Each tablet for oral administration contains 738 mg of tolmetin sodium, USP as the dihydrate in an amount equivalent to 600 mg of tolmetin. Each tablet contains 54 mg (2.35 mEq) of sodium and the following inactive ingredients: black iron oxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, povidone, pregelatinized starch (maize), sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, triacetin and yellow iron oxide. The pKa of tolmetin is 3.5 and tolmetin sodium is freely soluble in water, soluble in methanol and slightly soluble in alcohol. Tolmetin sodium is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. The structural formula is: (C 15 H 14 NNaO 3 • 2H 2 O) M.W. 315.30 Sodium 1-methyl-5 p -toluoylpyrrole-2-acetate dihydrate. tolmetin-struct

What kind of drug is tolmetin?

The FDA classifies tolmetin as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take tolmetin with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run tolmetin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is tolmetin sold under?

We track 3 tolmetin-containing products in the U.S.: Tolectin, Tolectin 600 and Tolectin Ds. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does tolmetin come in?

Across the brands we track, tolmetin is currently marketed as tablet and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic tolmetin?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled tolmetin product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Tolmetin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Tolmetin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Treats: Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Available as: Tablet · Capsule
Sold as: 3 products — Tolectin, Tolectin 600 and Tolectin Ds
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Boxed warning: Boxed warning

How tolmetin is dosed

From the FDA label for Tolectin (application NDA017628). Other tolmetin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of TOLECTIN and other treatment options before deciding to use TOLECTIN. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). After observing the response to initial therapy with TOLECTIN, the dose and frequency should be adjusted to suit an individual patient’s needs. For the relief of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, the recommended starting dose for adults is 400 mg three times daily (1200 mg daily), preferably including a dose on arising and a dose at bedtime. To achieve optimal therapeutic effect the dose should be adjusted according to the patient’s response after 1 or 2 weeks. Control is usually achieved at doses of 600 mg to 1800 mg daily in divided doses (generally t.i.d.). Doses larger than 1800 mg/day have not been studied and are not recommended. For the relief of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the recommended starting dose for pediatric patients (2 years and older) is 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses (t.i.d. or q.i.d.). When control has been achieved, the usual dose ranges from 15 to 30 mg/kg/day. Doses higher than 30 mg/kg/day have not been studied, and, therefore, are not recommended. A therapeutic response to TOLECTIN can be expected in a few days to a week. Progressive improvement can be anticipated during succeeding weeks of therapy.…

Tolmetin side effects

The adverse reactions which have been observed in clinical trials encompass observations in about 4,370 patients treated with TOLECTIN, over 800 of whom have undergone at least one year of therapy. These adverse reactions, reported below by body system, are among those typical of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and, as expected, gastrointestinal complaints were most frequent. In clinical trials with tolmetin, about 10% of patients dropped out because of adverse reactions, mostly gastrointestinal in nature. Incidence Greater Than 1%: The following adverse reactions which occurred more frequently than 1 in 100 were reported in controlled clinical trials: Gastrointestinal: nausea (11%), dyspepsia*, gastrointestinal distress*, abdominal pain*, diarrhea*, flatulence*, vomiting*, constipation, gastritis, and peptic ulcer. Forty percent of the ulcer patients had a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or were receiving concomitant anti-inflammatory drugs including corticosteroids, which are known to produce peptic ulceration. Body as a Whole: headache*, asthenia*, chest pain Cardiovascular: elevated blood pressure*, edema* Central Nervous System: dizziness*, drowsiness, depression Metabolic/Nutritional: weight gain*, weight loss* Dermatologic: skin irritation Special Senses: tinnitus, visual disturbance Hematologic: Small and transient decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit…

Every tolmetin product we track (3)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Tolmetin products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Tolectin Boxed warning	Not yet rated	Prescription	Tablet	—	—	View →
2	Tolectin 600 Boxed warning

What tolmetin pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Tolmetin pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
CE;327	200 mg	white	round	—
R26	400 mg	blue	capsule	—
R;25	600 mg	white	oval	—
R;25	600 mg	white	oval	—
R26	400 mg	blue	capsule	—

Frequently asked questions

What is tolmetin?: Each tablet for oral administration contains 738 mg of tolmetin sodium, USP as the dihydrate in an amount equivalent to 600 mg of tolmetin. Each tablet contains 54 mg (2.35 mEq) of sodium and the following inactive ingredients: black iron oxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, povidone, pregelatinized starch (maize), sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, triacetin and yellow iron oxide. The pKa of tolmetin is 3.5 and tolmetin sodium is freely soluble in water, soluble in methanol and slightly soluble in alcohol. Tolmetin sodium is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. The structural formula is: (C 15 H 14 NNaO 3 • 2H 2 O) M.W. 315.30 Sodium 1-methyl-5 p -toluoylpyrrole-2-acetate dihydrate. tolmetin-struct
What kind of drug is tolmetin?: The FDA classifies tolmetin as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take tolmetin with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run tolmetin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is tolmetin sold under?: We track 3 tolmetin-containing products in the U.S.: Tolectin, Tolectin 600 and Tolectin Ds. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does tolmetin come in?: Across the brands we track, tolmetin is currently marketed as tablet and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Tolmetin drug interactions

Inhibitors: Reports suggest that NSAIDs may diminish the antihypertensive effect of ACE Inhibitors. This interaction should be given consideration in patients taking NSAIDs concomitantly with ACE Inhibitors. Aspirin: As with other NSAIDs, concomitant administration of TOLECTIN sodium and aspirin is not generally recommended because of the potential of increased adverse effects. Diuretics: Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations have shown that NSAIDs can reduce the natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazides in some patients. This response has been attributed to inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. During concomitant therapy with NSAIDs, the patient should be observed closely for signs of renal failure, as well as to assure diuretic efficacy. Lithium: NSAIDs have produced an elevation of plasma lithium levels and a reduction in renal lithium clearance. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15% and the renal clearance was decreased by approximately 20%. These effects have been attributed to inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis by the NSAID. Thus, when NSAIDs and lithium are administered concurrently, subjects should be observed carefully for signs of lithium toxicity. Methotrexate: NSAIDs have been reported to competitively inhibit methotrexate accumulation in rabbit kidney slices. This may indicate that they could enhance the…