febuxostat vs indomethacin

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Side-by-side comparison of febuxostat and indomethacin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.3 In Vivo Drug Interaction Studies Based on drug interaction studies in healthy patients, febuxostat does not have clinically significant interactions with colchicine, naproxen, indomethacin, hydrochlorothiazide, warfarin or desipramine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Drug Class
febuxostat Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor
indomethacin Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Type
febuxostat Prescription
indomethacin Prescription
Summary
febuxostat

Febuxostat (Uloric) helps manage high uric acid levels in adults with gout. It is used when allopurinol doesn't work well, causes problems, or isn't a good option.

indomethacin

Indomethacin is a drug that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.

What It Treats
febuxostat

Febuxostat treats high uric acid levels in adults who have gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe pain, swelling, and redness in your joints. This medicine is for people who can't take allopurinol, or for whom allopurinol doesn't work well enough.

indomethacin

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.

How It Works
febuxostat

Febuxostat lowers uric acid levels in your body. It does this by blocking an enzyme called xanthine oxidase. This enzyme helps make uric acid, so blocking it reduces uric acid production.

indomethacin

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.

Common Side Effects
febuxostat
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Nausea
  • Joint pain
  • Rash
indomethacin
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Upset stomach
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
febuxostat
  • Diarrhoea 849
  • Nausea 841
  • Acute Kidney Injury 837
  • Rash 783
  • Gout 686
indomethacin
  • Fatigue 1,102
  • Arthralgia 1,002
  • Headache 990
  • Pain 921
  • Nausea 907
Serious Warnings
febuxostat

Febuxostat may increase the risk of death from heart problems in people with existing heart disease. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking febuxostat. Febuxostat should only be used if allopurinol doesn't work well, causes problems, or isn't a good option for you.

indomethacin

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.

Pregnancy
febuxostat

It is not known if febuxostat can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if febuxostat passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

indomethacin

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This febuxostat vs indomethacin Comparison

febuxostat is classified in the Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor drug class, while indomethacin sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, febuxostat has 3,996 submissions while indomethacin has 4,922. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to research shows that these two medications do not significantly change each other's levels in the body.. 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 febuxostat or indomethacin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.