Generic Celebrex (Celecoxib)

General information

It’s a synthetic drug that is representative of coxibs and belongs to the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The action of the drug, as well as other representatives of the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is to suppress the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which ensures the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. But a feature of the pharmacological properties of celecoxib is that it’s the first representative of selective inhibitors of the COX cox-2 isoform, which is formed exclusively in the foci of inflammation.

Other drugs that were previously considered selective COX-2 inhibitors, namely, meloxicam, nimesulide, etodolac, nabumetone, are currently considered to be the preferred COX-2 inhibitors; that is, their selectivity to COX-2 is lower than in coxibs. It’s the lack of effect on COX-1 when celecoxib is used to significantly reduce the risk of serious side effects from the digestive system, and the absence of the antithrombotic effect of celecoxib in turn leads to a greater risk of side effects from the cardiovascular system, and according to some studies, like other Coxibs, the risk of cardiovascular complications may increase by 37% (although not all researchers share this opinion). This medicine has a pronounced analgesic effect, comparable to the effects of other non-narcotic analgesics, as well as some (so-called “soft”) narcotic analgesics, and can be used for postoperative analgesia for small (especially dental) operations.

The medicine also reduces the production of cytokines, reduces the activity of metalloproteinases, reduces chondrocyte apoptosis and neoangiogenesis. In addition, it inhibits angiogenesis and induces apoptosis of tumor cells and can be used to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer, including in familial polyposis of the colon. Studies have been conducted on the use of the drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but its use in these diseases was ineffective. However, in the experimental use of the remedy at schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and depressive disorders, it has a positive effect due to the influence on degenerative processes in the nervous system associated with inflammatory processes. A negative feature of Celebrex is its poor ability to dissolve in water, so the remedy is used exclusively orally. Although there is no evidence for the effect on premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, it’s not recommended for use during pregnancy.

Precautions

The tablets are contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to it and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, exacerbation of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, bleeding disorders, marked impairment of liver and kidney function, bronchial asthma with concomitant nasal polyposis, and intractable chromosity and impermeability, insufficiency and diagnosed coronary artery disease, obliterating vascular diseases of the lower limbs, pregnancy and cortex breastfeeding; children under 18 years old.

Celebrex Dosage

For adults with osteoarthritis the pills are prescribed in a daily dose of 200 mg in 1 or 2 doses. You may increase the dose to 400 mg / day.

At rheumatoid arthritis, the remedy is prescribed in a daily dose of 200-400 mg, divided into 2 doses. In some cases, the dose may be increased to 800 mg / day.

At chronic pain syndrome, the recommended single dose is 100-200 mg. If necessary, the subsequent use of the pills in the same dose is possible with an interval between doses of at least 4-6 hours until a maximum daily dose of 400 mg is reached.

In case of acute pain and aldgodimenorrhea, the recommended initial dose is 400 mg, then, if necessary, one more dose of the drug at a dose of 200 mg is possible; the maximum dose on the first day of treatment is 600 mg / day; in the following days, the daily dose can vary from 200 mg to 400 mg.

When treating familial adenomatous intestinal polyposis, the remedy is prescribed at 100 mg / day in a single dose for a long time against the background of endoscopic or surgical treatment of polyposis.

In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, the doses should be reduced by 50%.

How to take Generic Celebrex?

At the treatment of acute pain syndromes apply orally on an empty stomach, in other cases after eating. If the patient missed the time of the next intake, the missed dose should be taken as soon as possible, subsequent doses are taken as before. You shouldn’t double the next dose when you skip taking it.

Celebrex Side Effects

The characteristic consequences that are observed with the use of celebrex generic, as with the use of other drugs from the group of coxibs, are side effects of the cardiovascular system. Although the medicine, unlike the other drug of the group of coxibs – rofecoxib, affects blood pressure and other cardiovascular parameters, the frequency of cardiovascular complications may be 37%, according to part of clinical studies, when celecoxib is used. Among the side effects of the cardiovascular system, blood pressure instability, peripheral edema, progression of heart failure, tachycardia, arrhythmia are more often observed; less often, myocardial infarction, stroke, death from cardiovascular causes.

