Important Facts You Need to Know Before Taking Celebrex
February 28, 2008 – 1:02 pm
Celebrex is a common prescription medicine used to reduce the swelling, stiffness and pain of arthritis. The drug is also effective in treating post-surgery pain or other types of acute pain for adults.
Celebrex works by targeting the body’s COX-2 enzymes. This is quite different from most other pain relievers that target both COX-2 and COX-1 enzymes that protect the stomach lining. Some of the possible side effects of Celebrex include diarrhea, stomach pain and indigestion. Most patients who took the drug during the trials did not experience these problems.
Celebrex may also cause more serious complications such as stomach and intestinal problems, strokes, heart attacks or skin reactions. Some patients will not be able to take this drug, depending on their current medical condition and medical history. Therefore, you should discuss the situation with your doctor before obtaining a prescription for Celebrex.
You should only take Celebrex as prescribed by your doctor and continue to take the medication until you schedule a follow-up appointment. This way your doctor can monitor the results. It may be helpful for patients taking the drug to record their experience and discuss the results during their next scheduled consultation.
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