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Lonhttps://online.epocrates.com/noFramg term Celebrex Safety
Jamie
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 01:39 AMCelebrex Safety
bucko27
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 10:39 AMJamie- Thanks so much for your thorough and thoughtful advice. I have done very well with Celebrex but it is the length of time I have been taking it that is beginning to make me wonder. My cardiologist never mentioned a possible problem with celebrex when I last saw him. You have given me a lot to think about and for starters I am cutting back to 200 mg. a day starting right now. I see my Rheumy this month and will talk further with him. If there is any other drug out there that I could be looking into to replace the Celebrex with, let me know. Thanks again for your help!
Steve
re: Celebrex Safety
Jamie
Friday, March 13, 2009 at 02:43 PMHi Bucko,
How are you doing on your 200mg of Celebrex? Notice any less efficacy?
Your Cardiologist may not remember or realize your dose is 400mg. Wouldn't hurt to remind them and ask his/her opinion of your risk factors.
As for other choices, there are numerous good ones on the market but remember that the specialty class of COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex were taken off the market for the same issues. The other classes of anti-inflammatories also work well but have a higher risk for GI bleeds. There is no perfect choice without it's own set of risks, unfortunately. If you have a cardiologist you must have some risk factors. It's worth a chat for sure.
Hope you're having a good week.
Jamie
Celebrex Safety
bucko27
Friday, March 13, 2009 at 08:19 PMJamie- I talked to my rheumy and he recommended I take 200 mg. each evening. So that is what I am doing until I see my cardiologist in May. So far so good. thanks again for your help!
Steve
epocrates.com
bucko27
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 09:40 PMJamie- I checked out the website. It is terrific. Thanks pal!
steve
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Hi Bucko27,
I am a pharmacist. I researched your question on www.epocrates.com, my favorite drug information web site. You can also search this site for free.
The FDA has given Celebrex what is called a Black Box Warning. This is not common, only drugs with potentially serious Adverse Affects get these. I copied and pasted the warning here for you. As you probably know, all the other drugs in this category have been pulled off the market for these same safety reasons.
Black Box Warnings
Cardiovascular Risk
GI Risk
Bucko, both the GI and the Cardivascular warnings are of concern with the combination of your high dose (400mg/day) and long term use. If you have any other Cardiovascular risk factors you are at even higher risk.
In addition, there is a possible drug interaction between your Celebrex and Methotrexate, particularly if the mtx is at high doses. It can cause the methotrexate to reach toxic levels that cause decreased kidney function and decreased CBC counts. Periodic kidney function tests and CBC counts will monitor for this drug interaction.
You should discuss with your Doctor any other Cardio. Risk Factors you may have, the possibility of cutting the Celebrex dose in half or eliminating it if warranted.
I have been taking 200mg once daily for 4 months. I am having labs done right now to check for any Cardivascular Risk Factors. I don't want to take it for too long because I have already had a couple of GI bleeds from Motrin (ibuprofen) after long term use (years). Celebrex is the best choice for those of us at risk for a GI bleed but it is still no guarantee it won't cause one.
Hope this was helpful,
Jamie