1. Celecoxib
Celecoxib is a medication from Pfizer. It is an active ingredient in Celebrex, Celebra, and
Onsenal. It’s one of a new generation of pain and inflammation medication called a selective
COX-2 inhibitor, or a coxib, and is one of the few drugs in the group that is still in regular use.
It belongs to a larger group of medicines called NSAIDs (short for non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs). Other well-known examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and
naproxen. Celecoxib was developed as a more selective drug to get similar effects without the
same serious side effects of NSAIDs.
Click here to learn more about NSAIDs: What are NSAIDs?
Availability
Celecoxib is the intellectual property of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, so it is only
available as one of their trademarked medications: Celebrex, Celebra, and Onsenal. These
medications all need prescriptions.
Celecoxib Dosage
Celecoxib is most often prescribed in dosages of 100 mg to 200 mg per day. That may in a
single dose or spread over two doses.
For certain conditions dosages of up 400mg a day may be prescribed. As a prescription
medication only, it’s important to follow directions of the prescribing doctor when taking
celecoxib.
Celebrex, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory containing celecoxib, is always taken orally
as a pill. These pills might individually contain 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, or 400 mg of active
celecoxib.
Common Uses of Celecoxib
Pain
Celecoxib is sometimes prescribed for acute pain, especially in adults. The medication is also
an effective anti-inflammatory medication, so it’s often used with pain associated with injury or
other sources of swelling. It some cases, it may also be used to combat severe chronic pain and
swelling, especially on an as-needed basis.
Menstrual Pain
In severe cases of menstrual pain, some doctors may prescribe celecoxib. It can be effective at
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2. relieving the pain and some of the swelling and puffiness common to menstrual discomfort.
Osteoarthritis
NSAIDs in general have often been prescribed for osteoarthritis. They help deal with the pain
and swelling resulting from the condition’s effects on the joints. Celecoxib is no exception, and
it is frequently prescribed for serious cases of osteoarthritis to cope with the more uncomfortable
symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Often resulting in painful swelling to the joints, the immediate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
are often treated with NSAIDs like celecoxib. The action of celecoxib often relieves the
inflammation and eases the pain common to joint problem.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Also a joint condition, ankylosing spondylitis, affects the bones in the spine, most commonly
near where they joint the pelvis. The resulting pain and inflammation is often treated with
medications like celecoxib and other NSAIDs.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
This inherited condition is one where small growths called polyps form in the large intestine (or
colon). Though the polyps are generally benign, they can become a malignant colon cancer if
they aren’t treated. Celecoxib has been shown to treat these polyps, and it is often prescribed
to combat this disease, instead of the pain or swelling celecoxib is typically used to treat.
Click here to learn more about other Uses of NSAIDs.
Side Effects of Celecoxib
Celecoxib is a recently developed anti-inflammatory medication. It was developed to more
specifically affect cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) without affecting other hormones. COX-2 is one of
the body’s chemicals which causes inflammation and pain. COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) like
celecoxib target only this hormone in the hope that it will reduce many of the other adverse
reactions of other NSAIDs, especially the potential discomfort or damage to the stomach and
intestines.
Coxibs were only partly effective in reducing the adverse effects of other NSAIDs on the
gastrointestinal tract. Clinical studies have shown that adverse reactions to the digestive system
are reduced over the short term (approximately the first six months of treatment). These same
studies found that over a longer period (after a year or so), celecoxib still has negative effects
on the stomach and intestines at about the same rate as other NSAIDs.
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3. Negative side effects occur in 0.1% to 1.9% of the people treated with the drug.
The most common side effect of celecoxib was headache. Also common were problems
associated with the digestive system including:
upset stomach
diarrhea
abdominal pain
nausea
gas
In certain very severe case, NSAIDs like celecoxib can cause ulcers to form in the stomach or
intestines. These ulcers can be quite severe and lead to significant bleeding. Seek medical
attention immediately if you exhibit any of these signs:
vomiting with blood in the vomit
vomiting with the vomit looking like coffee grounds
blood in the stool after a bowel movement
dark black stool after a bowl movement
These signs are all indicators of bleeding somewhere in the digestive system, and they are very
dangerous. So are any signs of allergic reaction, which may include:
swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
rashes or itchiness
difficulty breathing
Should you have any allergic reaction, stop taking the new medication and see a doctor right
away.
NSAIDs in general also carry an increased risk of developing heart disease. The only exception
to his is aspirin, which is often used as a preventative treatment among people with existing
heart disease or are at risk of developing heart disease. Celecoxib is generally a considered
higher risk drug among those with heart disease, but there is still some controversy about
whether or not it is more dangerous than other NSAIDs.
Doctors tend to be cautious with celecoxib because the closely related drug rofecoxib (Vioxx)
has been removed from the market for having an increase risk of fatal heart conditions. Be sure
to inform your doctor if you have a heart condition or a family history of heart disease before
taking celecoxib. Research is currently underway to establish the link.
Long-term use of celecoxib or other NSAIDs does increase the risk of potentially dangerous
heart conditions such as the following:
hypertension (high blood pressure)
heart attack
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4. stroke
For more information about common side-effects of NSAIDs, click the following link: NSAIDs
side effects
Celecoxib Brand Names
Celecoxib is only available as a brand name. There is no generic celecoxib.
Celebra, Celebrex, Onsenal (Pfizer)
Originally published here: http://www.nsaids-list.com/nsaids-list/celecoxib/
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