Celebrex

Pharmaceutical name: Celecoxib

Celecoxib is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and menstrual pain. Celecoxib is also used in the treatment of hereditary polyps in the colon.
Therapeutic actions:
The mechanism of action of Celebrex is due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and at therapeutic concentrations in humans, Celebrex does not inhibit the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) isoenzyme. In animal colon tumor models, celecoxib reduced the incidence and multiplicity of tumors.

What is it used for?:
Treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis, menstrual pain, or pain. It is used in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) to decrease the number of polyps (growths) in the rectal area.

Contraindications and cautions:
- allergy to any ingredient of Celebrex;
- known severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, trouble breathing, growths in the nose, dizziness) to aspirin, an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen), or a sulfonamide (eg, sulfamethoxazole);
- recent or forthcoming heart surgery;
- severe liver problems;
- the last 3 months of pregnancy;
- taking another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (eg, ibuprofen).

Side effects:
Serious side effects: severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); change in the amount of produced urine; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; fast or irregular heartbeat unusual bruising or bleeding;; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; hearing loss; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; fainting; bloody or black, tarry stools; swelling of hands, legs, or feet; unusual joint or muscle pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Less serious side effects: constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; heartburn; nausea; sore throat; stomach upset; stuffy nose.

Interactions:
- the risk of stomach bleeding may be increased by anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), heparin, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine);
- the risk of Celebrex 's side effects may be increased by fluconazole, another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (eg, ibuprofen), or probenecid;
- Celebrex may increase the risk of side effects of cyclosporine, lithium, methotrexate, or quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin);
- Celebrex may decrease effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), angiotensin II receptor blockers (eg, valsartan), or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide).