Celebrex

Overview : Celebrex is a once-daily prescription medicine that provides 24-hour relief of osteoarthritis joint pain. Celebrex also helps relieve acute pain (such as pain from strains and sprains, or pain after surgery) in adults, as well as primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramping).

Patient information:
Celebrex works by targeting the COX-2 enzyme, which plays a key role in arthritis pain and inflammation. Celebrex was the first COX-2-specific inhibitor approved for treating the pain, inflammation, and stiffness that accompanies osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis.

Direction :
Take Celebrex exactly as your doctor has prescribed. It can be taken at any time of the day with or without food . It is available in 100-mg, 200-mg, and 400-mg capsules. Your doctor will determine the dosage that's right for you.For osteoarthritis, the recommended dosage is one 200-mg capsule every day or one 100-mg capsule twice a day. For adult rheumatoid arthritis, the recommended dosage is one 100-mg or one 200-mg capsule twice a day. For acute pain, the recommended dose is 400 mg initially, followed by an additional 200-mg dose on the first day if needed. On subsequent days, the recommended dosage is one 200-mg capsule twice a day, as needed. For primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramping), the recommended dose is 400 mg initially, followed by an additional 200-mg dose on the first day if needed. On subsequent days, the recommended dosage is one 200-mg capsule twice a day, as needed.

Side Effects:
The most common side effects were indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. As with other NSAIDs, serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, can occur without warning. If you think you are having an allergic reaction, or if you have other severe or unusual symptoms while taking Celebrex, call your doctor immediately.

Precautions:
It is important that the doctor has your complete medical history. Consult with your doctor if you have an unusual allergy to aspirin, salicylates, other NSAIDS, foods, dyes, or preservatives, anemia, asthma, you are a cigarette smoker, diabetes, drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, heart or circulation problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, nasal polyps, stomach or bleeding ulcers, taking blood thinners, pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or breast feeding

Drug interactions:
Inform your doctor about all the medicines you use, this includes prednisone, other NSAIDS, alcohol, blood thinners, alendronate, aspirin, cyclosporine, feverfew, garlic ginger, ginko-biloba, lithium, methotrexate, probenecid, and water pills.

NOTE: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before taking the product.