Nabumetone
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…
A non-acidic NSAID prodrug for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The liver turns it into 6-MNA, which lasts about a day; it can cause sun sensitivity.
Quick facts
- Group
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Target
- Cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2)
- Used for
- Osteoarthritis · Rheumatoid arthritis
- Key effects
- Diarrhoea · Dizziness and headache · Itching
- Monitor
- Blood pressure · Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding
- ATC
- M01AX01
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
Nabumetone is a non-acidic prodrug. The liver converts it to 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA), an acidic and potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, chemically close to naproxen.
- Absorbed as a non-acidic prodrug
- The liver converts it to the active 6-MNA
- 6-MNA inhibits COX: less pain and inflammation
Indications
- Osteoarthritis Knee Osteoarthritis →
- Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis →
Adverse effects
Common
- Diarrhoea, dyspepsia and abdominal pain
- Dizziness and headache
- Itching, rash and tinnitus
Contraindications
- Asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after aspirin or another NSAID
- Pain around coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
- Previous serious skin reaction to an NSAID
Key interactions
- Warfarin, antiplatelets, SSRIs and SNRIs
- More bleeding, mainly in the gut
- ACE inhibitors, ARBs and diuretics
- Weaker blood-pressure and diuretic effect; risk of kidney injury
- Lithium and methotrexate
- Higher levels and toxicity of lithium or methotrexate
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
- Skin reactions on sun-exposed areas
Administration and safety
- Given by mouth at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time
- Kidney impairment can change the dose
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 sun protection and to report skin blisters
Pharmacokinetics
- Metabolism
- Converted in the liver to the active 6-MNA
- Elimination
- Mostly in the urine as metabolites; kidney disease raises 6-MNA levels
- Half-life
- About 24 hours for 6-MNA
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What is nabumetone's active metabolite?
6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA).
Where is nabumetone activated?
In the liver.
Which skin problem is typical of nabumetone?
Photosensitivity (rarely pseudoporphyria).
Connections
← Back to the class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
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 - NABUMETONE tablet, film coated (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.