If you have pain and inflammation, your doctor might suggest Celebrex as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used to treat the following conditions in adults:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- osteoarthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- short-term pain, such as back pain
- painful periods, including menstrual cramps
Celebrex is also used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in some children.
Celebrex comes as a capsule you swallow. It contains the active ingredient celecoxib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
This drug may be used short term or long term. The length of your treatment depends on the condition you’re taking the drug to treat and how your body responds to this medication. Your doctor will prescribe Celebrex for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your symptoms.
For more information about Celebrex, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.
Like other drugs, Celebrex can cause mild to serious side effects (also known as adverse reactions). Keep reading to learn more.
Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Celebrex treatment.
Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:
- belly pain
- diarrhea
- swelling of your hands, legs, and feet
- indigestion (upset stomach)
- gas
Many of Celebrex’s side effects are mild and don’t require medical attention.
Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include:
- belly pain
- diarrhea
- swelling of your hands, legs, and feet
- indigestion (upset stomach)
- gas
- dry mouth
- constipation
- dizziness
- runny or stuffy nose
- sore throat
- upper respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold
- mild skin rash
- sinusitis
- nausea and vomiting
- headache*
- weight gain*
- mild allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Celebrex unless your doctor recommends it.
Celebrex may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.
Some people may have serious side effects while taking Celebrex.
Serious side effects that have been reported with this drug include:
- liver problems, including liver failure
- high blood pressure
- serious skin reactions
- heart failure
- anemia (low level of red blood cells)
- high potassium level
- risk of serious digestive problems*
- risk of serious cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems*
- severe allergic reaction†
- kidney problems†
If you develop serious side effects while taking Celebrex, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
* Celebrex has a
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Celebrex, visit MedWatch.
Celebrex is used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children ages 2 years and older. Many of the side effects of Celebrex in children are the same as those in adults. But certain children may develop a rare side effect called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
In the drug’s studies, only children with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had DIC. This is a rare kind of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that affects the entire body. Symptoms usually begin with a skin rash and fever.
With DIC, blood clots form throughout the body. These clots can block blood flow to organs. They may also increase the risk of bleeding by using up cells and clotting factors that help the blood clot.
If your child has this kind of arthritis, their doctor will likely order blood tests to monitor their blood clotting. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about this potential side effect.
Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Celebrex’s side effects.
How do side effects of Celebrex 200 mg compare with other strengths, such as 100 mg?
The side effects of Celebrex are generally similar regardless of the dose you take. But the risk of having certain side effects may increase with higher doses of the drug. These side effects include serious digestive and cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems, both of which Celebrex has boxed warnings for. (For more details, see “Side effects explained” below.)
For adults, the usual recommended Celebrex dosage is 200 milligrams (mg) per day. The maximum recommended dosage is 400 mg per day.
Your risk of side effects from Celebrex is lower if you take 200 mg per day than if you take 400 mg per day. Taking 100 mg instead of 200 mg per day is also likely to decrease your risk of side effects.
To help reduce the risk of side effects from this drug, doctors usually prescribe the lowest Celebrex dose that manages your symptoms.
If you have questions about side effects with your dosage of Celebrex, talk with your doctor.
Can Celebrex cause long-term side effects?
Yes, it’s possible to have long-term side effects from Celebrex. These are side effects that may last after you stop taking the drug. They can happen with short- or long-term use of Celebrex.
For example, Celebrex may cause:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about long-term side effects with Celebrex.
Does Celebrex make you feel ‘high’?
No. Celebrex shouldn’t cause you to feel high (euphoric). Euphoria is a feeling of intense happiness or excitement.
Celebrex doesn’t work in the part of your brain that causes euphoria. But other pain-reducing drugs, such as opioids, may cause this side effect.
Examples of opioid pain medications include:
- Hysingla ER (hydrocodone)
- Roxicodone (oxycodone)
- MS Contin (morphine)
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about certain side effects with Celebrex.
If I stop taking Celebrex, will I experience certain side effects, such as withdrawal symptoms?
No. Stopping Celebrex shouldn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. (These are side effects that happen when you stop taking a drug that your body is dependent on. Being dependent on a drug is when your body gets used to it and needs it for you to function as usual.)
Withdrawal symptoms don’t happen with Celebrex. But if you take the drug for a long-term condition, such as osteoarthritis, your symptoms may return when you stop taking it.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about stopping Celebrex.
Is constipation a side effect of Celebrex?
