Drug interactions
Indomethacin + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Indomethacin and Tolbutamide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
NSAIDs may enhance the glucose lowering effect of tolbutamide, with a risk of hypoglycemia. The effect is inconsistent and is better described for other NSAIDs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Indomethacin and Tolbutamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Indomethacin belongs to Musculoskeletal; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Possible protein binding displacement or reduced metabolism of tolbutamide; the mechanism is not firmly established.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when indomethacin is started or stopped and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Indomethacin
- Indomethacin + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Indomethacin + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Indomethacin Major
- Acemetacin + Indomethacin Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Indomethacin Major
- Alteplase + Indomethacin Major
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Indomethacin with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Indomethacin and Tolbutamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. NSAIDs may enhance the glucose lowering effect of tolbutamide, with a risk of hypoglycemia. The effect is inconsistent and is better described for other NSAIDs.
How serious is the interaction between Indomethacin and Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose when indomethacin is started or stopped and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Indomethacin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Indomethacin with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Indomethacin page.
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