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Celecoxib

 

Celecoxib (generic Celebrex) Review

brand name: Celebrex
generic name: Celecoxib

Why is Celebrex prescribed?

Celebrex is prescribed for acute pain, menstrual cramps, and the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is a member of a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) called COX-2 inhibitors. Like older NSAIDs such as Motrin and Naprosyn, Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach. Therefore, Celebrex may be less likely to cause the bleeding and ulcers that sometimes accompany sustained use of the older NSAIDs.

Celebrex has also been found to reduce the number of colorectal polyps (growths in the wall of the lower intestine and rectum) in people who suffer from the condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an inherited tendency to develop large numbers of colorectal polyps that eventually become cancerous.

What drug(s) may interact with Celecoxib?

•alcohol
•alendronate
•amiodarone
•aspirin
•bosentan
•cidofovir
•cimetidine
•clopidogrel
•cyclosporine
•delavirdine
•drospirenone; ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin®)
•entecavir
•fluconazole
•herbal products that contain feverfew, STI-571
•isoniazid, INH
•ketoconazole (oral products)
•lithium
•medicines for high blood pressure
•methotrexate
•other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or prednisone)
•pemetrexed
•rifampin
•selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine)
•ticlopidine
•warfarin
•water pills (diuretics)

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or ginkgo biloba
•imatinib, ginger, garlic. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

Why is Celecoxib (Celebrex) prescribed?

Celebrex is prescribed for acute pain, menstrual cramps, and the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is a member of a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) called COX-2 inhibitors. Like older NSAIDs such as Motrin and Naprosyn, Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach. Therefore, Celebrex may be less likely to cause the bleeding and ulcers that sometimes accompany sustained use of the older NSAIDs.

Celebrex has also been found to reduce the number of colorectal polyps (growths in the wall of the lower intestine and rectum) in people who suffer from the condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an inherited tendency to develop large numbers of colorectal polyps that eventually become cancerous.

Warning!

• Very rarely, NSAIDS may cause serious blistering or peeling skin reactions (eg Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, exfoliative dermatitis). For this reason, you should stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor if you get a skin rash or sores inside your mouth while taking this medicine. This side effect is very rare, but if it occurs, is most likely to happen in the first month of treatment.
  
  
• People with impaired kidney, liver or heart function should have their kidney function monitored while taking this medicine.
  
  
• This medicine may hide fever, which is a sign of infection. This may make you think mistakenly that an infection is getting better when it isn't, or that an infection is less serious than it is. For this reason you should tell your doctor if you get an infection while you are taking this medicine.
  
  
• COX-2 inhibitors may carry an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke when compared to placebo (no treatment). If you have risk factors for heart disease or stroke, such as high cholesterol or smoking, diabetes, your doctor will need to assess the overall benefits and risks before deciding if this medicine is suitable for you. In general, if this medicine is suitable, your doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose for as short a time as possible to control your symptoms, because the risks may increase with higher doses and the longer the medicine is taken. Do not exceed the prescribed dose. Tell your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or ankle swelling while taking the medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further information.
  
  
• NSAIDs can occasionally cause serious side effects on the gut, such as ulceration, bleeding or perforation of the stomach or intestinal lining. This type of side effect is more likely to occur in elderly people and in people taking high doses of the medicine. The risk can also be increased by taking certain other medicines (see below). It is important that these people, as well as people with a history of disorders affecting the stomach or intestines, are closely monitored by a doctor while taking this medicine. All people taking this medicine should stop treatment and consult their doctor immediately if they experience any sign of bleeding from the stomach or intestine during treatment, for example vomiting blood and/or passing black/tarry/bloodstained stools.
  
  
• This medicine may cause dizziness or sleepiness and so may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
  
  

Why should Celebrex not be prescribed?

Do not take Celebrex right before or after heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

In addition, you should not use Celebrex if you are allergic to sulfonamide drugs such as Gantanol, sulfisoxazole, sulfadiazine, and Thiosulfil. Also avoid the drug if you've ever suffered an asthma attack, face and throat swelling, or skin eruptions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. If you find that you are allergic to Celebrex, you will not be able to use it.

What should I watch for while taking Celecoxib?

Let your prescriber or health care professional know if your pain continues; do not take with other pain-killers without advice. If you get flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches and pains), call your prescriber or health care professional; do not treat yourself.

To reduce unpleasant effects on your stomach, take Celecoxib (Celebrex) with a full glass of water. If you notice black, tarry stools or experience severe stomach pain and vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds, notify your health care prescriber immediately.

Celecoxib cannot take the place of aspirin for the prevention of heart attack or stroke. If you are taking medicines that affect the clotting of your blood, such as aspirin or blood thinners such as Coumadin®, talk to your health care provider or prescriber before taking this medicine. If you are currently taking aspirin for this purpose, you should not discontinue taking aspirin without checking with your prescriber or health care professional.

Do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol; these increase irritation to your stomach and can make it more susceptible to damage from Celecoxib.

Avoid taking other prescription or over-the-counter non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as or ketoprofen (Orudis® KT), naprosyn (Aleve®), ibuprofen (Advil®), while taking Celecoxib (Celebrex). Side effects including stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, vomiting or serious side effects such as ulcers are more likely if Celecoxib is given with other NSAIDs. Many non-prescription products contain NSAIDs; closely read labels before taking any medicines with Celecoxib (Celebrex).

It is especially important not to use Celecoxib during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless specifically directed to do so by your health care provider. Celecoxib (Celebrex) may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.