Active Ingredients: Celecoxib
Typical Brand Names: Celebrex
What Is It Used For?
Celebrex is used to relieve the pain, tenderness, inflammation
(swelling), and stiffness caused by arthritis. This medication
is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist
for more information.
How Is It Used?
It is usually taken one or two times a day as needed for pain.
Follow the directions on the prescription label carefully, and
ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Take Celebrex exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of
it or take it more often that prescribed by you doctor.
Celebrex may be taken with or without food. If Celebrex causes
an upset stomach, take it with food.
Celebrex works specifically on an enzyme called COX-2. Scientists
discovered two COX enzymes, called COX-1 and COX-2. The COX-1
enzyme plays a role in stomach and kidney damage. The COX-2 enzyme
mainly plays a role in inflammation and pain.
While traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
such as ibuprofen inhibit the COX-2 enzyme and help to relieve
pain and inflammation, they also inhibit the COX-1 enzyme and
thus can cause gastrointestinal side effects like ulcers.
COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex have specific action on the COX-2
enzyme to decrease pain and inflammation, but have less action
on the COX-1 enzyme and thus are associated with a lower occurrence
of gastrointestinal side effects.
Are There Possible Side Effects?
Stomach upset or tiredness may occur. If these effects persist
or worsen, notify your doctor without delay.
The following side effects are very unlikely: Report any black
or bloody stools, stomach pain, severe headache or a change in
the amount of urine. Also very unlikely but necessary to report
are dark urine or yellowing eyes or skin.
In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug,
seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction
include rash, itching, swelling, dizziness or trouble breathing.
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor
or pharmacist.
Is It Safe?
Celebrex is effective in the treatment of Osteoarthritis. Only
Celebrex has FDA approval for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Celebrex is safe unless you are allergic to celecoxib, aspirin
or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfas, or any
other drugs, tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription
and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially acetaminophen
(Tylenol), amiodarone (Cordarone), anticoagulants ("blood
thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, chloramphenicol,
cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), diuretics ("water pills"),
fluconazole (Diflucan), fluvoxamine (Luvox), lithium (Eskalith,
Lithobid), medications for high blood pressure, omeprazole (Prilosec),
zafirlukast (Accolate), other medications for arthritis, and vitamins.
Do not take aspirin or acetaminophen when using Celebrex unless
directed to do so by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have
or have ever had liver, heart, or kidney disease; high blood pressure;
asthma; any stomach problems including ulcers or bleeding; or
any other gastrointestinal disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant,
or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Celebrex,
call your doctor.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the
doctor or dentist that you are taking Celebrex.
What About Interactions With Other Drugs?
Some interactions between medications can be more severe than
others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is
to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are
currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins,
and herbals.
What If I Miss A Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it
is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue
your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make
up for a missed one.
How Should It Be Stored?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed,
and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and
away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw
away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen
are prescribed widely in the United States, even though we know
they can produce serious side effects.
Just recently the cause of these side effects has been discovered.
Scientists discovered two COX enzymes, called COX-1 and COX-2.
They are similar in structure except the COX-1 enzyme does not
play a role in inflammation and pain and the COX-2 enzyme does.
COX-1 leads to the stomach and kidney damage that NSAIDs can cause
and COX-2 is found mostly in inflamed tissue. These drugs called
the COX-2 inhibitors are thought to be as effective as NSAIDs
without the common side effects associated with them.
Celebrex is NOT available generically. Those who are allergic
to sulfa drugs should not take Celebrex.
NOTE: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute
for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist,
or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to
indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or
effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before
taking the product.
