| What is Celebrex used for?
Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine
(NSAID) that is used to reduce pain 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 in adults (like the short
term pain you can get after a dental or surgical operation)
- treatment of menstrual pain (pain during women’s
monthly periods)
- reduce the number of colon and rectum growths
(colorectal polyps) in patients with a disease called
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is an inherited
disease 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
- 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 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 provider?
Tell your health care provider if you:
- are trying to become pregnant, are already
pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- have or had angina (chest pain), 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 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 complete list of side effects reported
with Celebrex. Your health care provider can discuss with you a
more complete list of side effects.)
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
- nausea
For more detailed information about Celebrex, ask your health
care provider or pharmacist. |