Gastrointestinal blood loss caused by tolmetin, aspirin, and indomethacin

Two independent short‐term studies were conducted to compare fecal blood loss produced by anti‐inflammatory doses of tolmetin, aspirin, and indomethacin administered orally. Thirty healthy volunteers with no known history of gastrointestinal abnormalities were given one drug during a 4 or 6 day treatment period. The fecal blood loss was quantitated on the basis of recovery of previously iniected 51Cr‐tagged erythrocytes in the daily stool collection. No significant increase over control daily fecal blood loss followed tolmetin and indomethacin, but a Significant increase over the control daily fecal blood loss followed the aspirin. Side effects were not reported by any subiect receiving tolmetin but were reported by subiects receiving aspirin and indomethacin.

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