Celecoxib Joint Relief Review

What is it?

The drug Celecoxib belongs to the group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or known as NSAIDs. This type of drugs is working by decreasing the hormones that are responsible for inflammation and pain.

Celecoxib, being an NSAID, is used for treating inflammations and pains caused by conditions such as menstrual pains, ankylosing spondylitis, and arthritis. Another use of this drug is to treat hereditary polyps that are present in the colon. There could also be other uses for Celecoxib aside from those mentioned.

What You Need to Know about Celecoxib

Celecoxib adds up to your risk of developing serious conditions involving heart and circulation problems like heart attack and stroke. The longer you use Celecoxib, the greater the risk of developing such conditions. Using this medicine after undergoing heart bypass surgery is strictly prohibited.

If in case you are experiencing symptoms of heart and circulatory problems, you should immediately seek medical attention. Symptoms include shortness of breath, slurred speech, chest pain, weakness, vision problems, and balance.

Aside from the conditions related to heart and circulation, this medication can also cause serious effects on the stomach and the intestines which include perforation and bleeding. These conditions are life-threatening and can happen without any warning signs. Individuals in their late adulthood are of higher risks of developing these life-threatening gastrointestinal side effects.

Once you have experienced symptoms of bleeding in your stomach, you should immediately seek medical attention. Bleeding of the intestine may show as bloody stools or tarry stools, coughing up blood, and vomiting with particles that look like coffee grounds.

If you are taking Celecoxib, you should avoid alcohol intake because it can increase the risk of intestinal hemorrhage caused by Celecoxib. Consult your physician or your pharmacist before taking any over the counter medications for allergy, colds, and pain. There are pain medications and other over the counter medications that contain aspirin like Celecoxib. Therefore, it you will be taking medications that have similar ingredients; it might potentiate each other and can cause overdose.

Prior to Celecoxib Intake

Celecoxib is an NSAID. Intake of NSAIDs can increase the risk of developing serious conditions related to the heart and the circulation. Prolonged usage of NSAIDs will also increase this risk. Aside from that, it is also prohibited to use NSAIDs after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft or heart bypass surgery.

Intake of NSAIDs can increase the risk of perforations and bleeding to the stomach and the intestines. These side effects are life threatening and can occur suddenly without warning signs. Elderly should be more careful in taking NSAIDs because they are at higher risks of having intestinal hemorrhage.

For those who are allergic to Celecoxib or those who are allergic to aspirin, sulfa drugs, and other NSAIDs, Celecoxib should not be taken.

Prior to intake of Celecoxib, you should inform your physician if you have allergies to other drugs or if you have the following conditions:

* Asthma
* Bleeding or clotting problems
* History of stomach ulcers or bleeding
* Polyps in the nose
* History of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
* Heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure
* Epilepsy
* Liver and kidney diseases

If in case you have any of these conditions, a dose adjustment is necessary or you need to undergo a series of tests to be able to take Celecoxib safely.

Celecoxib is classified under the FDA pregnancy category C. Because of this, the medication may be harmful to a fetus inside the pregnant woman. If you are pregnant or if you are planning to get pregnant, you have to inform your doctor in order to protect your baby. It is not advisable to take Celecoxib during pregnancy, not unless your physician allowed you to take it. Aside from that, Celecoxib can also be passed on the breast milk which means that a nursing baby can be affected. Thus, if you are a breastfeeding mother, it is not recommended to take Celecoxib. Children who are below two years of age are not given with Celecoxib without any recommendations from the physician.

How to Take Celecoxib?

It is important to follow the physician’s order when taking Celecoxib. Celecoxib should not be taken in larger amounts or in a longer period than what is recommended by the physician. It is also important to follow the prescription label when taking Celecoxib.

In order to decrease upset of the stomach, it is recommended to take Celecoxib with food or milk. If you have difficulties in swallowing, you may open the capsule of Celecoxib and add the contents in a spoon of applesauce mixed with water. The empty capsule may already be discarded. Take the spoonful of applesauce, Celecoxib, and water mixture. Swallow the contents and do not chew. You may keep the mixture in the refrigerator but be sure to take it within six hours if you’re not planning to take it right after preparation.

