Indomethacin Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

Indomethacin has had a complicated supply history — and patients who rely on it for gout, arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis need to understand what's happening and how to protect their access. This article provides the latest update on indomethacin availability in 2026 and gives you practical steps if you're having trouble filling your prescription.

Is There a Formal Indomethacin Shortage in 2026?

As of 2026, standard indomethacin oral capsules (25 mg and 50 mg) are not listed on the FDA's official drug shortage database. However, this doesn't mean every pharmacy has it on the shelf. A drug can be technically available nationally while still being hard to find locally — especially for specialty formulations.

The picture is more complicated for specific formulations:

Indomethacin ER 75 mg capsules: Two significant recalls in 2024 and 2025 have intermittently tightened supply.

Indomethacin oral suspension: Very limited production; retail price exceeds $1,700 per bottle, reflecting how few manufacturers produce it.

Indomethacin rectal suppository: Extremely limited commercial availability; may require specialty pharmacy sourcing.

Recent Recalls: A Timeline

Two recalls in the past two years have disrupted indomethacin ER supply:

July 2024 — Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: Recalled certain lots of indomethacin extended-release capsules 75 mg for failing dissolution testing. Dissolution testing measures how well the drug is released in the body — failures can indicate the drug isn't delivering the correct dose. Only specific lot numbers were recalled.

May 2025 — KVK-Tech: The FDA announced a nationwide recall of 9,107 bottles of Indomethacin Extended-Release 75 mg capsules manufactured by KVK-Tech due to cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) deviations. This represents a larger batch and broader impact than the Glenmark recall.

It's important to note that recalls are not discontinuations. They affect specific lots from specific manufacturers — other manufacturers of indomethacin ER continue to supply the market. However, when multiple companies recall lots within a short period, it can cause regional supply gaps.

Why Indomethacin Has Had Ongoing Supply Issues

The root cause is economics. Indomethacin was approved in 1963, making it one of the oldest NSAIDs. Its primary patents expired decades ago, and the generic market is highly competitive with thin margins. Over the years, Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, Sandoz, and Teva each stopped manufacturing specific indomethacin formulations, narrowing the field of active producers. With fewer manufacturers, quality issues at any one of them hit the market harder.

Additionally, the original brand-name product Indocin is no longer commercially available in the U.S. The market now depends entirely on generic manufacturers, who may prioritize higher-margin products.

What This Means for Patients

For most patients using standard indomethacin 25 mg or 50 mg capsules for arthritis or acute gout, availability should not be a major issue in 2026. Multiple generic manufacturers still produce these strengths. Where you may run into problems:

You take the 75 mg ER capsule once daily (affected by recent recalls)

You need the oral suspension (for swallowing difficulties) — very limited supply

You need the rectal suppository form — near-impossible to source commercially

Your usual pharmacy happens to be out of stock from their regular distributor

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What You Can Do Right Now

Check multiple pharmacies: Use medfinder to have pharmacies near you checked for your specific indomethacin formulation. Results are texted to you.

Refill early: Request your refill 7-10 days early to give your pharmacy time to order if needed.

Ask about formulation changes: If the ER form is unavailable, your doctor may be able to write a prescription for an equivalent dose of immediate-release indomethacin.

Know your alternatives: If indomethacin truly isn't available in any form, talk to your doctor about alternative NSAIDs like naproxen, ibuprofen, meloxicam, or celecoxib.