What Is Celebrex?
Celebrex is a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine
(NSAID) used to reduce swelling and soreness. Celebrex is used to
- Relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by
age-related wear and tear on bones and joints)
- Relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- Manage acute pain in adults (like the short-term pain you can get
after a dental or surgical operation)
- Treat painful menstrual cycles
- Reduce the number of colon and rectum growths (colorectal polyps) in
patients with a disease called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, an
inherited disease in which the rectum and colon are covered with many
polyps. Celebrex is used along with the usual care for FAP patients such
as surgery and exams of the rectum and colon
Who Should Not Take Celebrex?
Do not take Celebrex if you:
- Ever had an allergic reaction to sulfa medicines
- Ever had asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after taking
aspirin or other NSAID or COX-2 medicines. Aspirin-sensitive patients
should not take Celebrex because it could cause severe narrowing of the
airway (bronchospasm) and even death
- Have advanced kidney disease
- Are pregnant, especially your last 3 months
What Should I Do Before Taking Celebrex?
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- Have or had angina (chest pain), heart attack, or blocked artery in
your heart Have kidney problems
- Have liver problems
- Have heart failure
- Have high blood pressure
- Retain fluids (hold extra body water and swell)
- Had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAID medicines
- Had a serious stomach problem in the past
- Have or had any other medical problems or allergies
Does Celebrex Interact with other Drugs or Food?
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take,
including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements. Your healthcare provider may have to adjust your dose
or watch you more closely if you take any of the following medications:
- Certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors
- Flurosemide (Lasix)
- Fluconazole or ketoconazole
- Lithium
- Phenytoin
- Warfarin (coumadin)
- Aspirin
Are There Other Risks?
Celebrex can cause stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this
serious problem increases the longer you take Celebrex and with higher
doses of Celebrex. Stomach bleeding can also happen suddenly while you
take Celebrex. Stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare provider
right away if you get:
- A burning stomach pain
- Black bowel movements that look like tar
- Vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds
Allergic reactions: Celebrex can cause serious allergic reactions,
including swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, that may cause
problems with breathing, swallowing, and wheezing. Serious skin reactions
also have happened.
Liver damage: Stop taking Celebrex and tell your doctor right away if
you have nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching, yellow
coloring of skin or eyes, flu-like symptoms, and dark urine.
Kidney problems: Celebrex can cause serious kidney problems, including
sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already
have.
Fluid retention: Celebrex can cause fluid retention (holding of water
in your body) and swelling. Fluid retention can be a serious problem if
you have high blood pressure or heart failure.
Pregnancy: Do not take Celebrex during your last 3 months of pregnancy
because it can harm your baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
planning to become pregnant
Breast-feeding: Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
