heparin vs indomethacin
Side-by-side comparison of heparin 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
7.2 Platelet Inhibitors Drugs such as NSAIDS (including salicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and celecoxib), dextran, phenylbutazone, thienopyridines, dipyridamole, hydroxychloroquine, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists (including abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban), and others that interfere with platelet-aggregation reactions (the main hemostatic defense of heparinized patients) may induce bleeding and should be used with caution in patients receiving heparin sodium.
Recommendation: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor should watch closely for any signs of bleeding.
Heparin Sodium
Indocin
Heparin is a medicine that helps prevent and treat blood clots. It is given as an injection into a vein or under the skin.
Indomethacin is a drug that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Heparin is used to prevent and treat blood clots in your veins and lungs. It can also prevent clots after surgery or if you have an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Heparin can also treat blood clotting problems throughout your body and prevent clots during surgery, blood transfusions, or dialysis.
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.
Heparin works by stopping certain proteins in your blood from forming clots. It helps to thin your blood and prevent new clots from forming. It does not dissolve existing blood clots, but it can keep them from getting bigger.
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.
- • Bleeding
- • Irritation at the injection site
- • Allergic reactions
- • Increased liver enzyme levels
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Upset stomach
- • Nausea
- Low platelets caused by heparin 1,207
- Feeling sick to your stomach 712
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 603
- Throwing up 571
- Low blood pressure 553
- Feeling tired 1,102
- Joint pain 1,002
- Head pain 990
- Aches or soreness 921
- Feeling sick to your stomach 907
Heparin can cause serious bleeding, which can be fatal. It can also cause a severe reaction called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), where your body attacks your own platelets. Make sure your doctor knows if you have ever had HIT. Using the wrong strength of heparin can also cause fatal bleeding.
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.
If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using heparin. Preservative-free heparin is recommended during pregnancy if available. It is not known if heparin passes into breast milk, so it is recommended to avoid breastfeeding while using this medicine.
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
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How to Read This heparin vs indomethacin Comparison
heparin is classified in the Unfractionated Heparin 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, heparin has 3,646 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs make it harder for your blood to clot, which increases the risk of bleeding. indomethacin stops platelets from sticking together, while heparin thins the blood.. 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 heparin 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.