Celebrex

What is Celebrex

Celebrex is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Celebrex works by reducing substances that cause inflammation, pain, and fever in the body.

Celebrex is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Celebrex is also used to reduce the number of adenomatous colorectal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), to treat acute pain, and to treat pain associated with menstruation.

Celebrex may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

General medical information about Celebrex

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; bloody vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of the skin or eyes;"flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

What you should find out before taking Celebrex

Do not take Celebrex without first talking to your doctor if you have
- had an allergic reaction to a sulfa-based medicine such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, and others), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), and others; or
- experienced asthma, hives, or an allergic reaction after taking aspirin or another NSAID such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine, Lodine XL), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin).

You may experience a similar reaction to Celebrex.

Before taking Celebrex, tell your doctor if you
- smoke;
- drink alcohol;
- have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach;
- have liver disease;
- have kidney disease;
- have asthma;
- have congestive heart failure;
- have fluid retention;
- have heart disease;
- have high blood pressure;
- have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder or are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
- are taking a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol and others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, and others), and others.

You may not be able to take Celebrex, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions, or are taking any of the medicines, listed above.

Celebrex is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will harm an unborn baby. Celebrex should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because it may affect the formation of the baby's heart. Do not take Celebrex without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether Celebrex passes into breast milk. Do not take Celebrex without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Celebrex has not been studied in children younger than 18 years of age.

If you are over the age of 65 years, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Celebrex. You may require a lower dosage or special monitoring during your therapy.

How should take Celebrex

Take Celebrex exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Celebrex can be taken with or without food or milk. Your doctor may recommend taking higher doses of Celebrex with food. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Store Celebrex at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose:

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

What happens if you overdose:

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a Celebrex overdose include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, little or no urine production, slow breathing, and coma.

Avoid while taking Celebrex

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking Celebrex unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Possible side effects of Celebrex

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Celebrex and seek medical treatment or call your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort;
- bloody, black, or tarry stools;
- nausea or heartburn;
- bloody vomit;
- unexplained weight gain;
- swelling or water retention;
- unusual fatigue or lethargy;
- a skin rash or itching;
- yellowing of your skin or eyes;
- "flu-like" symptoms; or
- unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Celebrex and talk to your doctor if you experience
- flatulence or diarrhea;
- dizziness;
- headache; or
- insomnia.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Celebrex

Before taking Celebrex, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
- aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate, Tricosal, others), and magnesium salicylate (Doan's, Bayer Select Backache Formula, others);
- an over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen;
- a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), and others;
- an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and others;
- a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol and others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, and others), and others;
- an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or
- fluconazole (Diflucan).

You may not be able to take an Celebrex, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Celebrex. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.