etodolac vs nabumetone
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of etodolac and nabumetone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lodine
Relafen
Etodolac is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medicine. It helps reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness caused by arthritis and other conditions.
Nabumetone is a medicine that helps reduce pain and swelling. It is a type of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Etodolac treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can help with pain and swelling in your joints. Etodolac is also used for short-term relief of acute pain.
Nabumetone is used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. This medicine can help you feel better.
Etodolac is an NSAID, which stands for Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It can help to reduce fever as well.
Nabumetone works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain.
- • Upset stomach
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Gas
- • Heartburn
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Abdominal pain
- • Constipation
- • Gas
- Pain 350
- Nausea 290
- Arthralgia 284
- Fatigue 272
- Headache 238
- Pain 461
- Nausea 372
- Fatigue 360
- Headache 316
- Arthralgia 307
NSAIDs like etodolac can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take etodolac if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also increase the risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can be fatal. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.
NSAIDs like nabumetone can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take this medicine if you are having heart bypass surgery (CABG). NSAIDs also increase the risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can be fatal. This can happen without warning, and older adults are at higher risk.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Etodolac may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if etodolac passes into breast milk.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Nabumetone may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if nabumetone passes into breast milk.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare etodolac with
Compare nabumetone with
How to Read This etodolac vs nabumetone Comparison
etodolac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while nabumetone 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, etodolac has 1,434 submissions while nabumetone has 1,816. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for etodolac or nabumetone.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.