submissions while indomethacin has 5,402. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to diflunisal causes the body to have much higher levels of indomethacin in the blood. this increases the risk of serious stomach bleeding without making the medicine work any better.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between diflunisal and indomethacin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.