Information on Celebrex and How to Use It, Precautions and Other Medications to Avoid While Taking

This first section of our medication database entry focuses on basic drug characteristics, uses and benefits, while part two covers side effects, interactions and additional information.

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Celebrex Consumer Information

CELEBREX

Generic Name: celecoxib (oral) (seh leh COCK sib)

Brand Names: Celebrex

What is the most important information I should know about celecoxib?

  • Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; bloody vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of the skin or eyes;"flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

What is celecoxib?

  • Celecoxib is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Celecoxib works by reducing substances that cause inflammation, pain, and fever in the body.
  • Celecoxib is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Celecoxib is also used to reduce the number of adenomatous colorectal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), to treat acute pain, and to treat pain associated with menstruation.
  • Celecoxib may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking celecoxib?

  • Do not take celecoxib without first talking to your doctor if you have
    • had an allergic reaction to a sulfa-based medicine such as sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol, and others), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), and others; or
    • experienced asthma, hives, or an allergic reaction after taking aspirin or another NSAID such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, and others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine, Lodine XL), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin).
  • You may experience a similar reaction to celecoxib.
  • Before taking celecoxib, tell your doctor if you
    • smoke;
    • drink alcohol;
    • have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach;
    • have liver disease;
    • have kidney disease;
    • have asthma;
    • have congestive heart failure;
    • have fluid retention;
    • have heart disease;
    • have high blood pressure;
    • have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder or are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
    • are taking a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol and others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, and others), and others.
  • You may not be able to take celecoxib, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions, or are taking any of the medicines, listed above.
  • Celecoxib is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will harm an unborn baby. Celecoxib should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because it may affect the formation of the baby's heart. Do not take celecoxib without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
  • It is not known whether celecoxib passes into breast milk. Do not take celecoxib without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
  • Celecoxib has not been studied in children younger than 18 years of age.
  • If you are over the age of 65 years, you may be more likely to experience side effects from celecoxib. You may require a lower dosage or special monitoring during your therapy.

How should I take celecoxib?

  • Take celecoxib exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
  • Take each dose with a full glass of water.
  • Celecoxib can be taken with or without food or milk. Your doctor may recommend taking higher doses of celecoxib with food. Follow your doctor's instructions.
  • Store celecoxib at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

  • Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

What happens if I overdose?

  • Seek emergency medical attention.
  • Symptoms of a celecoxib overdose include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, little or no urine production, slow breathing, and coma.

What should I avoid while taking celecoxib?

  • There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking celecoxib unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

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