Celebrex

This medication is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling (inflammation). It is used to treat arthritis, acute pain, and menstrual pain and discomfort. The pain and swelling relief provided by this medication helps you perform more of your normal daily activities. Celecoxib is also used to decrease growths found in the intestines (colon polyps) of persons with a family history of this condition. This drug works by blocking the enzyme in your body that makes prostaglandins. Decreasing prostaglandins helps to reduce pain and swelling.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using celecoxib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Take by mouth, usually once or twice daily, or as directed by your doctor. To decrease the chance of stomach upset, this drug is best taken with food. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. The lowest effective dosage should always be used, and only for the prescribed length of time (see also Warning section). Take this medication with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for 10 minutes after taking this medication. In certain conditions (e.g., arthritis), it may take up to two weeks, taken regularly, before significant benefits of this drug take effect. If you are taking this drug on an "as needed" basis (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has significantly worsened, the medicine may not work as well.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: cidofovir. If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting celecoxib. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: anti-platelet drugs (e.g., cilostazol, clopidogrel), high blood pressure drugs (including ACE inhibitors such as captopril, lisinopril and angiotensin II receptor blockers such as losartan, valsartan), oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), "blood thinners" (e.g., enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), desmopressin, fluconazole, lithium, pemetrexed, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene). Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully for other pain/fever drugs (NSAIDs such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen). These drugs are similar to this medication, so taking one of these drugs while also taking this medication may increase your risk of side effects. However, if your doctor has prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Daily use of NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) may decrease aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack/stroke. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and to discuss other possible treatments (e.g., acetaminophen) for your pain/fever. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Non-drug treatment for arthritis that is approved by your doctor (e.g., weight loss if needed, strengthening and conditioning exercises) may help improve your flexibility, range of motion, and joint function. Consult your doctor for specific instructions.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include severe stomach pain, coffee ground-like vomit, change in amount of urine, slow or shallow breathing, severe headache or loss of consciousness.

Before taking celecoxib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin, other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), other COX-2 inhibitors; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), recent heart bypass surgery (CABG). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood flow problem in the brain (e.g., stroke, cerebrovascular disease), kidney problems, liver problems, heart disease (e.g., angina, heart attack, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure), alcohol use, swelling (e.g., edema), blood disorders (e.g., anemia), serious infections, stomach/intestine/esophagus problems (e.g., bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), bleeding/clotting problems, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), dehydration, poorly controlled diabetes. This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcohol and smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medication, especially stomach bleeding and kidney effects. Caution is advised when using this drug in children with a certain type of arthritis (systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) because they may be at increased risk for a very serious bleeding/clotting problem (disseminated intravascular coagulation). Seek immediate medical attention if your child develops sudden bleeding/bruising or bluish skin in the fingers/toes. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. It should not be used during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

See also Warning section. Stomach upset or gas may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe headache, unexplained weight gain, swelling of the hands or feet, pain/swelling/warmth in the groin/calf, change in amount of urine, difficult/painful swallowing. This drug may rarely cause serious liver disease. If you notice any of the following highly unlikely but very serious side effects, stop taking celecoxib and consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately: yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, unusual fatigue. In the unlikely event you have a serious allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Rarely, this medication can cause serious (very rarely fatal) stomach/intestinal bleeding. Also, this medication and related drugs have rarely caused blood clots to form, resulting in possibly fatal heart attacks and strokes. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as other medication choices. If you notice any of these rare but very serious side effects, stop taking celecoxib and seek immediate medical attention: coffee-ground vomit, black stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden vision changes. This medication should not be used right before or after heart bypass surgery.