The physician will require you for a regular check up if you are taking Celecoxib as a long term treatment. This is to ensure that the medication is not causing any adverse effects to you. It is important not to miss any scheduled appointments.

If you’re taking this medication, it can alter results on certain medical tests. You should immediately inform your physician that you are taking Celecoxib ahead of time prior to undergoing medical tests.

Celecoxib should be stored at room temperature. Exposure of the medication to moisture and heat should also be avoided.

What will happen if a dose is missed?

In some cases, Celecoxib is taken only as needed and not on a regular basis or a dosing schedule. However, if you are regularly taking Celecoxib and missed a dose, you should take the missed dose immediately upon remembering it. On the other hand, if you remembered the missed dose minutes before the next dose, wait until the next dose and skip the missed dose. Making up for the missed dose is not needed.

What will happen if there is an overdose?

If you’re feeling that you’ve been taking a lot of this medication or you’ve used too much, you should immediately consult the physician. Symptoms of overdose would include stomach pain, nausea, lack or bloody stools, vomiting, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, drowsiness, fainting, and coma.

Are there things to avoid when taking Celecoxib?

Other NSAIDs should be avoided when taking Celecoxib. These NSAIDs include diflunisal, ibuprofen, naproxen, etodolac, diflunisal, indomethacin, flurbiprofen, piroxicam, nabumetone, mefenamic acid, and meloxicam.

Alcohol should be avoided when taking Celecoxib. Celecoxib can cause bleeding and perforation in the intestines and stomach and intake of alcohol may increase the risk of developing those mentioned side effects. Over the counter medications should also be avoided without consultation to the physician. The reason for this is because these over the counter medications contain ingredients that are similar to Celecoxib; thus it could potentiate the effects of the drug and can cause overdose. While taking Celecoxib, it is essential to avoid sunlight and artificial UV rays such as tanning beds and sun lamps. This is because Celecoxib can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight; thus, causing sunburns. If you need to go outdoors, it is necessary to wear a sunscreen and protective clothing.

Side Effects of Celecoxib

Allergic reactions of Celecoxib require immediate medical attention. Some of the signs of Celecoxib allergy include swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, presence of hives, and difficulty in breathing. If you have any of these signs, cease your Celecoxib intake. Immediately contact your physician if you have any of these serious adverse effects:

* 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 or yellowish discoloration of the skin and the white portion of the eyes.
* coughing up blood or vomit with particles that look like coffee grounds
* oliguria or anuria (decreased urine production or no urine production)
* swelling or rapid weight gain

On the other hand, there are also light side effects of Celecoxib intake and these include:

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

There are other side effects that may not be included in this list. If in case you experience any side effects upon taking Celecoxib, it is important to inform your physician about it immediately.

Are there drugs that can affect Celecoxib?

If you are taking antidepressants like sertraline, venlafaxine, citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, and fluoxetine, you should immediately inform your physician. Intake of these antidepressants together with Celecoxib will only increase your risk for bleeding.

Prior to intake of Celecoxib, it is necessary to inform your physician if you are taking any of these medications:

* lithium
* blood thinner such as warfarin
* heart or blood pressure medication such as candesartan, olmesartan, eprosartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, valsartan, and losartan
* diuretics
* fluconazole
* ACE inhibitors such as trandolapril, benazepril, quinapril, captopril, perindopril, fosinopril, moexipril, enalapril, and lisinopril.

There may be other drugs that can possibly interact with Celecoxib which are not included in the list. It is important to inform your physician about the prescription medications as well the over the counter medications that you are taking. It also includes herbal products, vitamins, minerals, and other drugs that were prescribed by other physicians. Thus, before trying anything, it is essential to consult the physician first.

What are the other sources of information for Celecoxib?

* If you want to know more about Celecoxib, you can ask your pharmacist about it.