Celecoxib

 

What Is Celebrex?
Celebrex® (celecoxib) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions related to pain and inflammation. It is part of a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs for short. It is a specific type of NSAID known as a COX-2 inhibitor.

Who Makes Celebrex?
Celebrex is manufactured by Pfizer.

Uses of Celebrex
Uses of Celebrex include the following:

Acute pain relief, such as for pain following a procedure or muscle strain.

Treatment of arthritis symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and swelling. Celebrex can be used to treat several different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis in adults. Celebrex does not cure arthritis, however.

Treatment of painful menstrual periods.

Celebrex has also been shown to decrease the number of colon and rectal polyps in people with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a hereditary condition that can cause hundreds of growths (called polyps) in the colon and rectum. People with FAP usually develop colon cancer and/or rectal cancer by their late 30s.

How Does Celebrex Work?
As mentioned, Celebrex is part of a class of NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors. The drug works by blocking a particular enzyme (COX-2) that plays a role in pain and inflammation. Unlike other NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) that target both the COX-1 and the COX-2 enzymes, Celebrex only targets the COX-2 enzyme. The COX-1 enzyme plays an important role in protecting the lining of the stomach.

Description

Celecoxib is used to relieve some symptoms caused by arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. However, this medicine does not cure arthritis and will help you only as long as you continue to take it .

Celecoxib may also be used for the following problems:
Ankylosing spondylitis;
Familial adenomatous polyposis (polyps in the intestines);
Moderate or severe pain, such as after dental or orthopedic procedures;
Pain during menstruation

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Capsule
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Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of celecoxib in children 2 years of age and older .