Indomethacin — spelled indometacin on many packs, and known to a generation of Nigerians by the old brand name Indocid — is one of the most potent of the classic NSAID painkillers, the same family as ibuprofen and diclofenac but stronger, and harder on the body. It blocks the prostaglandins that drive pain and inflammation, which makes it remarkably effective in an acute gout attack — and equally effective at irritating the stomach lining, straining the kidneys and raising blood pressure.
In the NAFDAC register
3 registered products
from 3 registration holders
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Indomethacin in Nigeria
Those 3 products from 3 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cika Indomethacin Capsule | Michelle Laboratories Limited | 25mg | Capsule | A11-100211 |
| Indokris | Krishat Pharma Industries Limited | 25mg | Capsule | A11-100177 |
Indomethacin Price in Nigeria
Indomethacin prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Indomethacin is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — Cika Indomethacin (Michelle Laboratories) carries A11-100211 and Indokris (Krishat Pharma) carries A11-100177 in our copy of the register.
- 2With just two active indomethacin registrations in our register copy, verification is quick: a pack whose number matches neither deserves hard questions before any money changes hands.
- 3Be wary of loose indomethacin capsules sold unlabelled in markets or mixed into 'strong pain' concoctions — that is precisely how this medicine causes bleeding ulcers.
- 4Both active registrations are Nigerian-made 25mg capsules; a pack claiming another strength or origin should be checked against the register with extra care.
- 5Buy from a registered pharmacy and keep the pack, so any reaction can be traced to the exact product and batch.
Where to Buy
Buying Indomethacin by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Indomethacin on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Indomethacin in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Indomethacin in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Indomethacin?
That double edge defines its proper place: short courses, for genuinely inflammatory pain — a gout flare, an arthritis flare-up — at the lowest dose that works, ideally with food and often with a stomach-protecting medicine like omeprazole alongside. It is not a routine headache or body-pain tablet, and 'strongest' does not mean 'best': for most everyday pain, paracetamol or ibuprofen does the job with a fraction of the risk.
It deserves a plain warning in the Nigerian context: indomethacin has a long history here of being sold loose and swallowed casually — dropped into 'concoction' painkiller mixes, taken daily for years for waist pain, or handed out without a word about food or ulcers. The bleeding ulcers that follow are predictable. Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows just two active indomethacin registrations, both Nigerian-made 25mg capsules — a small, verifiable field, which makes checking the number on the pack quick.
What is Indomethacin used for?
In Nigeria, Indomethacin is commonly used for:
- Acute gout — bringing a hot, swollen joint under control over a few days
- Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis flare-ups
- Ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory back pain
- Bursitis, tendonitis and similar acute inflammation
- Severe dysmenorrhoea (period pain) when milder options fail
- Certain specialist hospital uses decided by doctors
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
A typical adult dose is 25mg two or three times daily with food, increased only under a doctor's direction; gout flares are often treated at the higher end for a few days and then stopped. The right course is the shortest one that settles the flare — indomethacin is a sprint medicine, not a marathon one.
Children
Indomethacin is generally not for children outside specific hospital situations managed by paediatricians. A child with pain or fever should be getting paracetamol or ibuprofen at the correct weight-based dose, not a share of an adult's capsules.
Elderly
Older adults carry the highest risk of the serious harms — stomach bleeding, kidney injury, heart failure worsening, confusion and dizziness — and indomethacin is on the list of medicines best avoided in the elderly when an alternative exists. If it is used at all, it is the lowest dose, the shortest time, with food, and preferably with stomach protection.
Always take it with or immediately after food. Do not combine it with other NSAIDs (diclofenac, ibuprofen, aspirin for pain) — the risks add while the benefit does not. If you need it for more than a week or two, the real question is the diagnosis, and repeat gout attacks deserve a conversation about allopurinol-type prevention rather than living on indomethacin.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Indigestion, heartburn and stomach pain — the most frequent complaint
- •Headache — indomethacin is unusual among NSAIDs for how often it causes one
- •Dizziness or light-headedness
- •Nausea
- •Fluid retention and mild ankle swelling
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Stomach or duodenal ulcer, bleeding or perforation — black stools or vomiting blood is an emergency
- Kidney injury, especially in dehydration or alongside diuretics
- Raised blood pressure and worsening of heart failure
- Increased risk of heart attack and stroke with sustained use
- Severe allergic reactions, including in people whose asthma is triggered by aspirin or other NSAIDs
When to see a doctor
Go to a hospital the same day for black or tarry stools, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, severe stomach pain, chest pain, sudden weakness on one side, or a marked drop in urine — and see a doctor promptly if swelling, breathlessness or blood pressure rises after starting it.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Indomethacin if you have:
- Active or recurrent stomach/duodenal ulcer, or previous NSAID-caused bleeding
- Aspirin- or NSAID-triggered asthma, urticaria or allergic reactions
- Third trimester of pregnancy
- Severe heart failure, severe kidney or liver impairment
- Around the time of coronary bypass surgery
Drug interactions
- •Other NSAIDs and low-dose aspirin — stacked bleeding risk with no added relief
- •Blood thinners (warfarin) — a serious bleeding combination
- •Furosemide and other diuretics, plus ACE-inhibitor blood-pressure medicines — indomethacin blunts them and the trio strains the kidneys
- •Corticosteroids like prednisolone — ulcer risk multiplies
- •Lithium and methotrexate — indomethacin pushes their levels toward toxicity
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Avoid in the third trimester absolutely — NSAIDs can close a vital blood vessel in the unborn baby's heart and harm the kidneys. Earlier in pregnancy it should only be considered under specialist advice, and paracetamol remains the default painkiller of pregnancy. Small amounts pass into breast milk; short courses are generally considered compatible, but discuss it.
Related Resources for Indomethacin
Guides, articles, and tools related to Indomethacin and other pain & fever medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Indomethacin on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Indomethacin.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.