Relafen (Nabumetone)

(℞) Prescription Required - Nabumetone is the Generic Equivalent of Relafen

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Relafen 500mg

Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by: Mylan
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Relafen 500mg
Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by Mylan
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Nabumetone 500mg

Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by: UK Various Generics
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Nabumetone 500mg
Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by UK Various Generics
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Nabumetone 500mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Apotex Inc
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Nabumetone 500mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Apotex Inc
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Relafen (Nabumetone) Dosage and Side Effects

RELAFEN is used to treat pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

Proper Use of this medication

You can take RELAFEN with or without food. You should not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking this drug.

To lower your risk of side effects, you should take this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time possible.

RELAFEN Overdose

If you suspect an overdose, you should contact a poison-control center or emergency room immediately.

Missed Dose of RELAFEN

If you miss a dose of RELAFEN, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule. Do not double up on doses to make up for a missed one.

Side Effects

You may have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke when you take NSAIDs such as RELAFEN. The risk may be higher in those who take the drugs for a long period of time.

You should get emergency medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking RELAFEN:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Weakness on one side or part of the body
  • Slurred speech

NSAIDs such as RELAFEN may also cause bleeding, ulcers, or holes in the stomach or intestine, which can happen without warning. These problems can be serious and can even cause death. The risk may be higher in people who are older, have poor health, drink large amounts of alcohol, or take NSAIDs for a long period of time.

You should stop taking RELAFEN and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Heartburn
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
  • Bloody stools
  • Black and tarry stools

The 'RELAFEN High' and Abuse

Some people may become physically dependent on NSAIDs such as RELAFEN to maintain their activity level. You should seek medical support if you become dependent on NSAIDs.

It's important to get appropriate medical treatment, because taking too much of this medication for too long can cause serious, unwanted side effects.

There are some anecdotal reports that taking higher doses of RELAFEN can cause a "high" effect in some people. Taking too much of this medication or abusing the drug to create a high can be extremely dangerous.

Warnings and Precautions

You may have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke when you take NSAIDs such as RELAFEN. The risk may be higher in those who take the drugs for a long period of time.

You should tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke. You should also alert your physician if you have or have ever had high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

You should get emergency medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking RELAFEN:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Weakness on one side or part of the body
  • Slurred speech

NSAIDs such as RELAFEN may also cause bleeding, ulcers, or holes in the stomach or intestine, which can happen without warning. These problems can be serious and can even cause death. The risk may be higher in people who are older, have poor health, drink large amounts of alcohol, or take NSAIDs for a long period of time.

You should provide your doctor with a list of all medications you take. You should also tell your health care provider if you have or have ever had ulcers, bleeding in your stomach or intestines, or other bleeding issues.

You should stop taking RELAFEN and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Heartburn
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
  • Bloody stools
  • Black and tarry stools

You should not take RELAFEN right before or after a type of heart surgery known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Before taking RELAFEN, you should also tell your doctor if you have, or have ever:

  • Smoked
  • Had asthma
  • Had nasal polyps (swelling of the lining of the nose)
  • Had kidney disease
  • Had liver disease

The 'RELAFEN High' and Abuse

Some people may become physically dependent on NSAIDs such as RELAFEN to maintain their activity level. You should seek medical support if you become dependent on NSAIDs.

It's important to get appropriate medical treatment, because taking too much of this medication for too long can cause serious, unwanted side effects.

There are some anecdotal reports that taking higher doses of RELAFEN can cause a “high” effect in some people. Taking too much of this medication or abusing the drug to create a high can be extremely dangerous.

Pregnancy and RELAFEN

RELAFEN is an FDA Pregnancy Category C drug, which means it's unknown whether the medication will be harmful to an unborn baby. You should not take RELAFEN during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to do so.

It's also unknown whether RELAFEN passes into human breast milk. You should talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking RELAFEN.

Interactions with this medication

You should not take any other cold, allergy, or pain medicines while on RELAFEN without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs contain aspirin or other medicines similar to RELAFEN. You can unknowingly take too much of these medications.

You should tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking, especially:

  • Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Aspirin
  • Other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
  • Oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone)
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik)
  • Diuretics (water pills)
  • Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
  • Oral medications for diabetes
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
  • Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)

RELAFEN and Alcohol

Consuming alcohol while taking this medicine can increase your risk of stomach bleeding. You should not drink alcohol while taking RELAFEN.

Relafen and Other Interactions

You should avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight or tanning beds while taking RELAFEN. The medication can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

RELAFEN may also make you dizzy or drowsy. You should not drive, operate machinery, or perform any other activity that requires you to be alert until you are sure you can do so safely.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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