Indomethacin as Prophylaxis Against Recurrent Ureteral Colic

Abstract

In a prospective, randomized study, the prophylactic effect of indomethacin (150 mg daily) in regard to recurrence of ureteral colic was investigated in 78 patients. Severe recurrent attacks were experienced by 4 of 37 patients in the test group and by 16 of the 41 controls without indomethacin. The mean duration of recurrent pain including the severe attacks was 5.6±1.1 hour/patient/week in the test group and 12.5±2.9 in the control group. Passage of stone within 7 days was not influenced by indomethacin (22/37 and 25/41 cases). Indomethacin administration for 7 days after an acute attack of ureteral colic thus reduced the frequency of severe attacks and the total duration of recurrent pain, without influencing the stone passage.