Celebrex Information Center

December 2004: Questions have been raised about the safety of Celebrex a drug similar to Vioxx. A recent study shows that Celebrex may double patients heart attack risks. If you or a loved one has had heart problems after taking Celebrex, please contact our firm immediately for a free case evaluation.

Celebrex Side Effects

Celebrex has recently been found to increase the risk of heart attack by a factor of 2.5 compared with older nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Common Celebrex side effects include cold-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, sneezing, cough), skin rash, swelling in the extremities.

Less common Celebrex side effects can include burning sensation in chest or stomach, chest congestion, diarrhea, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, flu-like symptoms (muscle aches, weakness, nausea, chills), stomach tenderness, indigestion, back pain, or runny nose.

Although these side effects are rare, they are known to happen. Contact your doctor immediately if you suffer from any of these side effects: anxiety, susceptibility to infection, constipation, breathing problems, breast problems, eye infection, cataract, dermatitis, diabetes, difficult urination, sweating, numb or tingling fingers or toes, ear infection, fungal infection, hepatitis, inflamed digestive tract or bladder, kidney stones, skin sensitivity or increased reaction to sunlight, tendonitis, hair loss, laryngitis, menstrual difficulties, herniated stomach, migraine, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, leg cramps, or nosebleeds.

Certain health conditions can put people at greater risk of the dangerous side effects associated with Celebrex. These conditions and side effects include:

Allergic reactions to Celebrex mean that you should end treatment immediately. Contact your doctor immediately. People with allergies to Sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, Gantanol, or Thiosulfil), other NSAIDs, carry a much higher risk of an allergic reaction to Celebrex. If you suffered a personal injury that could be linked with an allergic reaction to Celebrex, you may have a case. Contact our firm for a free case evaluation.
Anemia - Celebrex may trigger this condition in rare cases, and should be used cautiously by individuals with a prior history of this iron deficiency.
Asthma - Celebrex could trigger an asthma attack. Make sure that your doctor closely monitors any adverse reaction. Asthmatics that are sensitive to Aspirin are at the highest risk for an allergic reaction to Celebrex.
Dehydration - Due to the increased risk of kidney damage, people suffering from dehydration should not take Celebrex.
Diabetics - are especially vulnerable to side effects, and should not take Celebrex.
Heart problems - Long-term Celebrex treatment may cause renal toxicity and decreased blood flow to the heart. Patients with pre-existing heart conditions, liver problems, and those taking diuretics or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are most likely to be affected. High blood pressure is also a possible side effect of this medication. Normal function may be restored when the patient stops taking Celebrex. If not, seek medical attention immediately. Then contact our firm. You may have a case.
Kidney or liver impairment - Celebrex could aggravate or trigger these conditions. Kidney damage may also result from long-term use of Celebrex. Symptoms of liver problems include yellowing skin, pain to the right of your stomach, itchy skin, nausea, drowsiness, or other flu-like symptoms. Stop taking Celebrex and contact your doctor immediately if these conditions develop. If you are then diagnosed with a kidney or liver problem, contact our firm immediately for a free case evaluation.
Pregnancy - COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex should not be taken in the last 3 months of pregnancy, and have not been studied for safety earlier in pregnancy. If you suffered a personal injury or your baby has a birth defect or has died from a cause that may be linked with your use of Celebrex, contact a Celebrex attorney as soon as possible. Any delays could adversely affect your case.
Ulcer or Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding - Celebrex may cause or aggravate deterioration and bleeding in the GI tract. Active ulcers are a contraindication for treatment, so if your doctor prescribed Celebrex while you have an active ulcer and it was aggravated as a result, you may have a case against the manufacturer as well as the doctor and pharmacist who filled the prescription. Don't delay, contact our firm immediately.
Water retention - Celebrex can aggravate any problems related to fluid retention such as heart failure, high blood pressure, or edema (swelling).

CELEBREX: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Celebrex?

A. Similar to Vioxx, Celebrex is a COX-2 inhibitor belonging to the drug class nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Like Vioxx, Celebrex was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the relief of pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as management of acute pain in adults and primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramping). And, like Vioxx, Celebrex provides pain relief by inhibiting the COX-2 form of the COX enzyme to block production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that contribute to the symptoms of pain, fever and inflammation.

