Celebrex Review

What is it?

Celebrex belonged to the group of drugs called as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. NSAIDs work by decreasing the amount of hormones that are responsible for inflammation and pain.

Menstrual pain, ankylosing spondylitis, and arthritis are usually treated by Celebrex. In addition, Celebrex is also used as a treatment for hereditary polyps located in the colon.

There are also other uses of Celebrex that are not mentioned.

What you need to know about Celebrex

Celebrex increases the risk of developing fatal complications to the heart and the circulation which includes stroke and heart attack. The longer Celebrex is used, the higher the risk of developing such complications. If you just had your heart bypass surgery, you should not use Celebrex.

If you experience symptoms of heart or circulatory problems like weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, slurred speech, and vision and balance problems, you should immediately seek medical attention.

Gastrointestinal complications can also be caused by Celebrex. These complications include perforation and bleeding which are both life-threatening. Gastrointestinal complications can occur without any warning signs while you are taking Celebrex. People in their late adulthood are at higher risk for developing such complications.

If you are experiencing symptoms related to gastrointestinal complications, immediately seek medical help. These symptoms include bloody, black, or tarry stools, and coughing coffee ground like materials.

Drinking alcohol while taking Celebrex is not recommended. This is because it can increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal complications. Over the counter cold, pain, and allergy medications should not be used while taking Celebrex because it contains the similar ingredients which may cause overdose of the medication.

What should I tell my physician before I take Celebrex?

NSAIDs like Celebrex can increase the risk of life-threatening heart and circulatory complications such as heart attack and stroke. Prolonged use of NSAIDs can increase the risk developing these fatal complications. Celebrex should not be used if the patient had just undergone heart bypass surgery.

Aside from heart and circulation complications, NSAIDs can also cause gastrointestinal perforation and bleeding. Such conditions are fatal and can occur anytime while taking NSAIDs. Old aged adults are at greater risk of developing these complications.

If you have allergies to Celecoxib, to other NSAIDs, aspirin, and sulfa drugs, it is necessary to avoid taking Celecoxib.

Prior to intake of Celecoxib, you should inform your physician if you have allergies to any drugs or if you have these conditions:

* bleeding or blood clotting disorder
* history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
* polyps in your nose
* heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure
* asthma
* history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
* seizure disorder such as epilepsy
* history of stomach ulcers or bleeding

Having these conditions may require dosage adjustments in order to safely take Celebrex.

Celebrex is classified under FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it can cause harm and birth defects to an unborn baby if taken during pregnancy. If you have plans of becoming pregnant or if you get pregnant during the course of treatment, it is important to inform your doctor immediately. Intake of Celebrex in the last trimester of pregnancy can cause complications to the baby. Since Celebrex can be passed on the breast milk, breastfeeding mothers are not allowed to take Celebrex. Celebrex is also not intended to be given to children below two years of age.

How to take Celebrex?

Celebrex should be taken as exactly as prescribed by the physician. Celebrex should not be taken more than what is prescribed or taken for a longer period of time. It is best to follow the instructions on the prescription label.

Celebrex can cause stomach upset that’s why it is recommended to take with milk or food. For people who are having difficulties in swallowing, Celebrex can be taken by removing the powder contents from the capsule and mix it with applesauce and water. The empty capsule can be discarded. If the mixture will not be taken immediately after preparation, it can be stored in the refrigerator but should be taken within six hours.

Prolonged use of Celebrex requires frequent visits to the doctor to make sure that there are no harmful side effects caused by Celebrex. You should never miss appointments with your doctor because it is necessary to prevent development of complications.

Celebrex can alter results of certain laboratory tests; thus, it is your responsibility to inform your physician that you are taking Celebrex.

Celebrex should be stored at room temperature and exposure to moist and heat should be avoided.

What will happen if a dose is missed?

There are instances wherein Celebrex is only taken as needed and a dosing schedule is not required. However, for those who are taking Celebrex on a regular schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If you remembered it shortly before your next dose, just wait for the next dose and skip the missed dose. Making up for the missed dose by taking an extra dose is not recommended.

What if an overdose happened?

Get immediate medical help once you experience symptoms of overdose. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, stomach pain, bloody stools, bloody vomit, fainting, shallow breathing, and comatose.

What to avoid when taking Celebrex?

Celebrex should not be taken with other NSAIDs such as piroxicam (Feldene), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), nabumetone (Relafen), meloxicam (Mobic), diflunisal (Dolobid), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), etodolac (Lodine), ketorolac (Toradol), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ketoprofen (Orudis), and indomethacin (Indocin).

While taking Celebrex, drinking alcohol should be avoided. This is because alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding and perforations. It is also not recommended to take over the counter pain, colds, and allergy medications without consulting your physician or a pharmacist because such medications may contain similar ingredients to Celebrex which can cause overdose. Exposure to sunlight and artificial UV rays such as those in tanning beds and sunlamps can cause sunburn because Celebrex can increase the skin’s sensitivity. It is important to use sunscreen when you’re going out and wear protective clothing to avoid sunlight exposure.

Side effects of Celebrex

If you develop allergic reactions such as skin hives, swelling of face, lips, throat, and tongue, and difficulty breathing, you need to seek medical care immediately. You need to stop your intake of Celebrex and seek medical help if you develop adverse effects such as:

* bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness
* chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance
* fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
* black, bloody, or tarry stools
* nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
* coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
* urinating less than usual or not at all
* swelling or rapid weight gain

Celebrex also have mild side effects which include:

* ringing in your ears
* upset stomach, mild heartburn, diarrhea, constipation
* blurred vision
* bloating, gas
* skin rash, itching
* dizziness, nervousness, headache

Keep in mind that there may be other side effects which can occur while taking Celebrex. If you experience such side effects, immediately inform your physician.

Are there medications that can cause interactions with Celebrex?

Inform your doctor if you are taking antidepressants such as venlafaxine (Effexor), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluvoxamine (Luvox), escitalopram (Lexapro),and fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax).

You should also inform your physician if you are taking medications such as:

* lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
* ACE inhibitors
* blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
* fluconazole (Diflucan)
* diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix)
* heart or blood pressure medications

If you are taking other drugs, it is necessary to tell your doctor about it so that drug to drug interactions can be avoided. Medications such as over the counter drugs, vitamins, minerals and herbal products should also be informed to your doctor.

Where to get more information?

You can ask your pharmacist about the detailed information for Celebrex. Celebrex should not be placed in an area where it can be easily reached by children. Aside from that, it should not be taken without the doctor’s order.