Celebrex
Celebrex has been linked to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) events (such as heart attack or stroke) which appears to be a risk shared by all medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (excluding aspirin). FDA has requested that the package insert (labeling) for all NSAIDs, including Celebrex, be revised to include a “boxed” or serious warning to highlight the potential increased risk of CV events, and the well known risk of serious, and potentially life-threatening, stomach bleeding. FDA has also requested that the package insert for all NSAIDs be revised to state that patients who have just had heart surgery should not take these medicines.
What is Celebrex?
Celebrex is used to:
- relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related “wear and tear” on bones and joints)
- relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- manage acute pain in adults (like the short term pain you can get after a dental or surgical operation)
- treat painful menstrual cycles
- 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.
What Are The Risks?
Celebrex can cause serious problems such as:
- Stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this serious problem increases the longer you take Celebrex, but it can also happen suddenly. Stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare professional right away if you get a burning stomach pain, black bowel movements that look like tar, or vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds.
- 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 this happens, stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare professional right away.
- Kidney problems that include sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already have.
- 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.
- headache
- indigestion
- upper respiratory tract infection (a "cold")
- diarrhea
- sinus inflammation
- stomach pain
- nausea
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