Uses

What is celecoxib used for?

Celecoxib is commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation. It is used to treat acute pain, arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, menstrual pain, and migraine.

Celecoxib may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does celecoxib work (mechanism of action)?

Celecoxib works by blocking certain substances in the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever.

How is celecoxib supplied (dosage forms)?

Celecoxib is available as Celebrex, Elyxyb, and generic celecoxib in the following dosage forms that are taken by mouth.

  • 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg oral capsules
  • 25 mg/mL oral solution

How should I store celecoxib?

Celecoxib should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Safely throw away unused celecoxib oral solution immediately after use.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of celecoxib?

The most common side effects of celecoxib are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Upset stomach or stomach pain
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Gas or heartburn
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Stuffy or runny nose, sore throat
  • Change in taste
  • Rash

There may be other side effects of celecoxib that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of celecoxib?

While less common, the most serious side effects of celecoxib are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Heart Attack and Stroke. Celecoxib can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk is increased in people with existing heart disease and with longer use of celecoxib and higher doses. Do not take celecoxib if you have had a recent heart attack without talking to your healthcare provider. This could increase your risk of having another heart attack. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
  • Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
  • Sudden weakness on one side of your body
  • Sudden and severe headache
  • Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech

Severe Allergic Reactions. Celecoxib can cause allergic reactions, including a specific type of allergic reaction called DRESS. DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms. It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Stop taking the medicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Severe Skin Reactions. Celecoxib can cause severe skin reactions called Exfoliative Dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) which can lead to death if not treated. If you develop a rash, stop celecoxib, and call your healthcare provider right away. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a severe skin reaction.

  • Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
  • Flat red rash or blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
  • Red, painful, watery eyes
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Areas of thickened skin
  • Sores that are crusted over

Bleeding. Celecoxib can increase your risk for bleeding, especially if you have a bleeding disorder or take other medicines that increase your risk for bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any signs of bleeding, including easy bruising or bleeding.

Stomach Bleeding. Celecoxib can increase your risk of bleeding, ulcers, and tears (perforation) in your gut. The risk is higher if you have a history of stomach ulcers, or bleeding problems, take higher doses of celecoxib or take it for longer than directed, have poor health, are age 60 or older, have liver disease, smoke, drink alcohol, or take certain other medicines such as oral corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Stop taking celecoxib and get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Vomit blood
  • Black or tarry poop
  • Stomach pain that does not go away
  • Upset stomach
  • Feel faint

Anemia. Celecoxib may cause anemia, which is a condition that causes low levels of red blood cells. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of anemia.

  • Unusual weakness or tiredness
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out

Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Celecoxib may increase your blood pressure or worsen it if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your healthcare provider if your blood pressure increases while taking this medicine.

If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. An increase in blood pressure may not be noticeable but look out for any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.

  • Sudden, severe headache
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Blurry or other changes to the vision
  • Anxiety
  • Buzzing in the ears
  • Nosebleed
  • Feeling of skipped heartbeats

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking celecoxib. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Heart Failure. Celecoxib may increase your risk for heart failure. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of heart failure.

  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs (edema)
  • Unusually fast weight gain
  • Unusual tiredness

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when taking celecoxib. Stop taking celecoxib and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

  • Reduced need to pee
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs (edema)
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Seizures

Increased Potassium (Hyperkalemia). Celecoxib can increase the potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia), especially if your kidneys are not working as well as they should. A mild increase in potassium levels may not cause any symptoms. Stop taking the medicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of sudden, severe high potassium.

  • Chest pain or fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Unable to move your muscles

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use celecoxib?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take celecoxib.

  • Celebrex
  • Elyxyb
  • Celecoxib
  • Aspirin or any other medicine known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
  • Sulfonamides
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific celecoxib products they stock.

Heart Surgery. Do not take celecoxib right before or after a heart surgery called coronary artery bypass graft. Taking celecoxib during this time can increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

What should I know about celecoxib before using it?

Do not take celecoxib unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share celecoxib with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep celecoxib out of the reach of children.

Use an accurate measuring device to measure your celecoxib oral liquid dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.

People aged 65 years and older can be at a greater risk for some side effects of celecoxib. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using celecoxib?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if celecoxib is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Heart problems such as heart failure or a recent heart attack
  • Bleeding problems
  • Kidney or liver problems
  • Fluid retention (edema)
  • Stomach ulcers, bleeding, or other stomach problems like heartburn
  • High blood pressure
  • Asthma
  • Stroke

Other Medicines and Supplements. Celecoxib may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking celecoxib, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section below for more details.

Pregnancy. Do not take celecoxib at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy without talking to your healthcare provider. Taking celecoxib during this time may cause harm to an unborn baby and complications during delivery. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take celecoxib while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Celecoxib passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take celecoxib while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does celecoxib interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between celecoxib and foods or nonalcoholic drinks.

Drinking alcohol while taking celecoxib increases your risk for stomach ulcers and bleeding. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Does celecoxib interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking celecoxib.

  • A blood thinner, which is a medicine used to treat or prevent blood clots
  • Aspirin, which is in many prescription and OTC products including those for pain, swelling, and fever
  • A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which are medicines commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain kidney problems
  • An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart conditions
  • A beta-blocker, which is a medicine usually used to reduce blood pressure and for certain other heart conditions
  • A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
  • Digoxin, which is a medicine used to treat heart failure or certain abnormal heart rhythms
  • Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
  • Methotrexate (Trexall and others), which is a medicine commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis or certain types of cancer.
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine to suppress your immune system
  • Any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which are present in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling and fever
  • Pemetrexed (Alimta, Pemfexy), which is a medicine to treat certain cancers
  • Fluconazole, which is a medicine used to treat fungal infections
  • Rifampin, which is medicine used to treat tuberculosis and other infections caused by bacteria
  • Atomoxetine, which is a medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • A corticosteroid, which is a medicine for certain inflammatory conditions

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of celecoxib, and vice versa. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with celecoxib. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does Celebrex interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much celecoxib?

If you or someone else has taken too much celecoxib, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of celecoxib?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Drug Survey

Are you currently using Celecoxib?

This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.