nabumetone
Brand names: Relafen
Nabumetone is a medicine that helps reduce pain and swelling. It is a type of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.12/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Nabumetone is used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Upset stomach, Abdominal pain
Key warnings
NSAIDs like nabumetone can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take nabumetone exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual starting dose is 1,000 mg once a day. You can take it with or without food. Your doctor may increase your dose to 1,500 mg to 2,000 mg per day, taken once or twice daily.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store nabumetone at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,247 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 6,319 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
6,319
Death-Related Reports
360
Hospitalization Reports
1,504
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 500 |
| 2 | PAIN | 461 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 372 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 360 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 316 |
| 6 | ARTHRALGIA | 307 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 243 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 238 |
| 9 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 226 |
| 10 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 223 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 222 |
| 12 | ANXIETY | 210 |
| 13 | FALL | 208 |
| 14 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 199 |
| 15 | BACK PAIN | 197 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Warfarin The effects of warfarin and NSAIDs on GI bleeding are synergistic, such that users of both drugs together have a risk of serious GI bleeding higher than users of either drug alone. Caution should be exercised when administering nabumetone tablets with warfarin since interactions have been seen with other NSAIDs.
Mechanism: Both drugs increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach and intestines, and taking them together makes this risk much higher than taking either one alone. They work together in a way that makes serious bleeding more likely.
What to do: Use caution when taking these drugs together and watch closely for signs of bleeding. Your doctor may need to monitor your blood tests more often.
Methotrexate NSAIDs have been reported to competitively inhibit methotrexate accumulation in rabbit kidney slices. This may indicate that they could enhance the toxicity of methotrexate. Caution should be used when NSAIDs are administered concomitantly with methotrexate.
Mechanism: This drug may prevent the body from getting rid of methotrexate properly through the kidneys. This can cause methotrexate to build up to dangerous levels in the body.
What to do: Use caution when taking these medications at the same time. Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs of drug toxicity.
Diuretics Clinical studies, as well as postmarketing observations, have shown that nabumetone tablets can reduce the natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazides in some patients.
Mechanism: Nabumetone can stop furosemide from working properly, making it harder for your body to remove extra salt and water.
What to do: Your doctor may need to check your blood pressure and look for signs of fluid buildup more often.
Aspirin When nabumetone tablets are administered with aspirin, its protein binding is reduced, although the clearance of free nabumetone is not altered. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known; however, as with other NSAIDs, concomitant administration of nabumetone tablets and aspirin is not generally recommended because of the potential of increased adverse effects.
Mechanism: Taking these together can change how nabumetone travels in your blood and may increase your risk of harmful side effects.
What to do: You should generally avoid taking these two drugs together unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Lithium NSAIDs have produced an elevation of plasma lithium levels and a reduction in renal lithium clearance. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15% and the renal clearance was decreased by approximately 20%. Thus, when NSAIDs and lithium are administered concurrently, subjects should be observed carefully for signs of lithium toxicity.
Mechanism: Nabumetone slows down how fast your kidneys clear lithium from your body, which causes lithium levels in your blood to rise.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you carefully for signs of lithium toxicity and may need to adjust your lithium dose.
Common Questions
Can I take nabumetone with aspirin?
Will nabumetone affect my blood pressure medicine?
Can nabumetone affect lithium levels?
Is it okay to take antacids with nabumetone?
What should I do if I experience severe stomach pain while taking nabumetone?
Can nabumetone cause kidney problems?
Can I drink alcohol while taking nabumetone?
How long does it take for nabumetone to start working?
What if nabumetone doesn't seem to be helping my pain?
Are there any foods I should avoid while taking nabumetone?
What are the common side effects of nabumetone?
Does nabumetone interact with other medications?
What drug class is nabumetone?
Is nabumetone safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Other drugs grouped near nabumetone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
Compare with nabumetone →
acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
Compare with nabumetone →
acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
Compare with nabumetone →
acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
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adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
Compare with nabumetone →
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What the FDA Data Shows for nabumetone
The FDA label for nabumetone (sold under brand names such as Relafen) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Nabumetone is used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Official labeling lists 17 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Upset stomach, Abdominal pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,247 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.12.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: September 23, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages