Celebrex Side Effects

What are the Side Effects of Celebrex?

Celebrex is a new class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are more often called ""COX-2 inhibitors"". This drug is typically prescribed to relieve severe pain, menstrual cramps, and pain and inflammation due to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Being a newly developed NSAID, Celebrex is assumed to alleviate pain and inflammation by restricting the effect of a natural enzyme known as COX-2; it does not interfere with COX-1, which acts as a shield for the stomach lining. Therefore this drug is less likely to cause bleeding and ulcers that sometimes occur with the use of the older NSAIDs.

Common Celebrex Side Effects

Side effects of Celebrex vary from one person to another and they are not predictable as sometimes they may not even appear. In clinical studies however, the most common Celebrex side effects include:

• Indigestion (unsettled or upset stomach)
• Diarrhea (loose stool)
• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Dizziness
• Gastritis
• Insomnia
• Skin rash
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Swelling or inflammation

Some of these Celebrex side effects may occur all at once or not at all. If some persist and become bothersome, call a health provider as soon as possible.

For osteoarthritis, a dose of 200 mg once a day is usually prescribed. There are also common Celebrex 200 mg side effects, such as increased sensitivity to sunlight, sinus problems, heartburn, headache and drowsiness. If you are drowsy after taking Celebrex 200 mg it is strongly advised not to drive.

Celebrex 200 mg side effects may be temporary and will go away as soon as the effects of the drug are out of the body’s system.

More serious Celebrex Side Effects

• Fast heartbeat
• Fatigue (too tired)
• Hearing problems
• Increased blood pressure
• Signs of bleeding (unusual bruising or bleeding, bloody nose, blood in urine, coughing blood, wounds that bleed continually)
• Signs of depression (poor concentration, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, suicidal thoughts)
• Swelling of the legs or feet
• Symptoms of liver damage (yellow skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools)

Seek immediate medical attention as soon as you feel any of these side effects of Celebrex.

Celebrex Precautions

Always tell your doctor about any present or previous medical conditions and treatments you have had before taking Celebrex, or any new medication for that matter.

A list of all the medications and treatments, whether synthetic or natural, should also be given to your doctor. This is to make your doctor aware of the risks and possible problems that Celebrex may cause.

Celebrex is known to be easy on the stomach, but if you have had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, it may cause some risk; so tell your doctor about it.

Celebrex may not be advised to you if you have an allergy to sulfonamide drugs like Sulfadiazine, Gantanol and Thiosulfil.

Celebrex is also known to be damaging to the liver and kidneys, so if you have existing kidney or liver problems, you should not take this drug.

Taking Celebrex during the first trimester of pregnancy is known to be safe, but it may harm the unborn child if taken during the third trimester.

The safety and effectiveness of Celebrex is still untested on children under 18 years of age.

How to take Celebrex

The prescription and dosage of Celebrex will depend on the kind and severity of your condition and of course on the diagnosis of your doctor.

Take Celebrex orally with a glass of water; it can be taken on an empty stomach.

The duration of treatment will depend on your condition; you may be advised to take Celebrex for a few weeks or longer. But you should be aware that Celebrex is not the cure; it just alleviates the pain, the swelling and the stiffness you feel. Just keep taking Celebrex for as long at it is advised. Do not change your dosage unless otherwise advised by your doctor.