What is Celebrex used for?

Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) that is used to reduce pain and inflammation (swelling and soreness). Celebrex is a medicine for:

• relief of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related “wear and tear” on bones and joints)
• relief of rheumatoid arthritis in adults
• management of acute pain in adults (like the short term pain you can get after a dental or surgical operation)
• treatment of menstrual pain (pain during women’s monthly periods)
• reduce the number of colon and rectum growths (colorectal polyps) in patients with a disease called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is an inherited disease in which the rectum and colon are covered with many polyps. Celebrex is used along with the usual care for FAP patients such as surgery and exams of the rectum and colon.
• Celebrex has not been shown to reduce cancer that happens with FAP. It is not known whether the effects of Celebrex will last after treatment is stopped. The use of Celebrex in FAP patients for longer than six months has not been studied. Therefore, the usual care of FAP patients should not be changed because of the use of Celebrex. Regular exams of the colon and rectum should take place as scheduled and surgeries for FAP should happen as planned.

Who should not take Celebrex?

Do not take Celebrex if you:

• have had an allergic-type reaction to sulfa medicines
• have had asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAID medicines
• are allergic to Celebrex or to any of the ingredients in Celebrex

If you have asthma, you may have aspirin-sensitive asthma. If an aspirin-sensitive asthmatic takes aspirin it can cause severe narrowing of the airway (bronchospasm), and even death. Since this type of reaction to aspirin and other NSAID medicines have happened in aspirin-sensitive patients, aspirin-sensitive patients should not take Celebrex.

Special Warnings with Celebrex:

Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this serious problem increases the longer you take Celebrex and with higher doses of Celebrex. Stomach bleeding can also happen suddenly while you take Celebrex. Stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare provider right away if you get:

• a burning stomach pain
• black bowel movements that look like tar
• vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds

Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious allergic reactions that include swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. These allergic reactions may cause problems with breathing, swallowing, and wheezing. Serious allergic skin reactions have also happened.

General Precautions with Celebrex:

Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious problems such as liver damage. Some of the warning signs of liver damage are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, “flu-like” symptoms and dark urine. If these happen, stop taking Celebrex and call your health care provider right away.

Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious kidney problems that include sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already have.

Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause fluid retention (holding of water in your body) and swelling. Fluid retention can be a serious problem if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.

What are some possible side effects of Celebrex?

In addition to the serious side effects listed above, some common, but less serious side effects with Celebrex include:

• headache
• indigestion
• upper respiratory tract infection (a "cold")
• diarrhea
• sinus inflammation
• stomach pain
• nausea

This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Celebrex. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.

For more detailed information about Celebrex, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.