Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Celebrex
What is CELEBREX used for?
CELEBREX is used in adults to:
treat the signs and symptoms of certain types of arthritis disorders, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
help relieve moderate to severe pain (for no more than 7 days) after:
- bone, muscle and/or soft tissue injury including sprains,
- bone or muscle surgery, and
Serious Warnings and Precautions
Heart and blood vessel problems:
Gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine) problems:
Talk to your healthcare professional about any medical conditions you have and drugs you are taking. Pregnancy:
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- dental extraction
How does CELEBREX work?
- CELEBREX belongs to a group of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It can reduce the chemicals produced by your body which cause pain and swelling.
- CELEBREX only treats the symptoms and relieves pain and inflammation as long as you take it. CELEBREX does NOT cure your illness or prevent it from getting worse.
What are the ingredients in CELEBREX?
Medicinal ingredients: Celecoxib
Non-medicinal ingredients: Croscarmellose sodium, Ferric oxide edible ink (E172) (200 mg capsules), Gelatin, Indigotine edible ink (E132) (100 mg capsules), Lactose monohydrate, Magnesium stearate, Povidone, Sodium lauryl sulphate, Titanium dioxide (E171)
CELEBREX comes in the following dosage forms:
Capsules: 100 mg and 200 mg
Do not take CELEBREX if you:
- have heart bypass surgery (planning to have or recently had).
- have severe, uncontrolled heart failure.
- have bleeding in the brain or other bleeding disorders.
- are pregnant and in a later stage of pregnancy (28 weeks or later).
- are currently breastfeeding (or planning to breastfeed).
- are allergic to celecoxib or any of the other ingredients in this medicine or the container.
- have a history of asthma, hives, growths in your nose, sinus swelling or symptoms of an allergic reaction after taking Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) or other NSAIDs.
- are allergic to sulfonamide drugs.
- have an active stomach or intestine ulcer.
- have active bleeding from the stomach or gut.
- have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis).
- have liver disease (active or severe).
- have kidney disease (severe or worsening).
- have high potassium in the blood.
- are under 18 years of age.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take CELEBREX. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
- have or have had heart attacks, chest pain, heart disease, stroke or heart failure
- have poor blood flow to your extremities (like your hands and feet)
- smoke or used to smoke
- drink a lot of alcohol
- have a stomach infection
- have liver or kidney problems, urine problems or are dehydrated
- have a history of ulcer or bleeding from the stomach or gut (small or large intestine)
- have other bleeding or blood problems
- have had a previous bleeding in the brain
- have a family history of allergy to sulfonamide drugs
- have a family history of allergy to NSAIDs, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, rofecoxib, sulindac, tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid, tolmetin, or valdecoxib (NOT a complete list)
- have asthma
- are pregnant, planning on becoming or become pregnant while taking CELEBREX
- have immune system problems
Other warnings you should know about:
Serious side effects: CELEBREX can cause serious side effects, including:
Blood and bleeding problems:
- CELEBREX can cause blood problems, bleeding and prolonged bleeding.
Taking CELEBREX with the following drugs can increase the risk of bleeding:
- Anticoagulants (prevents blood clots), corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory), or antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Serious Skin Reactions: In rare cases, serious, life-threatening allergic and skin reactions have been reported with some NSAIDs, such as CELEBREX. These skin problems most often happen during the first month of treatment. Tell your healthcare professional immediately if you notice any changes in your skin both during and after treatment.
CELEBREX might cause you to become more sensitive to sunlight. Sunlight or sunlamps may cause sunburn, skin blisters, skin rash, redness, itching or discolouration, or vision changes. If you have a reaction from the sun, talk to your healthcare professional.
Check-ups and testing: You will have regular visits with your healthcare professional during treatment with CELEBREX. They will:
- Check your blood pressure.
- Check your eyes. CELEBREX can cause blurred or reduced vision.
- Do blood and urine tests to check your liver, kidney and blood health.
Surgery: Tell any doctor, dentist, pharmacist or healthcare professional that you see, that you are taking this medicine. This is especially important if you are planning to have heart surgery.
Driving and using machinery: CELEBREX may cause eye or nervous system problems. This includes tiredness, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, spinning or dizziness (vertigo), hearing problems or depression. Be careful about driving or doing activities that require you to be alert. If you become drowsy, dizzy or light-headed after taking CELEBREX, do NOT drive or operate machinery.
Fertility in Women: CELEBREX may affect your fertility. This means that it may be difficult for you to have a child. If you have trouble having a child, you might need to stop taking CELEBREX. Talk to your healthcare professional if you have any questions about this.
Adults (65 years or older): Side effects like gastrointestinal problems may happen more often. Your healthcare professional might have you start with a lower dose of CELEBREX. They will monitor your health during and after treatment.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with CELEBREX:
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or other NSAIDs, used to treat pain, fever and inflammation, like:
- celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen
- Antacids, used to treat symptoms of excess stomach acid
- Omeprazole, used to treat stomach problems
- Medicines used to treat depression (antidepressants) like citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and lithium
- Medicines used to treat high blood pressure like enalapril, ramipril, candesartan, irbesartan, propranolol, lisinopril, metoprolol
- Medicines used as blood thinners or to prevent blood clots like warfarin, ASA, clopidogrel
- Medicines used to lower extra fluid levels (diuretics), like furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide
- Medicines used to treat diabetes, like sulphonylurea or other oral hypoglycemics
- Medicines used to lower the risk of organ rejection, like tacrolimus and cyclosporin
- Corticosteroids (including glucocorticoids such as prednisone), used as an anti-inflammatory
- Digoxin, used to treat heart disorders
- Medicines used to treat different cancers, like methotrexate
- Medicines used to treat bacterial infections (antibiotics) like sulphonamide
- Oral birth control, used to prevent pregnancy
- Dextromethorphan, found in some cough medications
- Fluconazole, used to treat fungal infections
- Alcohol
How to take CELEBREX:
- Take CELEBREX exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. They should recommend the lowest dose possible for your treatment for the shortest time needed.