Yes. It’s possible to have constipation while taking Celebrex. This side effect was reported in the drug’s studies but wasn’t as common as diarrhea.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have bothersome constipation with Celebrex. They can recommend over-the-counter products to help manage this side effect.
Learn more about some of the side effects Celebrex may cause.
Risk of serious digestive problems
Celebrex has a
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Celebrex, can increase your risk of serious digestive problems. These can include holes in your digestive tract, ulcers, and bleeding.
Parts of the digestive tract usually affected include the:
- esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach)
- intestines
- stomach
These side effects can happen at any time during Celebrex treatment. In rare cases, they may be life threatening.
Symptoms of serious digestive problems can include:
- vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- burning stomach pain
- chest pain
- dark or bloody stools
- indigestion (upset stomach)
Certain factors can increase your risk of serious digestive problems. These include:
- taking Celebrex for long periods
- smoking
- drinking alcohol while taking Celebrex
- having a stomach ulcer in the past
- having bleeding in your intestines or stomach in the past
- having other health conditions, such as liver problems
- being age 65 years or older
- taking Celebrex with certain other medications, such as:
What might help
Doctors usually prescribe Celebrex at the lowest dosage and for the shortest time that gives the desired effect. This helps decrease the risk of serious digestive problems.
Talk with your doctor about your health history, including all the medications you take, before you start Celebrex treatment. Your doctor likely won’t prescribe this drug if you have factors that increase your risk of serious digestive problems. If they do prescribe Celebrex for you, they’ll likely monitor you for symptoms of digestive problems during your treatment.
Avoid taking other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), while taking Celebrex.
Let your doctor know right away if you have symptoms of serious digestive problems. They’ll likely pause your Celebrex treatment until they determine the cause of your symptoms. If they discover that you have digestive problems, they’ll probably have you stop taking Celebrex. They’ll treat your digestive problem and recommend a medication other than Celebrex to treat your condition.
Risk of serious cardiovascular problems
Celebrex has a
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Celebrex, can increase your risk of serious cardiovascular problems. These can include stroke and heart attack. This side effect may happen at any time while you’re taking Celebrex. But the risk is higher if you take a high Celebrex dosage or take the medication long term.
Having other heart conditions, such as heart disease, may also increase your risk.
Common symptoms of a stroke include:
- vision problems
- sudden, severe headache
- difficulty speaking
- weakness or numbness on one side of your body or face
Symptoms of a heart attack can include:
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- pain or discomfort in your jaw, neck, arms, or back
- chest pain
- dizziness or lightheadedness
What might help
Doctors usually prescribe Celebrex at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest amount of time to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. Discuss your health history with them before starting Celebrex. They’ll let you know whether this drug is safe for you.
If you have symptoms of stroke or heart attack, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately.
Weight gain
It’s rare but possible to have weight gain while taking Celebrex. In the drug’s studies, this side effect was only reported in people taking the drug for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Keep in mind that sudden weight gain can be a symptom of heart failure. This is a rare but serious side effect of Celebrex.
Other symptoms of heart failure can include:
- shortness of breath
- fatigue (low energy)
- persistent cough
- irregular heartbeat
- swelling of the belly, feet, or ankles
What might help
Let your doctor know right away if you have sudden weight gain or other symptoms of heart failure with Celebrex. They’ll try to determine the cause. If they find that your symptoms are due to heart failure, they’ll likely have you stop taking Celebrex. Then they’ll provide treatment for your heart failure and recommend a different drug for your condition.
Headache
Headache is a rare side effect of Celebrex. In fact, in the drug’s studies, more people who took a placebo reported headache as a side effect than those who took Celebrex. (A placebo is a treatment with no active drug, which is the ingredient that makes a drug work.)
What might help
Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you have bothersome headaches while taking Celebrex. They may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever for your headache, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any OTC drugs. They’ll let you know whether they’re safe to take with Celebrex or your condition.
You should avoid taking OTC products that contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during your Celebrex treatment. Examples include:
Call 911 or a local emergency number right away if you have a sudden, severe headache. This can be a symptom of stroke. (Celebrex has a
Kidney problems
Taking Celebrex can cause kidney problems, such as kidney damage. It’s not clear whether this side effect was common or rare in the drug’s studies.
