• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is celecoxib?
Celecoxib is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Celecoxib works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Celecoxib is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and menstrual pain. Celecoxib is also used in the treatment of hereditary polyps in the colon Celecoxib may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of celecoxib?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking celecoxib and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• swelling or rapid weight gain;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness.

Less serious side effect may include:

• upset stomach, mild heartburn, diarrhea, constipation;

• bloating, gas;

• dizziness, nervousness, headache;

• skin rash, itching;

• blurred vision; or

• ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take celecoxib?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take celecoxib with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. You may open the celecoxib capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce to make swallowing easier. Discard the empty capsule. Swallow the medicine and applesauce mixture with water and avoid chewing. If you do not take the mixture right away, keep it in the refrigerator and take it within 6 hours.

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What is the most important information I should know about celecoxib?
This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use celecoxib. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance. This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking celecoxib. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Since celecoxib is sometimes taken only as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect celecoxib?
Before taking celecoxib, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix); fluconazole (Diflucan); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); a heart or blood pressure medication such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro, Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar), valsartan (Diovan), telmisartan (Micardis), or olmesartan (Benicar); or an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Celecoxib has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Celecoxib is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk. The manufacturer recommends that celecoxib be avoided in late pregnancy (third trimester) due to the risk of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus.

There are no data on the excretion of celecoxib into human milk. Limited data from one subject indicate that celecoxib is excreted in human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Celecoxib is measured in human milk in a 40-year-old woman after four doses of celecoxib 100 mg. She withheld breast-feeding her baby for 48 hours. Plasma concentrations from this woman predicted that nearly all of the drug would be eliminated from the breast milk within 24 to 36 hours (approximately 5 half-lives) after the mother had finished taking celecoxib.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to celecoxib, sulfonamides, or any ingredient in the formulation.
• History of asthma, urticaria, or other sensitivity reaction precipitated by aspirin or other NSAIAs.
• Treatment of perioperative pain in the setting of CABG surgery.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking celecoxib?
Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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