| Pharmacy Drug Brand Name: | Celebrex® |
| Active Ingredient(s): | celecoxib |
| Strength(s) / Dose(s): | 100mg and 200mg |
| Delivery / Dosage Form(s): | Capsules |
| Company Manufacturer Name: | G. D. Searle & Co |
| Availability / Prescription: | Prescription only |
| FDA Approval Date *: | December 31, 1998 |
* Approval by the FDA does not necessarily mean that this drug is available for consumers at this time.
What is Celebrex used for?
Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) that is used to reduce pain or discomfort and inflammation (swelling and soreness). Celebrex is a medicine for:
- relief of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related “wear and tear” on bones and joints)
- relief of rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- management of acute pain or discomfort in adults (like the short term pain or discomfort you can get after a dental or surgical operation)
- treatment of menstrual pain or discomfort (pain or discomfort during women’s monthly periods)
- reduce the number of colon and rectum growths (colorectal polyps) in patients with a disease or damage called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is an inherited disease or damage 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.
- Celebrex has not been shown to reduce cancer that happens with FAP. It is not known whether the effects of Celebrex will last after treatment is stopped. The use of Celebrex in FAP patients for longer than six months has not been studied. Therefore, the usual care of FAP patients should not be changed because of the use of Celebrex. Regular exams of the colon and rectum should take place as scheduled and surgeries for FAP should happen as planned.
Who should not take Celebrex?
Do not take Celebrex if you:
- have had an allergic-type reaction to sulfa medicines
- have had asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAID medicines
- are allergic to Celebrex or to any of the ingredients in Celebrex
If you have asthma, you may have aspirin-sensitive asthma. If an aspirin-sensitive asthmatic takes aspirin it can cause severe narrowing of the airway (bronchospasm), and even death. Since this type of reaction to aspirin and other NSAID medicines have happened in aspirin-sensitive patients, aspirin-sensitive patients should not take Celebrex.
Special Warnings with Celebrex:
Celebrex and other NSAID medicines 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 or discomfort
- black bowel movements that look like tar
- vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds
Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious allergic reactions that include swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. These allergic reactions may cause problems with breathing, swallowing, and wheezing. Serious allergic skin reactions have also happened.
General Precautions with Celebrex:
Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious problems such as liver damage. Some of the warning signs of liver damage are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, “flu-like” symptoms and dark urine. If these happen, stop taking Celebrex and call your health care (healthcare) provider right away.
Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious kidney problems that include sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already have.
Celebrex and other NSAID medicines 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.
What should I tell my doctor or health care (healthcare) provider?
Tell your health care (healthcare) provider if you:
- are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- have or had angina (chest pain or discomfort), 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
Tell your health care (healthcare) provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Celebrex works or Celebrex may affect how your other medicines work. Your healthcare provider may have to adjust your dose or watch you closely if you take certain medicines. Celebrex cannot take the place of aspirin for prevention of heart attack or stroke. If you take aspirin for this purpose, do not stop taking aspirin without talking to your doctor.
What are some possible side effects of Celebrex? (This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects assosciated with Celebrex. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide expert advice on the possible side effects of this drug.)
In addition to the serious side effects listed above, some common, but less serious side effects with Celebrex include:
- headache
- indigestion
- upper respiratory tract infection (a "cold")
- diarrhea
- sinus inflammation
- stomach pain or discomfort
- nausea