Symptoms of kidney damage can include:
- passing small amounts of urine
- blood in your urine
- shortness of breath
- swelling of your arms, ankles, feet, or legs
Certain factors may increase your risk of kidney damage while taking Celebrex. They include:
- being age 65 years or older
- being dehydrated (having a low fluid level)
- having liver, kidney, or heart problems
- taking certain medications with Celebrex, including:
- angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as Cozaar (losartan) and Micardis (telmisartan)
- angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, such as Vasotec (enalapril) and Zestril (lisinopril)
- diuretics (sometimes called water pills), such as Maxzide (triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide) and Lasix (furosemide)
What might help
Talk with your doctor about your health history, including all the medications you take, before starting Celebrex. They’ll likely not prescribe this drug if you have factors that increase your risk of kidney damage.
Let your doctor know right away if you have symptoms of kidney damage while taking Celebrex. They’ll try to determine the cause of your symptoms. If they discover you have serious kidney problems, they’ll likely have you stop taking Celebrex and recommend a different treatment option.
Allergic reaction
Like most drugs, Celebrex can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to help manage your symptoms. Examples include:
- an antihistamine you swallow, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
- a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Celebrex, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Celebrex, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Keeping track of side effectsDuring your Celebrex treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.
Your side effect notes can include things such as:
- what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
- how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
- what your symptoms were
- how your symptoms affected your daily activities
- what other medications you were taking
- any other information you feel is important
Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Celebrex affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.
Celebrex comes with several warnings, including two
Boxed warnings
Celebrex has boxed warnings about the risk of serious digestive and cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems. Boxed warnings are the strongest warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Risk of serious digestive problems. Taking Celebrex can increase your risk of serious digestive problems. These include ulcers, bleeding, and holes in your digestive tract.
Risk of serious cardiovascular problems. Taking Celebrex may increase your risk of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.
To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section above.
Other warnings
Celebrex may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Celebrex. Factors to consider include those described below.
Heart conditions. Before starting Celebrex, tell your doctor if you have any heart conditions, including heart failure. This drug can increase your risk of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart failure. If you already have this condition, this drug may worsen it or further increase your risk of heart and blood vessel problems. Your doctor can help you decide whether Celebrex is right for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Celebrex or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.
High blood pressure. Taking Celebrex can cause high blood pressure. If you already have this condition, Celebrex may make it worse. Taking this drug if you have high blood pressure may also increase your risk of cardiovascular problems. Tell your doctor your health history before starting Celebrex treatment. They’ll let you know whether this drug is safe for you to take with your condition.
Kidney problems. Celebrex can cause kidney problems, including kidney damage. If you already have kidney problems, this drug may worsen them. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Celebrex. They may recommend a different treatment option if you have severe kidney problems.
Liver problems. Celebrex may cause liver problems, such as liver failure. If you already have a liver condition, taking this may worsen it. Having liver problems may also increase your risk of side effects from Celebrex. Let your doctor know if you have liver problems before starting this medication. They can help you decide whether it’s a safe treatment option for you. If they do prescribe this medication, they may have you take a lower dose.
Asthma. Celebrex can increase the risk of asthma attacks in certain people with asthma. Let your doctor know if you have or have had asthma before starting this drug. They’ll help you decide whether it’s safe for you to take.
Alcohol and Celebrex
There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and Celebrex. But drinking alcohol while taking this drug can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. For example, both alcohol and Celebrex can cause the following side effects:
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea
- liver problems, such as liver damage
Drinking alcohol during your Celebrex treatment can also increase your risk of digestive problems, such as bleeding or ulcers. Celebrex has a boxed warning about this risk. (For more details, see the “Side effects explained” section above.)
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe to consume with Celebrex.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Celebrex
You should not take Celebrex at 30 weeks of pregnancy or later. This is because Celebrex and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause harm to a fetus if taken from 30 weeks of pregnancy onward.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe Celebrex between weeks 20 and 30 of pregnancy. In this case, they’ll prescribe the lowest effective dosage for the shortest amount of time. It’s not known whether Celebrex is safe to take earlier in pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, let your doctor know before you start Celebrex treatment. They’ll discuss the risks and benefits of taking this medication during pregnancy.
A small amount of Celebrex is believed to pass into breast milk. But it’s not clear the effects it would have on a child who is breastfed.
Let your doctor know if you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so before you start taking Celebrex. They’ll help you decide whether breastfeeding is safe during your treatment with this drug or look into other treatment options that are safe for you to take.
Many side effects of Celebrex are mild and go away on their own. But some people may have serious side effects that require medical attention. Talk with your doctor before starting Celebrex treatment to learn what to expect from this drug. Here are a few examples of questions you may want to ask:
- How do the side effects of Celebrex compare with those of Mobic (meloxicam)?
- Is my risk of belly pain higher when I first start treatment?
- Can Celebrex cause weight loss?
To learn more about Celebrex, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.