Celecoxib (oral) 

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. 

Call  your doctor at once  if you have symptoms of  bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood  or vomit  that looks like coffee grounds. 

Do not drink alcohol while taking  celecoxib. Alcohol  can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by celecoxib. 

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy,  or pain medication without first asking  your doctor or pharmacist. Many pain medicines available over  the counter contain aspirin  or other medicines similar to celecoxib. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. 

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. 

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. 

You  should not use this  medication if you are allergic to celecoxib, or  if you have a history of allergic reaction  to aspirin, sulfa drugs, or other NSAIDs. 

Before taking celecoxib tell  your doctor if  you are allergic  to any drugs,  or if you have: 

• a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot; 
• heart disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure; 
• a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding; 
• liver or kidney disease, 
• a seizure disorder such as epilepsy; 
• asthma;
• polyps in your nose; or 
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder. 
• If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take celecoxib 

• This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. 
• Tell  your doctor if you are pregnant  or plan to become pregnant during treatment. 
• Taking celecoxib during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. 
• Do not take celecoxib during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to. 
• Celecoxib passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. 
• Do not take celecoxib without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. 
• Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without the advice of a doctor. 

• 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. 
• If you take celecoxib for a long period  of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled appointments. 
• This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. 
• Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using celecoxib. 
• Store celecoxib at room temperature away from moisture and heat. 

• Do not drink alcohol while taking celecoxib. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by celecoxib. 
• Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. 
• Many pain medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or other medicines similar to celecoxib. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. 
•      
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Celecoxib can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. 

• 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 effects 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. 

What other drugs will affect celecoxib?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). 

Taking any of these drugs with celecoxib may cause you to bruise or bleed easily. 

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 n 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). 

This is  not a complete list and there may be other drugs that can interact with celecoxib. Tell  your doctor  about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling  your doctor.

Where can I get more information? 

Your pharmacist can provide more information about celecoxib.