Celebrex

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), Celebrex (Celecoxib) is used for relieving pain, inflammation (swelling), tenderness, stiffness caused by arthritis, colonic polyps and menstrual cramps.

Medications and Prescriptions

Generic name: Celecoxib

Product Brand Name: Celebrex ®

1. Description:

This nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps in relieving the pain, menstrual cramps, tenderness, stiffness caused by arthritis, inflammation (swelling), and colonic polyps.

2. Celebrex is prescribed for:

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998, Celebrex helps in treating pain, fever, swelling, and tenderness of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. But it does not put off the progression of either type of arthritis. It decreases the symptoms and signs of arthritis only. Approved for patients with familial FAP, Celebrex is used in those who did not have their colons removed. It is also used for relieving acute pain and the pain of menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea).

This nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is prescribed commonly for the inflammation of arthritis and other body tissues including tendinitis and bursitis.

It differs from other NSAIDs as it offers less inflammation and ulceration of the stomach and intestine (at least with short-term treatment) without interfering with the blood clotting. NSAIDs help in preventing the formation and reduction of the size of polyps in patients with the genetic disease, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

3. Drug Mechanism:

Being a COX-2 inhibitor, Celebrex works on an enzyme called COX-2 specifically. These newly developed drugs are inflammation COX-2 inhibitors that block the COX-2 enzyme selectively. Obstruction of this enzyme hinders the production of the chemical messengers (prostaglandins) and reduces pain and swelling of arthritis inflammation. These new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) selectively block the COX-2 enzyme and not the COX-1 enzyme and are thereby uniquely different from traditional NSAIDs.

4. Dosage Form:

Each patient should be given with lowest effective dose. 100 mg twice daily or 200 mg as a single dose is used for the management of osteoarthritis. 100 or 200 mg twice daily is used for rheumatoid arthritis. The dose is 400 mg as a single dose on the first day for acute pain or menstrual cramps, followed by an additional 200 mg if required and then 200mg twice daily as desired. The recommended dose is 400 mg twice daily For FAP.

5. Drug Interactions:

Celebrex when used with aspirin or other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) may augment the occurrence of stomach and intestinal ulcers. Use of Fluconazole (Diflucan) with this drug increases the concentration of celecoxib in the body by restrains the breakdown of celecoxib in the liver. Therefore, treatment with Celebrex should be started at the lowest suggested doses in patients taking fluconazole. Celebrex augments the concentration of lithium (Eskalith) in the blood by 17%. Therefore, lithium therapy has to be closely monitored during and after therapy with celecoxib. Persons using anticoagulant (blood thinner) warfarin (Coumadin) should test their blood when begining or changing celecoxib treatment, chiefly in the first few days, for any changes in the effects of the anticoagulant.

6. Pregnancy:

Eventhough, studies of Celebrex in pregnant women is not done; there is a chance that this medicine may lead to unwanted effects on the heart or blood flow of the fetus or newborn baby when taken regularly during the last few months of pregnancy. In animal studies, doses that were twice the maximally suggested dose were harmful to the fetus. Celebrex should be avoided by pregnant women when the benefits outweigh the potential risk to the fetus.

Studies in animals have shown that Celebrex has lead to birth defects of the ribs and sternebrae. Prior to taking this medicine, consult with your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

7. Nursing Mothers:

Celebrex should be avoided by nursing mothers. It is not known if Celebrex passes into breast milk. However, Celebrex is known to cause unnecessary effects in nursing babies. It may be essential for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. You should discuss the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

8. Dietary and Alcohol Considerations:

It can be taken with or without food and if it causes upset stomach, take it with food.

Drinking more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day can increase risk of developing. stomach ulcers when taking NSAIDs with Celebrex.

9. Possible Side Effects:

NSAID treatments are intolerable by 10%-50% of patients. In spite of the stomach and intestinal ulcers happen with the use of Celebrex, their occurrence is less than with other NSAIDs in short-term studies. It does not hinder with the function of the blood platelets and, thereby does not lessen clotting and lead to increased bleeding like other NSAIDs.

Headache, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, flatulence and insomnia are most common adverse effects. Additional side effects are: fainting, heart failure, kidney failure, aggravation of hypertension, ringing in the ears, chest pain, deafness, stomach and intestinal ulcers, blurred vision, bleeding, anxiety, weight gain, photosensitivity, flu-like symptoms, water retention, drowsiness and weakness.

Celebrex offer allergic reactions like itching, rash, difficulty breathing from sulfonamides, aspirin or other NSAIDs may experience an allergic reaction to Celebrex and should not take Celebrex. If you observe other effects not listed here, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

10. Storage:

Store the drug in a container tightly closed, and out of reach of children and stored at room temperature (77°F (25°C)) and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom) and at temperatures between 59-86°F (15-30°C). outdated medicine should be thrown away when not needed.

11. Package Size and Type:

Capsules: 100 mg (white with a blue band), 200 mg (white with a gold band), 400 mg (white with a green band).

12. Where can I get more information on Celebrex?

a) U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health

b) WebMD Corporation

Before beginning to use this medicine, consult your doctor and never use it on your own initiative, without medical advice.

Celebrex notes:

Sold with the product brand name Celecoxib, Celebrex is manufactured by Pfizer. It is prescribed to patients suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to relieve pain, fever, swelling, and tenderness. Celebrex do not hold back the advancement of any form of arthritis and only helps to relive the symptoms of and signs of arthritis. It is safe for patients suffering from familial FAP and whose colons have not been detached. It can relive acute pain in women caused by menstrual cramps.

This anti-inflammatory drug comes in two dosages and costs USD 65.00 for 100 capsules packing of Celebrex with 100 mg dosage and costs USD 99.00100 for capsule packing of celebrex 200 mg dosage. The Celebrex drug is administered in its of lowest effective dose, which can vary from patient to patient.

Different from the other medicines, this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication helps in reducing the inflammation and ulceration caused by the other similar drugs in the stomach and intestine. Moreover, Celebrex medication does not hinder the clotting of blood. Celebrex generic does not hinder the process of creation and reduction in the size of polyps in patients unlike other similar drugs on patients suffering from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a genetic disease.

Celebrex side effects have been small even though when taken alone. However, concurrent intake of NSAID drugs like Aspirin and Celebrex increase stomach and intestinal ulcers. Pregnant patients and feeding mothers should take the medicine only after proper consultation with a doctor.