Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug

Indomethacin

Approved 17 Mar 2010InjectionInjectable

The FDA lists this product in 60 strengths and forms.

Indications

Indomethacin for Injection is indicated to close a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants weighing between 500 and 1,750 g when 48 hours usual medical management (e.g., fluid restriction, diuretics, digitalis, respiratory support, etc.) is ineffective. Clear-cut clinical evidence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus should be present, such as respiratory distress, a continuous murmur, a hyperactive precordium, cardiomegaly, or pulmonary plethora on chest x-ray.

Indomethacin for Injection is a cardiovascular drug indicated: To close a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants weighing between 500 and 1,750 g. ( 1 )

Contraindications

Indomethacin for Injection is contraindicated in neonates: With proven or suspected infection that is untreated Who are bleeding, especially those with active intracranial hemorrhage or gastrointestinal bleeding With thrombocytopenia or coagulation defects With or who are suspected of having necrotizing enterocolitis With significant impairment of renal function With congenital heart disease in whom patency of the ductus arteriosus is necessary for satisfactory pulmonary or systemic blood flow (e.g., pulmonary atresia, severe tetralogy of Fallot, severe coarctation of the aorta).

Indomethacin for Injection is contraindicated in neonates: With proven or suspected infection that is untreated Who are bleeding, especially those with active intracranial hemorrhage or gastrointestinal bleeding With thrombocytopenia or coagulation defects Suspected of having necrotizing enterocolitis With significant impairment of renal function With congenital heart disease in whom patency of the ductus arteriosus is necessary for satisfactory pulmonary or systemic blood flow.

( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Indomethacin may mask the usual signs of infection. ( 5.1 ) Monitor for signs of hepatic reactions. Indomethacin for Injection may need to be discontinued. ( 5.2 ) Indomethacin for Injection may inhibit platelet aggregation. ( 5.3 ) Gastrointestinal Effects: Monitor neonates for blood in stool. ( 5.4 ) Central Nervous System Effects: Monitor neonates for intraventricular hemorrhage. ( 5.5 ) Renal Effects: Monitor renal function and serum electrolytes.

Interactions

As renal function may be reduced by Indomethacin for Injection, consider reducing the dosage of those medications that rely on adequate renal function for their elimination. When used concomitantly with digoxin, monitor neonates for the development of digoxin toxicity. ( 7.1 ) Monitor prothrombin time when indomethacin is added to anticoagulants. ( 7.2 )

7.1Digoxin Because

the half-life of digoxin (given frequently to pre-term infants with patent ductus arteriosus and associated cardiac failure) may be prolonged when given concomitantly with indomethacin, observe neonates receiving concomitant digoxin closely; frequent ECGs and serum digoxin levels may be required to prevent or detect digoxin toxicity early.

7.2Anticoagulants

Indomethacin usually does not influence the hypoprothrombinemia produced by anticoagulants. When indomethacin is added to anticoagulants, monitor prothrombin time closely. In post-marketing experience, bleeding has been reported in patients on concomitant treatment with anticoagulants and Indomethacin for Injection.

7.3Furosemide Therapy

with indomethacin may blunt the natriuretic effect of furosemide. This response has been attributed to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In a study of 19 premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus treated with either Indomethacin for Injection alone or a combination of Indomethacin for Injection and furosemide, results showed that neonates receiving both Indomethacin for Injection and furosemide had significantly higher urinary output, higher levels of sodium and chloride excretion, and higher glomerular filtration rates than did those receiving Indomethacin for Injection alone.

In this study, therapy with furosemide helped to maintain renal function in the premature infant when Indomethacin for Injection was added.

7.4Aminoglycosides

In one study of premature infants treated with Indomethacin for Injection and also receiving either gentamicin or amikacin, both peak and trough levels of these aminoglycosides were significantly elevated.

7.5 Drugs that Act on the Renin-Angiotensin System In some patients with compromised renal function, the co-administration of an NSAID and an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II antagonist may result in further deterioration of renal function, including possible acute renal failure, which is usually reversible.

Adverse reactions

Most common adverse reactions are bleeding problems, higher incidence of transient oliguria and elevations of serum creatinine. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC at 1-800-551-7176 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 405 premature infants weighing less than or equal to 1,750 g with evidence of large ductal shunting, in those neonates treated with indomethacin (n=206), there was a statistically significantly greater incidence of bleeding problems, including gross or microscopic bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract, oozing from the skin after needle stick, pulmonary hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups in intracranial hemorrhage. The neonates treated with Indomethacin for Injection had a significantly higher incidence of transient oliguria and elevations of serum creatinine (greater than or equal to 1.8 mg/dL) than did the neonates treated with placebo. The incidences of retrolental fibroplasia (grades III and IV) and pneumothorax in neonates treated with Indomethacin for Injection were no greater than in placebo controls and were statistically significantly lower than in surgically-treated neonates.

The following additional adverse reactions in neonates have been reported from the collaborative study, anecdotal case reports, from other studies using rectal, oral, or intravenous indomethacin for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus or in marketed use. The rates are calculated from a database that contains experience of 849 indomethacin-treated neonates reported in the medical literature, regardless of the route of administration.

One year follow-up is available on 175 neonates and shows no long-term sequelae that could be attributed to indomethacin. In controlled clinical studies, only electrolyte imbalance and renal dysfunction (of the reactions listed below) occurred statistically significantly more frequently after Indomethacin for Injection than after placebo. Reactions marked with a single asterisk (*) occurred in 3 to 9 percent of indomethacin-treated neonates; those marked with a double asterisk (**) occurred in 3 to 9 percent of both indomethacin- and placebo-treated neonates.

Unmarked reactions occurred in less than 3 percent of neonates. Renal: renal failure, renal dysfunction in 41 percent of neonates, including one or more of the following: reduced urinary output; reduced urine sodium, chloride, or potassium, urine osmolality, free water clearance, or glomerular filtration rate; elevated serum creatinine or BUN; uremia. Cardiovascular: intracranial bleeding**, pulmonary hypertension. Gastrointestinal: gastrointestinal bleeding*, vomiting, abdominal distention, transient ileus, gastric perforation, localized perforation(s) of the small and/or large intestine, necrotizing enterocolitis.

Metabolic: hyponatremia*, elevated serum potassium*, reduction in blood sugar, including hypoglycemia, increased weight gain (fluid retention). Coagulation: decreased platelet aggregation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . The following adverse reactions have also been reported in neonates treated with indomethacin, however, a causal relationship to therapy with Indomethacin for Injection has not been established: Cardiovascular: bradycardia.

Respiratory: apnea, exacerbation of pre-existing pulmonary infection. Metabolic: acidosis/alkalosis. Hematologic: disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia. Ophthalmic: retrolental fibroplasia.** Dermatologic: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) A variety of additional adverse experiences have been reported in adults treated with oral indomethacin for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute painful shoulder and acute gouty arthritis (see package insert for oral indomethacin for additional information concerning adverse reactions and other cautionary statements).

Their relevance to the pre-term infant receiving indomethacin for patent ductus arteriosus is unknown, however, the possibility exists that these experiences may be associated with the use of Indomethacin for Injection in pre-term infants.

Indomethacin

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

5.1Infection

5.2Hepatic Reactions

5.5Central Nervous System Effects Prematurity

Interactions

7.1Digoxin Because

7.2Anticoagulants

7.3Furosemide Therapy

7.4Aminoglycosides

Adverse reactions

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information

At a glance

Guidelines