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Relafen Tablets 500mg: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Status:
Prescription (Rx) Current status: Cancelled Post Market Facts
Strength:
500 mg, 750 mg
Active ingredient:
ATC code:
Similar drugs:

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · About this document

Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Relafen Tablets 500mg

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

RELAFEN® (nabumetone) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It has been prescribed for you by your doctor to treat arthritic symptoms such as swelling, stiffness and joint pain.

What it does:

NSAIDs do not cure arthritis, but they promote suppression of the inflammation and the tissue damaging effects resulting from this inflammation. This medicine will help you only as long as you continue to take it.

When it should not be used:

Do not take RELAFEN® if you are allergic to nabumetone or to any nonmedicinal ingredients of RELAFEN®.

What the medicinal ingredient is:

Your tablets contain the active ingredient nabumetone.

What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:

RELAFEN® contains the nonmedicinal ingredients microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, sodium lauryl sulphate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and colouring and titanium dioxide in the film coating.

What dosage forms it comes in:

500 mg tablet: white, pillow-shaped, with RELAFEN on one side and 500 on the other side.

750 mg tablet: beige, pillow-shaped, with RELAFEN on one side and 750 on the other side.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if the identifying markings or colour of your tablets appear different.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

BEFORE you use RELAFEN® it is important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist about any of the following items so that your doctor may determine if RELAFEN® is suitable for you:

  • Allergy (including rash, asthma, hives, sinusitis or anaphylaxis [sudden collapse]) when previously taking RELAFEN® or related anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g. ASA [acetylsalicylic acid], diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid and tolmetin).
  • Family member with asthma, nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis or chronic urticaria (hives).
  • Past history of (or current) stomach upset, ulcer, or liver, kidney or heart disease.
  • Blood or urine abnormalities.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Special diet, such as low sodium or low sugar diet.

  • Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant while using RELAFEN®.

  • Infant breast feeding.

  • Other medical conditions such as alcohol abuse, bleeding problems etc..

While taking this medication:

  • tell any other doctor, pharmacist or dentist you see, that you are taking RELAFEN®.
  • contact your doctor if you are not getting any relief of your arthritis or if you develop any unusual discomfort
  • report any untoward reactions to your doctor. This is very important as it will aid in the early detection and prevention of potential complications.
  • regular medical checkups are essential.
  • you should not take RELAFEN® when pregnant or breast feeding unless your doctor tells you to.
  • do not take ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) or other drugs to relieve your arthritis unless directed by your doctor.
  • not recommended for use in children since safety and effectiveness have not been established.
  • do not give RELAFEN® to others because it may not be suitable for them.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication (either prescription or non-prescription) such as other NSAIDs, high blood pressure medication, blood thinners, corticosteroids, methotrexate, cyclosporin, lithium, phenytoin. It is important to tell your doctor, dentist and pharmacist if you are taking other medication, as combining drugs can sometimes result in a change from the expected drug effects, or cause harmful effects.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Usual dose:

You should take RELAFEN® only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer period of time than your doctor ordered. Taking too much of any of these medicines may increase the chance of unwanted effects, especially if you are an elderly patient.

Be sure to take RELAFEN® regularly as prescribed. Try to take your tablets at the same time each day. The effect of RELAFEN® is evident early in treatment, however, in some types of arthritis, up to 1 week may pass before you feel the full relief from this medicine. It is important to keep taking RELAFEN® even after you start to feel better.

Generally, patients are instructed to take 1000 mg once a day. During treatment, your doctor may decide to increase the dosage up to 2000 mg each day, according to your response to the medication. In that case it may be divided in two doses per day.

Stomach upset is one of the common problems with NSAIDs. To lessen stomach upset, take this medicine immediately after a meal or with food or milk. You should swallow the tablets whole, with water or milk. Do not chew them. You should remain standing or sitting upright (i.e., do not lie down) for about 15 to 30 minutes after taking the medicine. This helps to prevent irritation that may lead to trouble swallowing. If stomach upset (indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea) occurs and continues, contact your doctor.

If you are prescribed this medication for use over a long period of time, your doctor will check your health during regular visits to assess your progress and to ensure that this medicine is not causing unwanted effects.

