Celebrex (Celecoxib)
The following information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
*Vioxx wasn't safe, can we trust its sister drugs, Bextra and Celebrex?
Oct. 7, 2004 -- Now that we know Vioxx wasn't safe, can we trust its sister drugs, Bextra and Celebrex? No, argues a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) editorial.
Another form of Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra (and two more drugs not approved in the U.S.) are members of a family called Cox-2 selective inhibitors. All fight pain and inflammation by blocking a molecule called Cox-2.
Blocking Cox-2 also predisposes people to heart attacks, according to a five-year-old theory by Garret FitzGerald, MD, director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Vioxx: 160,000 Heart Attacks and Strokes
This call for safety studies has a familiar ring to it. In August 2001, Eric J. Topol, MD, chairman of the Cleveland Clinic cardiology department, was troubled by heart-safety data in Vioxx clinical trials. He called on the FDA to demand specially designed heart-safety studies. That never happened. Instead, three years later, a study looking at whether Vioxx could prevent colon polyps found the drug posed an unacceptably high heart risk.
Ten million people have taken Vioxx, partly due to an aggressive direct-to-consumer advertising campaign. Topol calculates that 160,000 of these patients had a Vioxx-caused heart attack or stroke.
"I believe that there should be a full Congressional review of this case," Topol writes in an NEJM editorial. "The senior executives at Merck and the leadership at the FDA share responsibility for not having taken appropriate action and not recognizing that they are accountable for the public health."
In a written statement, Merck says that it worked hard to assess Vioxx safety.
"Dr. Topol neglects to mention the fact that Merck undertook three separate prospective, randomized clinical studies designed, collectively, to assess the cardiovascular safety of Vioxx versus placebo," the statement says. "It was precisely one of those studies, the APPROVe trial, in which there was an increased relative risk for confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, beginning after 18 months of treatment in the patients taking Vioxx compared to those taking placebo."
However, another editorial -- this one by the editors of The Lancet -- notes that heart safety was not the focus of these trials.
What is prescription drug Celebrex?
Celebrex or Celecoxib ( sell-a-COKS-ib) is a prescription drug used to relieve some symptoms caused by arthritis, such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. However, this medicine does not cure arthritis and will help you only as long as you continue to take it. Celecoxib may also be used for the following problems:
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (polyps in the intestines);
- Moderate or severe pain, such as after dental or orthopedic procedures;
- Pain during menstruation Analgesic
Antidysmenorrheal
Antirheumatic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
What are the Celebrex dosage forms available?
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form(s):
- Sets of 100, 200 or 300 Capsules for oral administration
- Celebrex 200 mg
- Celebrex 400 mg
- Celebrex does not exist in pill form
The Celebrex dosage of will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this prescription drug. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking Celecoxib.
For oral dosage form (capsules):
- For familial adenomatous polyposis (polyps in the intestines): Adults- 400 mg twice a day with food. Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For moderate or severe pain, such as after dental or orthopedic procedures: Adults- On the first day take 400 mg for the first dose then Celebrex 200 mg as needed as a second dose. After the first day take 200 mg twice a day. Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- Pain during menstruation: Adults- On the first day take 400 mg for the first dose then 200 mg as needed as a second dose. After the first day take 200 mg twice a day. Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For rheumatoid arthritis: Adults- 100 to 200 mg twice a day. Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For osteoarthritis: Adults- 200 mg a day as a single dose or 100 mg twice day. Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
What are Allergic reactions may occur due to use of Celebrex?
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to Celecoxib, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin or other salicylates, or sulfonamide-type medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
What are Effects of Celebrex on Pregnancy?
Celebrex has not been studied for pregnancy. However, there is a chance that this medicine may cause unwanted effects on the heart or blood flow of the fetus or newborn baby if it is taken regularly during the last few months of pregnancy. Studies in animals have shown that Celecoxib has caused birth defects of the ribs and sternebrae. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
What are Celebrex drug interaction?
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if a drug interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking Celebrexe, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Aspirin or
- Fluconazole (e.g., Diflucan)-The chance of serious side effects may be increased
- Lithium (e.g., Lithane)-Higher blood levels of Celecoxib and an increased chance of side effects may occur
What is the proper Use of Celebrex?
For safe and effective use of this medicine, do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than ordered by your health care professional. Taking too much of this medicine may increase the chance of unwanted effects.
What are Side Effects of Celebrex?
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these Celebrex side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Common side effects:
- Cough
- fever
- skin rash
- sneezing
- sore throat
- swelling of face, fingers, feet, and/or lower legs
- Bloody or black tarry stools
- burning feeling in chest or stomach
- chills
- congestion in chest
- cough
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- fever
- loss of appetite
- muscle aches and pains
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- stomach pain (severe)
- tenderness in stomach area
- unusual weight gain
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- weakness
- Bloody or black, tarry stools
- continuing thirst
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- headache, severe or continuing
- nausea and/or vomiting
- shortness of breath
- stomach pain
- sudden decrease in the amount of urine
- swelling of face, fingers, and/or lower legs
- tightness in chest and/or wheezing
- troubled breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- weight gain
What is generic for Celebrex?
Generic for Celebrex is available at our Canadian pharmacy. Visit www.affordabledrugs.com or call 1800-887-6890 to buy Celebrex or its generic version.
To buy Celebrex online
Visit www.affordabledrugs.com to buy Celbrex online. You can save up to 80% on your prescription drugs cost buy buying Celebrex from our Canadian pharmacy. You can order Celebrex online or buy calling 1 800 887 6890.
Celebrex information links
PFIZER CANADA INC. web site
PDR consumer site about Lipitor
* Oct. 7, 2004 -- Now that we know Vioxx wasn't safe, can we trust its sister drugs, Bextra and Celebrex? No, argues a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) editorial.
Affordable Drugs information site including Effexor (venlafaxine) Information at www.affordabledrugs.com or 1800-887-6890.
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