How Does Sulindac Work? - MedicineHow

How Does Sulindac Work?

How Does Sulindac Work

Sulindac is a type of drug called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by stopping the production of compounds called prostaglandins in the body, which have a number of effects, including to cause inflammation.

As a result, sulindac can help to reduce pain and inflammation by stopping the production of prostaglandins. This is why it is usually used to relieve painful inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

Brand Names and Doses

Sulindac is the generic name of the drug, which is the name of the active component that has an effect on your body. You may also know it better by the brand name, Aclin, which is the name given to the medication made by the pharmaceutical company.


Aclin tablets are available in two different doses: 100 mg and 200 mg.


What type of drug is it?

Sulindac is a type of drug known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a group of drugs that all work in a similar way. Other examples of NSAIDs include:


Sulindac is a nonselective NSAID, which means that it blocks both COX-1 and COX-2 to stop the production of more types of prostaglandins than some other NSAIDs. This means that it is more likely to cause side effects due to the action of the other prostaglandins that is reduced.

What is Sulindac used for?

Sulindac can be used to help relieve symptoms of pain and inflammation caused by a variety of health conditions such as:


  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Ankylosing spondylitis

  • Gout

  • Other pain due to inflammation

How does it work?

Sulindac works by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2, which are needed to produce the different prostaglandins in your body. You have many different types of prostaglandins in your body, and there are some in almost every tissue of your body. They each have different effects, such as to cause:


  • the tissues in your body to become inflamed

  • your blood vessels to relax and widen

  • the platelets in your blood to come together to form a clot

Sulindac has a general effect on almost all the prostaglandins because it blocks both COX-1 and COX-2 from producing prostaglandins in your body. This means that it can reduce all of the usual effects prostaglandins. We want it to reduce inflammation because that is why we are using it, but it can also cause hypertension and affect the way the blood forms clots.

Side Effects

There are many different side effects that you may experience if you are taking Sulindac. These do not affect everyone, but it’s important to know what they are so that you can recognize them if you do notice them.

The side effects of piroxicam may include:


  • Nausea​

  • Heartburn (dyspepsia)

  • Diarrhea

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Gastrointestinal ulcers

  • Gastrointestinal bleeding

  • Hypertension

  • Renal stones


This is not a complete list of side effects, but just some of the most common. Please see the Sulindac information leaflet for more detailed information.

Drug Interactions

Sulindac can interact with many other medications when they are used in together, including:


  • ACE Inhibitors

  • Aldosterone antagonists

  • Alendronate

  • Amiloride

  • Aspirin

  • Beta blockers

  • Brimonidine

  • Calcineurin inhibitors

  • Corticosteroids

  • Cyclosporin

  • Fluconazole

  • Lithium

  • Loop diuretics

  • Methotrexate

  • Phenindione

  • Potassium

  • Prostaglandin analogues

  • Rifampicin

  • Sartans

  • Tacrolimus

  • Thiazide diuretics

  • Thiazolidinediones

  • Triamterene

  • Warfarin


These medications can often be used together, but your doctor should be aware that you are taking both medications so that they can adjust the dose as needed to ensure they are safe and effective.

Cautions

There are some people who may need to avoid using Sulindac, or use it with caution, because they may be at risk of side effects due to the medication.

Peptic ulcers or GI bleeding:

Coagulation disorders:

Cardiovascular disease:

Asthma:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):

Renal Impairment

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Sulindac is not usually recommended for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. This is because it can interfere with fertility and the development of the fetus.

For women planning to become pregnant, it can prevent or delay ovulation, so that the woman is less likely to conceive. Additionally, using sulindac during pregnancy, particularly at the time of conception, is linked to a higher risk of miscarriage. It may also cause other problems later on in the pregnancy and should be avoided.

For women who are breastfeeding, sulindac is considered safe to use.

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How Does Sulindac Work?
About the author

Yolanda

Yolanda is a passionate medical writer who loves to help people understand how health and different treatments work. After graduating in Pharmacy in Australia, she moved to Italy to study the Mediterranean way of life and continue learning about health and medicine.

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