Q. What is the COX enzyme?

A. The cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme has two forms: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is found in a lot of cells all the time, notably the lining of the stomach where it regulates acid production. COX-2 is not present in most cells normally, only appearing when things are going wrong. As a result, COX-2 was thought to be responsible for the bad effects of the COX enzyme-pain and inflammation.

Celebrex was developed based on this belief that COX-2 was responsible for the bad effects of the COX enzyme and to reduce or even eliminate the gastrointestinal risks involved with the non-selective (traditional) NSAIDs like Aspirin ( acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), Ibuprofen, Nabumetone and Naproxen, that inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. However, COX-2 serves other purposes besides its role in inflammation. Among the purposes the COX-2 enzyme serves is that it plays a major role in controlling the cardiovascular system-stopping platelets from forming blood clots (thrombi - plural form of thrombus) in the heart, and preventing damage to vessels. It also serves other functions that are beyond the scope of this FAQ to explain.

Q. What is the problem with Celebrex?

A. It has been recently found that Celebrex, like the other COX-2 inhibitors Vioxx and Bextra increases the risk of heart attacks by 2.5 times, as well as strokes and blood clots. Among the researchers that have found these issues with Celebrex include the following physicians and health care centers:

Dr. Garret FitzGerald, a cardiologist and pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania and his team of researchers who have indicated that the COX-2 inhibitor painkillers suspected of causing fatal heart disease may act by starting the process of hardening the arteries;
The National Cancer Institute, which was conducting a long-term cancer study for Pfizer, and prematurely stopped it after finding that patients taking 400mg to 800mg of Celebrex daily had a 2.5 times greater risk of major heart problems than those who were taking placebos (look-alike pills with no active ingredients); and
A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which indicated that the annual rates of heart attack in both the Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib) studies were increased compared to a review of studies containing a total of more than 48,000 patients.

As a result of these findings, Pfizer and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are being pressured by consumer groups to recall the drug. Pfizer does not plan on recalling the drug and the FDA could not be reached for comment.

Q. What are the Celebrex side effects?

A. The ones causing the biggest uproar are the greatly increased risk of heart attack, and the increased risk of stroke and blood clots because those indicate overall safety concern with an entire class of drugs-COX 2 inhibitors. However, there are other dangerous side effects and health conditions that greatly increase the risk of these side effects.

Q. What are NSAIDs?

A. NSAIDs are a large group of drugs that have pain-relieving (analgesic) and fever reducing (antipyretic) effects, as well as the effect of reducing inflammation when used over time. The anti-inflammatory effects may take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to take effect. Non-selective (traditional) NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, aspirin, Nabumetone and Naproxen work by inhibiting both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes to stop the production of prostaglandins, while COX-2 inhibitors only block the COX-2 enzyme. Common uses for NSAIDs are:

Treatment of pain and inflammation associated with arthritis (inflammation and resulting pain of one or more joints, a common characteristic of over 200 rheumatic diseases with Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) being the most common forms).
Back pain and sciatica (pain down into the leg, which travels below the knee, and may involve the foot - may occur alone or accompanied by low back pain).
Sprains, strains and rheumatism (a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities).
Dental Pain
Post-operative pain
Menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhoea - mild, and menorrhagia - heavy).
Pain from kidney stones (renal colic).
Reduction of fevers
Migraines (recurrent severe headaches generally accompanied by an aura (classic migraine), nausea, vomiting, and dizziness).
Other painful conditions, particularly those with symptoms of inflammation.

NSAIDs come in different formulas and in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription strengths. Some may work better for you than others. Your physician can help you find the dose and medication that works best for you. Tell your physician if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, asthma, or a history of kidney or liver disease, or have had ulcers in the past. People over age 65 must be especially careful when taking NSAIDs. Also tell your doctor about other medications you are taking. NSAIDs may intensify or counteract the effects of some medications. Both the risk and the severity of side effects increase the longer you take NSAIDs.

CONTACT US NOW

Have you suffered a personal injury that could be linked with your use of Celebrex? Have you been prescribed Celebrex with an at-risk condition like Asthma, diabetes, active ulcers, high blood pressure or heart disease? If your existing condition was further aggravated and made worse as a result of your regular use of Celebrex you could not only have a case against the manufacturer, but possibly against the doctor that prescribed it to you and the pharmacist that filled the prescription.