The active substance is celebrex. Celecoxib has been on the market internationally since 1998. It is available by prescription in capsules under the brand name Celebrex. Celecoxib belongs to a group of medicines called anti-inflammatory painkillers. You also come across them under the name of NSAIDs.

What does this medicine do and what is it used for?

It has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing effect. Doctors prescribe it for: Inflammation in and around joints. Damage in and around joints can cause them to become inflamed. This is the case, for example, with rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis and Bechterew’s disease. The site of the inflammation is red, swollen and painful.

For these conditions, doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory painkillers such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, or naproxen. These cause stomach upset in many people. Celecoxib is slightly less likely to cause these stomach complaints, which is why doctors prescribe this drug to people with a high risk of stomach complaints due to the other anti-inflammatory painkillers.

Celecoxib counteracts inflammation and reduces redness, swelling and pain. The analgesic effect starts about an hour after ingestion and is maximal for two hours. This effect lasts for 12 to 24 hours. The redness and swelling will subside after a few days to a week. This drug is used in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, among others.

What side-effects should I pay attention to?

In addition to the desired effect, this drug can cause side effects. Many people suffer from an irritated stomach. This may be associated with stomach pain, nausea or heartburn. You can try to avoid this side effect by taking it with food and not drinking alcohol or other foods that irritate the stomach, such as pungent herbs.

If you use this medicine for a long time, it is possible to combine it with a protective stomach agent. Also occurs: slight abdominal pain, diarrhea and flatulence. Other side effects that affect less than 10 percent of people are dizziness, blurred vision and insomnia. This usually passes once you have gotten used to this medicine.

If I use this drug, may I then …..

Driving a car?

Dizziness and blurred vision are very uncommon with this medicine. Then do not participate in traffic.

Drinking alcohol?

Alcohol irritates the stomach. This may make your stomach upset sooner. Try drinking alcohol in moderation first. You can then assess for yourself whether this will bother you a lot. In general, a glass of wine a few times a week is no problem.

Taking other medications?

The drugs with which the main interactions are:

A. The blood thinners acenocoumarol (Sintrom) and phenprocoumon (Marcoumar). This medicine can increase the effect of the blood thinners.

B. the diuretics furosemide (Lasix, Lasiletten), bumetamide (Burinex) and etacryneic acid. C. lithium, a medicine for manic depression.

C. ACE inhibitors, such as enalapril (Renitec) and captopril (Capoten).

D. methotrexate (Ledertrexate, Emthexate). This is used for rheumatism, proriasis and cancer.

E. the immunosuppressants cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) and tacrolimus (Prograft).

F. antidepressants trazodone (Trazolan) and the SSRI group, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Faverin), and paroxetine (Seroxat), and adrenal hormones that you are taking or being injected.

Can I take this medicine if I am pregnant, planning to become or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy

Too little is known about the use of this medicine during pregnancy. If you are taking this medicine and you are thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor.

Breastfeeding

Do NOT take this medicine if you are breast-feeding or discontinue breast-feeding. It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or whether it will harm the baby.

How should I use this medicine?

Always check the pharmacy label for the correct dosage. If you take the capsule after a meal, you will reduce the risk of stomach side effects. With rheumatism and arthrosis, it takes at least one to two weeks for the inflammation to subside. You will probably need to keep taking this medicine for as long as the cause of the inflammation is present. In many conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, this is therefore lifelong.