Important: Your doctor may give you different instructions better suited to your specific needs. If you need more information on how to take RELAFEN® properly, double check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose:

If you have taken more RELAFEN® than you should have, talk to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department.

Missed Dose:

If you forget to take a tablet, leave out that dose completely. Take your next dose at the normal time it is due.

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Any medication can cause side effects. Most people tolerate the medicine well. Elderly, frail or debilitated patients often

seem to experience more frequent or more serious side effects. The most common adverse effects associated with RELAFEN® are gastrointestinal, such as diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation and flatulence (i.e., large amounts of gas in the intestines). Stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink alcoholic beverages. Therefore, do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.

Other side effects such as headaches, tiredness, dizziness, sleepiness, insomnia (i.e., not able to sleep) have also been observed. If dizziness occurs after taking RELAFEN®, do not drive or operate machinery.

Consult your doctor if these symptoms become troublesome.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Consult your doctor if the following occur:

  • shortness of breath, wheezing, troubled breathing or tightness in chest
  • blurred vision or any visual disturbance, ringing in the ears or hearing problems
  • skin rash, hives, swelling or itching
  • swelling of face, feet or lower legs
  • vomiting or persistent indigestion, nausea, stomach pain or diarrhea
  • yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes

  • any change in the amount of, or colour of your urine

    (dark red or brown)

  • any pain or difficulty experienced while urinating
  • malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite
  • mental confusion, depression, dizziness, lightheadedness

If you develop a skin rash or asthma while you are taking RELAFEN®, do not take any more tablets and contact your doctor at once.

Check with your doctor immediately if you experience unexpected weakness while taking this medication, or if you vomit any blood or have dark or bloody stools.

Some people may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight or sunlamps, even for brief periods of time, may cause sunburn, blisters on the skin, skin rash, redness, itching or discoloration; or vision changes. If you have a reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor immediately if chills, fever, muscle aches or pains, or other flu like symptoms occur, especially if they occur shortly before, or together with, a skin rash.

Very rarely, these effects may be the first signs of a serious reaction to this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking RELAFEN®, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

HOW TO STORE IT

Store your tablets in a dry place at room temperature in the original container provided by the pharmacy. Keep this medication out of reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS

To monitor drug safety, Health Canada collects information on serious and unexpected effects of drugs. If you suspect you have had a serious or unexpected reaction to this drug you may notify Health Canada by:

toll-free telephone: 866-234-2345 toll-free fax: 866-678-6789

By email: cadrmp@hc-sc.gc.ca

By regular mail:

National AR Centre

Marketed Health Products Safety and Effectiveness Information Division

Marketed Health Products Directorate

Tunney’s Pasture, AL 0701C

Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

NOTE: Before contacting Health Canada, you should contact your physician or pharmacist.

MORE INFORMATION

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at:

http://www.gsk.ca or by contacting the sponsor, GlaxoSmithKline

7333 Mississauga Road North

Mississauga, Ontario

L5N 6L4

1-800-387-7374

© 2005 GlaxoSmithKline Inc. All Rights Reserved ®RELAFEN is a registered trademark, used under license by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

About this document

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · DIN (Drug Identification Number): 02083531

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The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Relafen Tablets 500mg

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
DIN 02083531, 02083558
Schedule(s) PRESCRIPTION
Active ingredient(s) Nabumetone
Dosage form(s) Tablet
Route(s) of administration Oral
Drug class (WHO ATC)
  1. M Musculo-skeletal system drugs
    1. M01 Antiinflammatory and antirheumatic products
      1. M01A Antiinflammatory and antirheumatic products, non-steroids
        1. M01AX Other antiinflammatory and antirheumatic agents, non-steroids
          1. M01AX01 Nabumetone
Company GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC
Current status Cancelled Post Market
Current status date February 13, 2006
Strengths and forms
DIN Strength Dosage form(s) Current status
02083531 500 MG Tablet Cancelled Post Market February 13, 2006
02083558 750 MG Tablet Cancelled Post Market February 13, 2006

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs, data as of November 1, 2026. Data from the Health Canada Drug Product Database, as published there. Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.