Pain Medicine / Generic Celebrex

Celebrex(celecoxib) is used for:

Treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, menstrual pain, or pain. It is used in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) to decrease the number of polyps (growths) in the rectal area. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Celebrex is a COX-2 inhibitor NSAID. Exactly how it works is not known. It may block certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation. NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. They do not treat the disease that causes those symptoms.

Do NOT use Celebrex if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Celebrex
• you have had a 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)
• you have recently had or will be having bypass heart surgery
• you have severe liver problems
• you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Celebrex :

Some medical conditions may interact with Celebrex. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal product, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, perforation, ulcers)
• if you have a history of swelling or fluid buildup, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), or mouth inflammation
• if you have high blood pressure, blood disorders, bleeding or clotting problems, heart problems (eg, heart failure), or blood vessel disease, or if you are at risk for any of these diseases
• if you have poor health, dehydration or low fluid volume, or low blood sodium levels, you drink alcohol, or you have a history of alcohol abuse

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Celebrex. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), heparin, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) because risk of stomach bleeding may be increased
• Fluconazole or probenecid because they may increase the risk of Celebrex 's side effects
• Cyclosporine, lithium, methotrexate, or quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Celebrex
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Celebrex

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Celebrex may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Celebrex :

Use Celebrex as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Celebrex comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Celebrex refilled.
• Take Celebrex by mouth. It may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach. Taking it with food may not lower the risk of stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, ulcers). Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have persistent stomach upset.
• Some doses of Celebrex should be taken with food. Ask your doctor if you have questions about how to take Celebrex.
• Take Celebrex with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL) as directed by your doctor.
• Do not lie down for 30 minutes after you take Celebrex.
• If you miss a dose of Celebrex and you are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about the proper use of Celebrex.

Important safety information:

• Celebrex may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Celebrex with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Serious stomach ulcers or bleeding can occur with the use of Celebrex. Taking it in high doses, for a long time, smoking, or drinking alcohol increases the risk of these side effects. Taking Celebrex with food will NOT reduce the risk of these effects. If you have severe stomach or back pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or unusual weight gain or swelling, contact your doctor or emergency room right away.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor
• Celebrex is an NSAID. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen) in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not take aspirin while you are using Celebrex unless your doctor tells you to.
• FAP patients �Celebrex has not been shown to reduce FAP-related cancers or the need for other procedures or surgeries. Continue your usual care while you use Celebrex.
• Lab tests, including kidney function, complete blood cell counts, and blood pressure, may be performed while you use Celebrex. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Celebrex with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially stomach bleeding and kidney problems.
• Celebrex should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Celebrex may cause harm to the fetus. Do not use it during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Celebrex while you are pregnant. Celebrex is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Celebrex.

Possible side effects of Celebrex :

All medicines can cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; heartburn; nausea; sore throat; stomach upset; stuffy nose.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or black, tarry stools; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; 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 or persistent stomach pain or nausea; severe vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; 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.