CELEBREX can be taken with or without food.
- This medication has been prescribed specifically for you. Do NOT give it to anyone else. It may harm them, even if their symptoms seem to be similar to yours.
- If you will be taking CELEBREX for more than 7 days, see your healthcare professional regularly. They will check if CELEBREX is working for you and if it is causing any side effects.
Usual dose:
Adults 18 years and older:
- Your healthcare professional will decide on the best dosage for you based on your condition.
Your healthcare professional may lower your dose, stop your treatment for a period of time or recommend that you stop treatment completely. This may happen if you:
- experience serious side effects, or
- your disease gets worse.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for have taken too much CELEBREX, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
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Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of CELEBREX, take the dose as soon as you remember. Take your next dose at the usual time. Do not double the dose to make up for a dose you have missed.
What are possible side effects from using CELEBREX?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking CELEBREX. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset/abdominal pain, heartburn, indigestion, feeling gassy
- Headache, dizziness, light-headedness
- Feeling of burning/prickliness/numbing
- Confusion, hard to concentrate or think, short-term memory loss, nervousness
- Bruises
- Skin rash
- Taste disorder, thirst, dry mouth
- Muscle pain
- Mouth sores
- Hair loss
- Increased sweating
- Problems with your period (women)
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Gastrointestinal (GI) problems (bleeding, blockage, holes, ulcers or inflammation in your GI tract): blood in vomit, black tarry or bloody stool, dizziness, stomach pain, bloating, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, chills or fever | ✓ | ||
| Hypertension (high blood pressure): fatigue, dizziness or fainting, chest pain | ✓ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Anaphylaxis/hypersensitivity (severe allergic reactions): sudden wheeziness and chest pain or tightness; or swelling of eyelids, face, lips, tongue or throat, swelling or anaphylactic reaction/shock | ✓ | ||
| Aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the protective lining of the brain that is not caused by infection): Headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, fever or clouding of consciousness | ✓ | ||
| Blood problems (low white and/or red blood cell or platelet count): feeling tired or weak, pale skin, bruising or bleeding for longer than usual if you hurt yourself, fever, chills | ✓ | ||
| Congestive heart failure (heart does not pump blood as well as it should): shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, swelling in ankles, legs and feet, cough, fluid retention, lack of appetite, nausea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise | ✓ | ||
| Cystitis (bladder infection): increased need to urinate, pain in the pelvis or lower back, frequent urination during the night, cloudy urine that may contain blood, burning or pain urinating | ✓ | ||
| Depression (sad mood that will not go away): difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, changes in appetite or weight, reduced sex drive and thoughts of death or suicide. | ✓ | ||
| Kidney disorder/problems (including kidney failure): nausea, vomiting, fever, swelling of extremities, fatigue, thirst, dry skin, irritability, dark urine, increased or decreased urine output, blood in the urine, rash, weight gain (from retaining fluid), loss of appetite, mental status changes (drowsiness, confusion, coma) | ✓ | ||
| Liver problems (including hepatitis, liver failure, cholestasis): yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice), right upper stomach area pain or swelling, nausea or vomiting, unusual dark urine, unusual tiredness | ✓ | ||
| Lung problems, asthma: increased shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, cough and chest tightness, irregular heartbeat | ✓ | ||
| Myocardial infarction (heart attack): pressure or squeezing pain between the shoulder blades, in the chest, jaw, left arm or upper abdomen, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, light-headedness, clammy skin, sweating, indigestion, anxiety, feeling faint and possible irregular heartbeat. | ✓ | ||
| Stroke (bleeding or blood clot in the brain): sudden numbness, weakness or tingling of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body, sudden headache, blurry vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking, or lethargy, dizziness, fainting, vomiting, trouble understanding, trouble with walking and loss of balance | ✓ | ||
| Tinnitus (hearing problems): includes ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in ears, loss of hearing | ✓ | ||
| Vertigo (a sense of severe spinning dizziness, lightheadedness) | ✓ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Serious Skin Reactions: fever, severe rash, swollen lymph glands, flu-like feeling, blisters and peeling skin that may start in and around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals and spread to other areas of the body, swelling of face and/or legs, yellow skin or eyes, shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain or discomfort, feeling thirsty, urinating less often, less urine or dark urine, hives, red or dry itchy skin, purple or red spots on skin | ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store at room temperature, between 15 to 30oC.
Do NOT keep expired medicine or medicine no longer needed. Any outdated or unused medicine should be returned to your pharmacist.
Keep out of reach of children.
If you want more information about CELEBREX:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website http://www.viatris.ca, or by calling 1-844-596-9526.
Last revised: 2025-07-09
BGP Pharma ULC
Etobicoke, Ontario, M8Z 2S6
® G.D. Searle LLC
BGP Pharma ULC, a Viatris company, Licensee
© BGP Pharma ULC, 2023