[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs/) › Etodolac

# Etodolac

## NSAIDs?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

## Pregnancy: avoid?

Avoid from week 20: from about 20 weeks NSAIDs can reduce amniotic fluid through their effect on the fetal kidney, and from about 30 weeks they can close the fetal ductus…

An NSAID for arthritis and acute pain. Only its S-enantiomer is active; it can give false-positive urine bilirubin and ketone tests.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs/)

**Target**
Cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)

**Used for**
Osteoarthritis · Rheumatoid arthritis · Acute pain

**Key effects**
Dyspepsia · Diarrhoea · Dizziness and headache

**Monitor**
Blood pressure · Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding

**ATC**
M01AB08

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Clinical What the labels mean

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

Etodolac inhibits prostaglandin synthesis by cyclooxygenase, with a preference for COX-2 at usual doses. It is a racemic mixture in which the S form carries the activity; the two forms do not interconvert in the body.

- The S-enantiomer inhibits cyclooxygenase
- Fewer prostaglandins in the inflamed joint
- Less pain and stiffness

## Indications

- Osteoarthritis [Knee Osteoarthritis →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/knee-osteoarthritis/)
- Rheumatoid arthritis [Rheumatoid arthritis →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/)
- Acute pain

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Dyspepsia, abdominal pain and heartburn
- Diarrhoea, flatulence and nausea
- Dizziness and headache
- Rash, itching and tinnitus

### Serious (rare, important)

- Heart attack and stroke (boxed warning of all NSAIDs)
- Bleeding, ulcer or perforation of the stomach or bowel, sometimes without warning
- Kidney injury and high potassium; worse heart failure and blood pressure
- Severe skin reactions and DRESS

## Contraindications

- Asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after aspirin or another NSAID
- Pain around coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
- Hypersensitivity to etodolac

## Key interactions

**Warfarin, antiplatelets, SSRIs and SNRIs**
More bleeding, mainly in the gut

**Cyclosporine, digoxin, lithium and methotrexate**
Slower elimination and more toxicity of these drugs

**Phenylbutazone**
More free etodolac; not combined

## What is monitored

- Blood pressure, swelling and signs of heart failure
- Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding (black stools, vomiting blood, anaemia)
- Kidney function, potassium, liver tests and blood count in long-term use
- Interpret urine bilirubin and ketone dipsticks with care (false positives)

## Administration and safety

- Given by mouth at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time
- Not recommended in advanced kidney disease

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Avoid from week 20: from about 20 weeks NSAIDs can reduce amniotic fluid through their effect on the fetal kidney, and from about 30 weeks they can close the fetal ductus arteriosus too early.

## Nursing care

- Ask about ulcers, bleeding, kidney or heart disease and aspirin-sensitive asthma before the first dose
- Check blood pressure and fluid status during treatment
- Teach to report black stools, vomiting blood, chest pain, weakness on one side or rash
- Teach to avoid taking another NSAID at the same time, including over-the-counter ones

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Well absorbed by mouth

**Distribution**
More than 99% bound to plasma proteins, mainly albumin

**Metabolism**
Extensive in the liver to hydroxylated products and glucuronides

**Half-life**
About 6 hours

## Memory aid

Etodolac: «S does the work, the dipstick lies» – active S form; false-positive bilirubin and ketones.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which enantiomer of etodolac is active?

The S-enantiomer.

## Which urine tests can etodolac falsely make positive?

Bilirubin and ketone tests.

## Which drug raises free etodolac and is not combined with it?

Phenylbutazone.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/etodolac/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## What the labels mean

**Pregnancy: avoid**
Avoid from week 20: from about 20 weeks NSAIDs can reduce amniotic fluid through their effect on the fetal kidney, and from about 30 weeks they can close the fetal ductus…

## Connections

## Related drugs 4

- [Diclofenac](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/diclofenac/)
- [Meloxicam](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/meloxicam/)
- [Naproxen](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/naproxen/)
- [Celecoxib](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/celecoxib/)

## Related conditions 2

- [Knee Osteoarthritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/knee-osteoarthritis/)
- [Rheumatoid arthritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/)

[← Back to the class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [DailyMed - ETODOLAC capsule](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=420c7b62-3bea-4d6b-82e0-ab1c176c7f1e) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=M01AB08) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/etodolac/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/etodolac/