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Medication guide · Common after a work injury: Pain & inflammation

Nabumetone: uses, appearance and warnings

What the official FDA label says Nabumetone is used for, what it looks like, and its most important warnings — in plain English, with the label text one click away.

Uses

What the official label says Nabumetone is used for

The FDA label for Nabumetone states:

Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of nabumetone tablets, USP and other treatment options before deciding to use nabumetone tablets. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). Nabumetone tablets, USP are indicated for relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Read the label's “Indications and usage” section (verbatim)
Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of nabumetone tablets, USP and other treatment options before deciding to use nabumetone tablets. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). Nabumetone tablets, USP are indicated for relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Names & forms

Brand names, forms and strengths

Brand names (from RxNorm; not every brand is still sold): Relafen.

Generic name: nabumetone · RxNorm ID (RxCUI): 31448

Forms and strengths of Nabumetone listed in RxNorm
FormStrengths listed in RxNorm
Oral Solution2.5 MG/ML
Oral Suspension100 MG/ML
Oral Tablet500 MG, 750 MG, 1000 MG

Strengths are listed so you can recognise a product — not as dosing information. Only your prescriber can decide what is right for you.

Appearance

What Nabumetone looks like

Illustration: white to off-white oval tablet, film coated, imprint N784N784

nabumetone 500 mg
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Illustration: white to off-white oval tablet, film coated, imprint N785N785

nabumetone 750 mg
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Illustration: white capsule tablet, film coated, imprint HT 500HT 500

nabumetone 500 mg
LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC

Illustration: white capsule tablet, film coated, imprint HT 750HT 750

nabumetone 750 mg
LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC

Illustration: white capsule tablet, film coated, imprint NB 1000NB 1000

nabumetone 1000 mg
LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC

Illustration: white oval tablet, film coated, imprint 36703670

nabumetone 500 mg
Actavis Pharma, Inc.

Illustration based on label data — not a photo; appearance varies by manufacturer. Confirm with your pharmacist.
Appearance of Nabumetone products from DailyMed product data
StrengthFormColourShapeSizeImprintScoreLabeler
nabumetone 500 mgtablet, film coatedwhite“white to off-white”oval16 mmN7841ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
nabumetone 750 mgtablet, film coatedwhite“white to off-white”oval19 mmN7851ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
nabumetone 500 mgtablet, film coatedwhitecapsule13 mmHT · 5001LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC
nabumetone 750 mgtablet, film coatedwhitecapsule17 mmHT · 7501LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC
nabumetone 1000 mgtablet, film coatedwhitecapsule22 mmNB · 10001LGM PHARMA SOLUTIONS, LLC
nabumetone 500 mgtablet, film coatedwhiteoval17 mm36701Actavis Pharma, Inc.
nabumetone 750 mgtablet, film coatedpinkoval19 mm36711Actavis Pharma, Inc.
nabumetone 500 mgtablet, film coatedwhiteoval15 mmIG · 2571Exelan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
nabumetone 750 mgtablet, film coatedbrownoval19 mmIG · 2581Exelan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

From the product data in each manufacturer's label on DailyMed. Many companies make Nabumetone, so your medicine may look different from any shown here. If a pill looks unfamiliar, ask your pharmacist before taking it.

Read the label's “How supplied” section (verbatim)
Nabumetone Tablets USP: 500 mg – White to off-white, oval-shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with “N784” on one side and plain on the other side, free from physical defects are supplied in bottles of 100 (NDC 70954-784-10) and 500 (NDC 70954-784-20). 750 mg – White to off-white, oval-shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with “N785” on one side and plain on the other side, free from physical defects are supplied in bottles of 100 (NDC 70954-785-10), and 500 (NDC 70954-785-20). Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Dispense in tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP, with a child-resistant closure (as required). All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Manufactured by: Esjay Pharma Private Limited, Sipcot Industrial Park, Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu, India – 602117 Distributed by: ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Baudette, MN 56623 P3343/00/25 Rev 01/26

Safety

Important warnings for Nabumetone

Boxed warning (verbatim from the FDA label)

Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions ]. Nabumetone tablets are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery [see Contraindications and Warnings ]. Gastrointestinal Risk NSAIDs 1 cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events (see WARNINGS).

