Generic name: nabumetone [na-BUE-me-tone]
Brand names: Relafen, Relafen DS
Dosage form: oral pill (1000 mg; 500 mg; 750 mg)
Type of drug: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a type of drug.
Describe nabumetone?
Nabumetone is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Nabumetone works by getting rid of hormones in the body that cause pain and inflammation.
Nabumetone is used to treat the pain and stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Nabumetone can also be used for other things that aren’t in this book.
Warnings
Nabumetone can make you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke that kills you. Don’t take nabumetone right before or right after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Nabumetone can also lead to bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which can be deadly.
Before you take this drug
Even if you don’t have any risk factors, taking Nabumetone can make you more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke. Don’t take this medicine right before or right after you have coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
Nabumetone can also lead to bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which can be deadly. When you are taking nabumetone, these conditions can happen without warning, especially in older people.
If you are allergic to nabumetone or have ever had a severe allergic response or asthma attack after taking aspirin or an NSAID, you shouldn’t use it.
You should tell your doctor if you have ever:
- if you have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or if you smoke;
- a heart attack, a stroke, or a clot in the blood;
- ulcers or bleeding in the stomach;
- asthma;
- a disease of the liver or kidneys; or
- fluid retention.
You shouldn’t take nabumetone if you’re pregnant unless your doctor tells you to. If you take an NSAID during the last 20 weeks of your pregnancy, it could cause major heart or kidney problems in your baby, as well as problems with your pregnancy.
If you are breastfeeding, you shouldn’t take this medicine.
No one under the age of 18 is allowed to take Nabumetone.
How do I take the drug nabumetone?
Follow all of the instructions on the label of your medicine, and read all of the medication guides. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Use the smallest amount that works to treat your problem.
The drug can be taken with or without food.
If you take nabumetone for a long time, you may need to see a doctor often.
Keep at room temperature and away from heat and moisture. When not in use, keep the bottle tightly closed.
What will happen if I don’t take a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the dose you missed if your next dose is almost due. Take only one amount at a time.
What happens if I overdose?
Get help from a doctor right away or call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the Poison Help line.
What should I stay away from while I’m on nabumetone?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It could make you more likely to get stomach bleeding.
Before taking other medicines for pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu symptoms, talk to a doctor or pharmacy. They might have things in them that are like nabumetone, like aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.
Nabumetone could make you more likely to get a sunburn. Avoid sunshine or tanning beds. When you go outside, wear clothes that cover you and use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.
Nabumetone side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have hives, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, wheezing, trouble breathing, swelling in your face or throat, or signs of an allergic response.
Get emergency medical help if you have these signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain that moves to your jaw or shoulder, sudden stiffness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, feeling short of breath.
There could be bad side effects from taking Nabumetone. Stop taking nabumetone right away and call your doctor if you:
- shortness of breath, even when you don’t do much;
- swelling or rapid weight gain;
- the first sign of a skin rash, no matter how mild;
- stools that are red or look like tar, coughing up blood, or throwing up what looks like coffee grounds.
- Liver problems: nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, feeling tired, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, dark pee, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- Kidney problems, like not peeing much or not at all, peeing that hurts or is hard to do, swollen feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath, or
- Pale skin, odd tiredness, feeling dizzy or short of breath, and cold hands and feet are signs of low red blood cells, or anemia.
Some of the most common side effects of nabumetone are:
- stomach pain, heartburn, or feeling sick;
- loose stools, constipation, and gas;
- swollen hands and/or feet;
- headache, dizziness;
- itching or a rash on the skin;
- making your ears ring.
This isn’t a full list of all possible side effects, and there may be others. You should talk to your doctor about any side effects. You can call 1-800-FDA-1088 to tell the FDA about side affects.
How much Nabumetone to take
The usual dose for osteoarthritis in adults is:
The first amount is 1000 mg taken by mouth once a day.
Maintenance dose: 1500–2000 mg orally once or twice a day.
Maximum dose: 2000 mg/day
Comments:
-Patients who weigh less than 50 kg may not need doses above 1000 mg as often.
-Once the reaction to therapy is known, the dose and how often it is given should be changed to the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible to meet the treatment goals of each patient.
Use: To ease the pain and other signs of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Normal dose for adults with rheumatoid arthritis:
The first amount is 1000 mg taken by mouth once a day.
Maintenance dose: 1500–2000 mg orally once or twice a day.
Maximum dose: 2000 mg/day
Comments:
-Patients who weigh less than 50 kg may not need doses above 1000 mg as often.
-Once the reaction to therapy is known, the dose and how often it is given should be changed to the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible to meet the treatment goals of each patient.
Use: To ease the pain and other signs of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
How does nabumetone interact with other drugs?
If you are taking a drug, you should talk to your doctor before taking nabumetone. If you take certain antidepressants with an NSAID, you may find it easier to get bruises or bleed.
Tell your doctor about all the drugs you are taking, especially:
- lithium;
- methotrexate;
- a drug to thin the blood, like warfarin, Coumadin, or Jantoven;
- medicine for your heart or blood pressure, such as a diuretic or “water pill”;
- steroid drugs, like Prednisone.
This list doesn’t have everything. Other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal items, may interact with nabumetone. Not every drug combination that could happen is on this list.
For more details
Remember to keep this and all other medicines out of reach of children, to never give your medicines to other people, and to only use this medicine for what it was given for.
Talk to your doctor or other healthcare source to make sure that the information on this page applies to your situation.
Copyright from 1996 to 2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 13.02.
