Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin), such as celecoxib, may increase the chance of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who do not take them. These occurrences could be fatal and come about suddenly. Long-term NSAID users may be at greater risk. If you’ve recently experienced a heart attack, avoid taking an NSAID like celecoxib unless your doctor specifically instructs you to. Inform your doctor if you smoke, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, or if anybody in your family has ever suffered from heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke. If you suffer any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical attention right away: chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side or area of the body, or slurred speech.

Celecoxib should not be taken just before or immediately after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG; a form of heart surgery).

NSAIDs, including celecoxib, can result in stomach or intestine ulcers, bleeding, or holes. These issues can arise at any point during therapy, without any prior symptoms, and they have the potential to be fatal. Long-term NSAID users, the elderly, persons in poor health, and those who consume significant amounts of alcohol while taking celecoxib may be at greater risk. Inform your physician if you consume a lot of alcohol or if you use any of the following drugs: Aspirin, other NSAIDs including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) are anticoagulants (also known as “blood thinners”); oral steroids include dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft); or SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reup (Effexor XR). Moreover, let your doctor know if you suffer from or have ever suffered from ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, or any other bleeding disorders. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while taking celecoxib: stomach ache, heartburn, vomiting anything bloody or resembling coffee grounds, faeces that are black and tarry, or blood in the stool.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. In order to determine how your body is responding to celecoxib, your doctor will likely carefully monitor your symptoms and run a number of tests. Inform your physician about your feelings so that they can prescribe the ideal dosage of medication to cure your problem with the least chance of negative side effects.

If you need a prescription refill for celecoxib, your doctor or pharmacist will provide you the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist. The Medication Guide is also available on the manufacturer’s website or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm).

Celecoxib is used to treat ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis (arthritis brought on by a breakdown of the lining of the joints), and rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis brought on by swelling of the lining of the joints) (arthritis that mainly affects the spine). Children 2 years of age and older who have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a kind of arthritis that affects children, can also be treated with celecoxib. In addition to treating painful menstrual cycles, celecoxib is also used to treat various short-term pain situations such those brought on by injuries, surgeries, other medical or dental operations, or temporary medical illnesses. The NSAID COX-2 inhibitors include celecoxib in their class. It functions by preventing the body from producing a chemical that promotes inflammation and pain.

Celecoxib is available as a pill to be swallowed. One or two times per day is the typical dosage for celecoxib pills. You can take celecoxib with or without food if you’re taking up to 200 mg of the drug at once. Celecoxib should be taken with food if you take more than 200 mg of the medicine at once. If you’re unsure if you should take your prescription with meals, see your doctor or pharmacist. Take your celecoxib capsules at roughly the same time(s) every day to help yourself remember to take them.

If there is anything you do not understand about the instructions on your prescription label, contact your doctor or pharmacist to clarify it. Celecoxib should only be taken as prescribed. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less than that amount or more frequently.

You can open the capsules and sprinkle the contents over a teaspoon of cold or room temperature applesauce if you are unable to swallow the capsules or if you are administering this medication to a child. The combination can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. When it is time to take your prescription, inhale the entire combination. Make sure you have completely swallowed the concoction before drinking water to wash it down.

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis may also benefit from the use of celecoxib in combination with surgery and other therapies to lessen the amount of polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon (large intestine) and rectum (a condition in which hundreds or thousands of polyps form in the colon and cancer may develop). Discuss the dangers of using this drug for your illness with your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you think this drug may be recommended for other conditions.

Before taking celecoxib,

• If you have an allergy to celecoxib, aspirin, other NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), sulfa drugs, any other drugs, or any of the inactive chemicals in celecoxib capsules, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Get a list of the inactive components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal items, and prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are now taking or intend to take. Mention any of the following as well as the medications specified in the IMPORTANT WARNING section. benazepril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, qbrelis, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, altace, and trandolapril are examples of ACE inhibitors; enalapril, enalapril, and trandolapril are examples of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor; the angiotensin receptor blockers candesartan (Atacand, Atacand HCT), eprosartan, irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor), telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT, in Twynsta); atenolol (Tenormin, in Tenoretic), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Kapspargo Sprinkle, Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), nadolol (Corgard, in Corzide), and propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, Innopran) are examples of beta blockers. Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); fluconazole (Diflucan), lithium (Lithobid), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics (‘water pills’), methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Reditrex, Trexall), and pemtrexed (Alimta, Pemfexy). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, even any not on this list, as many other drugs may also interact with celecoxib.
• In particular, if you also have frequent stuffy or runny nose, nasal polyps (swelling of the nose’s lining), swelling of the hands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs, heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease, let your doctor know if you have or have ever had any of the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section as well as asthma.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. If used about 20 weeks into a pregnancy or later, celecoxib may harm the foetus and interfere with delivery. Unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor, avoid taking celecoxib during or after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while taking celecoxib.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking celecoxib if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Take the missed dose of celecoxib as soon as you remember it if you are taking it. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Celecoxib could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Bloating or gas
• Unwell throat
• Cold signs
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dysgeusia

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the symptoms listed below or those that are stated in the IMPORTANT WARNING section. Prior to speaking with your doctor, stop taking celecoxib altogether.

• Rise in weight without cause
• Respiratory issues or lack of breath
• Abdomen, lower legs, or foot and ankles swelling
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Extreme fatigue
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Itching
• Not enough energy
• Reduced appetite
• Stomach ache in the top right corner
• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Flu-like signs
• Blisters
• Fever
• Rash
• Hives
• Face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, or hands swelling
• Hoarseness
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Light skin
• Rapid heart rate
• Urine that is hazy, discoloured, or bloody
• Back ache
• Uncomfortable or challenging urinating
• Many trips to the bathroom, especially at night

Further negative effects of celecoxib are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right once.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Not enough energy
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting bloody or coffee-ground-looking stuff
• Dark, tarry, or bloody stools
• Consciousness is lost
• Hives
• Rash
• Edoema of the lower legs, lower arms, hands, feet, ankles, tongue, lips, neck, or eyes
• Breathing or swallowing challenges

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

Throughout your treatment, your blood pressure should be monitored often.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.