Contraindications — who should not use it (verbatim)
Nabumetone tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to nabumetone or its excipients. Nabumetone tablets should not be given to patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Severe, rarely fatal, anaphylactic-like reactions to NSAIDs have been reported in such patients (see WARNINGS, Anaphylactoid Reactions, and PRECAUTIONS, General, Preexisting Asthma ). Nabumetone tablets are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (see WARNINGS).
Warnings and precautions (verbatim excerpt)
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Clinical trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to three years duration have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, which can be fatal. Based on available data, it is unclear that the risk for CV thrombotic events is similar for all NSAIDs. The relative increase in serious CV thrombotic events over baseline conferred by NSAID use appears to be similar in those with and without known CV disease or risk factors for CV disease. However, patients with known CV disease or risk factors had a higher absolute incidence of excess serious CV thrombotic events, due to their increased baseline rate. Some observational studies found that this increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events began as early as the first weeks of treatment. The increase in CV thrombotic risk has been observed most consistently at higher doses. To minimize the potential risk for an adverse CV event in NSAID-treated patients, use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible. Physicians and patients should remain alert for the development of such events, throughout the entire treatment course, even in the absence of previous CV symptoms. Patients should be informed about the symptoms of serious CV events and the steps to take if they occur. There is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates the increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events associated with NSAID use. The concurrent use of aspirin and an NSAID, such as Nabumetone, increases the risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) events [see WARNINGS] . Status Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery Two large, controlled clinical trials of a COX-2 selective NSAID for the treatment of pain in the first 10 to 14 days following CABG surgery found an increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. NSAIDs are contraindicated in the setting of CABG [see Contraindications] . Post-MI Patients Observational studies conducted in the Danish National Registry have demonstrated that patients treated with NSAIDs in the post-MI period were at increased risk of reinfarction, CV-related death, and all-cause mortality beginning in the first week of treatment. In this same cohort, the incidence of death in the first year post MI was 20 per 100 person years in NSAID-treated patients compared to 12 per 100 person years in non-NSAID exposed patients. Although the absolute rate of death declined somewhat after the first year post-MI, the increased relative risk of death in NSAID users persisted over at least the next four years of follow-up. Avoid the use of nabumetone tablets in patients with a recent MI unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of recurrent CV thrombotic events. If nabumetone tablets are used in patients with a recent MI, monitor patients for signs of cardiac ischemia. Hypertension: NSAIDs, including nabumetone tablets, can lead to onset of new hypertension or worsening of preexisting hypertension, either of which may contribute to the increased incidence of CV events. Patients taking thiazides or loop diuretics may have impaired response to these therapies when taking NSAIDs. NSAIDs, including nabumetone tablets, should be used with caution in patients with hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) should be monitored closely during the initiation of NSAID treatment and throughout the course of therapy. Heart Failure and Edema The Coxib and traditional NSAID Trialists’ Collaboration meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrated an approximately two-fold increase in hospitalizations for heart failure in COX-2 selective-treated patients and nonselective NSAID-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients. In a Danish National Registry study of patients with heart failure, NSAID use increased the risk of MI, hospitalization for heart failure, and death. Additionally, fluid retention and edema have been observed in some patients treated with NSAIDs. Use of Nabumetone may blunt the CV effects of several therapeutic agents used to treat these medical conditions [e.g., diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)] [see Drug Interactions] . Avoid the use of nabumetone tablets in patients with severe heart failure unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of worsening heart failure. If nabumetone tablets are used in patients with severe heart failure, monitor patients for signs of worsening heart failure. Gastrointestinal Effects, Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding, and Perforation: NSAIDs, including nabumetone tablets, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, which can be fatal. These serious adverse events can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms, in patients treated with NSAIDs. Only 1 in 5 patients, who develop a serious upper GI adverse event on NSAID therapy, is symptomatic. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation caused by NSAIDs occur in approximately 1% of patients treated for 3 to 6 months, and in about 2 to 4% of patients treated for 1 year. These trends continue with longer duration of use, increasing the likelihood of developing a serious GI event at some time during the course of therapy. However, even short-term therapy is not without risk. In controlled clinical trials involving 1,677 patients treated with nabumetone (1,140 followed for 1 year and 927 for 2 years), the cumulative incidence of peptic ulcers was 0.3% (95% CI; 0%, 0.6%) at 3 to 6 months, 0.5% (95% CI; 0.1%, 0.9%) at 1 year and 0.8% (95% CI; 0.3%, 1.3%) at 2 years. In patients with active peptic ulcer, physicians must weigh the benefits of therapy with nabumetone against possible hazards, institute an appropriate ulcer treatment regimen and monitor the patients’ progress carefully. …
Side effects — opening of the label's adverse reactions section
Adverse reaction information was derived from blinded-controlled and open-labeled clinical trials and from worldwide marketing experience. In the description below, rates of the more common events (greater than 1%) and many of the less common events (less than 1%) represent results of US clinical studies. Of the 1,677 patients who received nabumetone during US clinical trials, 1,524 were treated for at least 1 month, 1,327 for at least 3 months, 929 for at least a year, and 750 for at least 2 years. More than 300 patients have been treated for 5 years or longer. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were related to the gastrointestinal tract and included diarrhea, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. …
Drug interactions — opening of the label's section
ACE-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: When nabumetone tablets are administered with aspirin, its protein binding is reduced, although the clearance of free nabumetone is not altered. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known; however, as with other NSAIDs, concomitant administration of nabumetone tablets 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 nabumetone can reduce the natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazides in some patients. This response has been attributed to inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. …

This is not a complete list of warnings or side effects. Read the full label and talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. To report a side effect to the FDA, use MedWatch.

Resources

If you were hurt at work

Whether a medicine is right for you is a decision for your prescriber. If you were injured on the job, these educational guides explain the next steps and who can help.

Sources

Label text is quoted from the ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. label (label version effective July 10, 2026), retrieved October 20, 2026. Other manufacturers' labels for the same medicine may differ in wording.

If anything here differs from the label that came with your medicine, follow your label and your pharmacist.

Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. This page does not tell you whether to take a medicine or how much to take. Medical emergency? Call 911. Poison emergency: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.