Nabumetone
Home Nabumetone Pronunciation: na BYOO me tone Brand Name: Relafen Important Information  Description  Who should not take it?  How should I take it?  What happens if I miss a dose?  What happens if I overdose?  What should I avoid while taking it?  What are the side effects?  What other drugs will affect it?  Where can I get more information?  Brand Names What is the most important information I should know about nabumetone? • Take nabumetone with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.   • Remaining upright (sitting or standing) for 15 to 30 minutes after each dose may prevent irritation of the esophagus (throat). • If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, nabumetone may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. What is nabumetone?   • Nabumetone is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nabumetone works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.   • Nabumetone is used to reduce the pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.   • Nabumetone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking nabumetone?   • Before taking nabumetone, tell your doctor if you        · have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,        · have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach,        · drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,        · have liver or kidney disease,        · have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder,        · have congestive heart failure,        · have fluid retention,        · have heart disease, or        · have high blood pressure.   • You may not be able to take nabumetone, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. • Nabumetone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Nabumetone should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take nabumetone without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. • It is not known whether nabumetone passes into breast milk Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. How should I take nabumetone?   • Take nabumetone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. • Take each dose with a full glass of water. • Taking nabumetone with food, milk, or an antacid may lessen stomach upset.   • Remaining upright (sitting or standing) for 15 to 30 minutes after each dose may prevent irritation of the esophagus (throat). • Store nabumetone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose?   • Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose. What happens if I overdose? • Seek emergency medical attention.   • Symptoms of a nabumetone overdose include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little or no urine production, and slow breathing. What should I avoid while taking nabumetone? • Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Nabumetone may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable. • If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, nabumetone may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. What are the possible side effects of nabumetone? • If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking nabumetone and seek medical treatment or call your doctor immediately:        · an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);        · muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling;        · ulcers (open sores) in the mouth;        · rapid weight gain (fluid retention);        · seizures;
       · black, bloody or tarry stools
       · blood in the urine or vomit;
       · decreased hearing or ringing in the ears
       · jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
       · abdominal cramping, indigestion, or heartburn.

  • Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take nabumetone and talk to your doctor if you experience
       · dizziness or headache;
       · nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation;
       · depression;
       · fatigue or weakness;
       · dry mouth; or
       · irregular menstrual periods.

  • Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect nabumetone?

  • Before taking nabumetone, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
       · another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), celecoxib (Celebrex), valdecoxib (Bextra), or rofecoxib (Vioxx);
       · aspirin or another salicylate (forms of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate (watch the aspirin content of other over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergy medicines);
       · a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (Midamor);
       · an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and others;
       · a beta-blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), and others;
       · an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin);
       · a steroid such as prednisone (Deltasone) or methylprednisolone (Medrol);
       · an oral anti-diabetic drug such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta);
       · lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or
       · cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral).

  • You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

  • Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with nabumetone. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

  • Your pharmacist has additional information about nabumetone written for health professionals that you may read.