There are fewer side effects from the digestive system when using this drug than with most other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most often on the part of the digestive system (more than 1% of cases) the following side effects are observed: abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, liver function disorders, vomiting, heartburn; rarely (0.01-0.1%) exacerbations of peptic ulcer, erosive esophagitis, pancreatitis, intestinal perforation are observed; extremely rarely there are gastrointestinal bleeding, liver failure.

Among other side effects may be observed:

• On the part of the skin and allergic reactions – often (more than 1% of cases) skin rash, itchy skin, cough; infrequently (0.1-1%) alopecia, urticaria, shortness of breath, bronchospasm (only with long-term use in high doses); rarely photodermatosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Lyell’s syndrome, Quincke’s edema, erythema multiforme.
• From the nervous system – often (more than 1%) headache, dizziness, insomnia less often anxiety, drowsiness, tinnitus, impaired taste and olfactory sensations; extremely rare hallucinations, confusion, aseptic meningitis.

Changes in laboratory tests – there may be thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia, increased activity of liver enzymes.

Overdose

The data about overdose trials are limited. Clinical side effects with a single dose up to one milligram and repeated intake in doses of up to one milligram per day in 2 doses were not identified.

Treatment: in case of overdose, special maintenance therapy is necessary. Dialysis is not an effective method for removing celecoxib from the blood, due to the high degree of its binding to plasma proteins.

Interactions

The instructions available in each package of the medicine says that the remedy, when combined with other drugs, may behave differently: the effectiveness as well as the duration of exposure may decrease.

Celebrex complex treatment with:

• Warfarin is fraught with an increased risk of bleeding;
• Fluconazole and Ketoconazole – by increasing the content of Celebrex in the blood twice;
• With lithium preparations, the blood concentration of lithium increases by approximately 17%.

Celebrex and Alcohol

Alcohol intake increases the likelihood of side effects on the body (especially GI bleeding).

Celebrex Reviews

Constantine: There was a suspicion of facet syndrome (hellish pain in the middle of the back, just to the right of the spine), I smeared it with Diclofenac and glued patches, but at the end of the course of 14 days everything returned, after that I drank these pills 2 weeks long. Everything has passed; the back doesn’t hurt for the second year. It copes with pain not badly!

Daniel: I am 38 years old. I suffer from intervertebral hernia. I forgot what life without pain is. I tried a lot of painkillers. Celebrex was the most effective. First I took a loading dose (as prescribed by a doctor): 2 capsules of 200 mg each one time, then 1 capsule 200 mg in the morning and 1 capsule 200 mg in the evening. I’m very pleased with the result, the pain passed into a very tolerable, easy degree. I wanted to take a break and stopped drinking capsules, severe pain returned after two days. I had to drink 2 capsules of 200 mg every day. I have been drinking that tablets without a break for 3 months already, from the side effects I have this: 1. swollen face in the morning (as if I got drunk from the evening), it passes in 1-2 hours, 2. There was confusion (feeling of no control with thoughts), but I suppose it’s because of an overdose. On this day, I drank 3 capsules instead of the usual two. That's all. It’s not cheap, but as for me this is more efficient than anything I have discovered. This is not in any way an advertisement, this is my personal case. During the illness, it means for the past 2 years I often communicated with people with the same problem and realized that there is no universal medicine, which always helps. Trust your body. Good luck.

Nina: My eyes are very tired from working at the computer by the end of the day. I feel blush and itch, so that I want to close them and not open. And there is no alternative work without a computer now. I applied a lot of different drops like artificial tears etc. Everything was useless until I tried this drug. After a month of application, the eyes began to react to the computer much calmer!

Horacio: I have ankylosing spondylitis. It’s constant pain in the joints, sometimes to such an extent that it’s impossible to get out of bed. Of all the painkillers, this pill has become the most effective for me. It has a high price, but it's worth it. I drank it before bedtime and slept well all night, and in the morning I almost run. People who have peptic ulcer disease should be careful, as it can worsen. Therefore, in parallel, it’s necessary to take drugs to protect the gastric mucosa. In general, it has many contraindications, so carefully read the instructions.