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Active Ingredients: Celecoxib

Common applications

Celebrex is a painkiller, used to relieve pain caused by various conditions. It's also used to treat swelling and redness, as well as arthritis. The medication has other applications as well - your doctor can provide you with more information on that matter.

Overview

The medication should be taken once or twice daily in order to relieve pain. The instructions should be carefully observed and followed. If you do not understand anything, consult your doctor or pharmacist and do not attempt to figure it out yourself. Dosage is especially important and should be adhered to. The drug can be taken with or without food, but in case it causes stomach problems for you, you can take it without food.

Celebrex works by targeting the enzyme COX-2. There are two COX enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is used in treating stomach and kidney damage, while COX-2 deals with inflammation and the general sensation of pain.

Normally, inflammatory drugs inhibit both COX enzymes. While this deals with pain and inflammation, it also triggers some unwanted side effects, such as ulcers, due to the release of COX-1 when it's not needed.

Side effects

There aren't many side effects associated with using Celebrex - mainly an upset stomach and a sensation of tiredness. If these effects do not go away quickly, consult a doctor to decide on a treatment method.

There are also some more rarely reported side effects, such as black or bloody stools, pain in the stomach, strong headaches, and changes in the urine. In some rare cases, urine may be darkened, and the eyes and/or skin may turn to slightly yellower shades.

Allergic reactions have not been commonly reported, but in case you do experience one, contact a doctor immediately. The most commonly reported allergic reaction symptoms are swelling, itching, rashes, redness, dizziness and trouble breathing. If you experience those or anything additional, notify your doctor immediately.

Warnings

Celebrex is the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of arthritis. The drug is completely safe, unless you're allergic to celecoxib, aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfas, or any other drugs. Inform your doctor of absolutely all drugs you're using, be it prescription based ones or non prescription based, especially acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Other ingredients: amiodarone (Cordarone), anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, chloramphenicol, cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), diuretics ("water pills"), fluconazole (Diflucan), fluvoxamine (Luvox), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), medications for high blood pressure, omeprazole (Prilosec), zafirlukast (Accolate), other medications for arthritis, and vitamins.

Aspirin and acetaminophen can have negative reactions with Celebrex, so avoid taking them while using it. Inform your doctor of any prior liver, kidney or heart diseases, as well as high blood pressure, asthma, as well as stomach problems like ulcers or excessive bleeding.

If you're a woman in pregnancy, there are special precautions to take, as the drug can harm your unborn baby. Women who're breastfeeding fall into the same category and they should avoid using the drug. Surgery can also interfere with this drug's effects - this includes dental surgery. Make sure to mention it when talking to your doctor about your treatment.

Some medications can interact with this drug severely - while with others, the effects are barely noticeable. To avoid any complications, talk to your doctor about the possible interactions the drug can have with other drugs you're currently using.

Missed doses

If you miss a dose, just take it as soon as you remember to. If it's getting close to the time for the next dose, just skip it and take the next one instead. You shouldn't increase the dosage in order to compensate for missed ones, as this can have more harmful than beneficial effects.

Storage

The drug should be kept in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight exposure. Make sure it's kept out of reach for children. Temperature should not exceed standard room temperature, and do not use the medication after it has expired.

Final notes

There has been some controversy surrounding this type of medication, because of the side effects associated with its use. Recently however, it has been discovered what exactly causes these side effects and how to prevent them. By inhibiting only COX-2 instead of both COX-2 and COX-1, Celebrex can produce all of the beneficial effects of this type of medicine without exposing the user to any of the harmful ones.

The information provided above should not substitute an actual medical consultation about your condition. Get yourself thoroughly examined before using the drug to ensure the best possible outcome of your treatment. Always consult a professional doctor when attempting to perform treatment with this type of drug, as the effects from it on your health can be quite severe.