Celebrex, a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is frequently used for acute pain, arthritis, and painful menstrual periods. It works by blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which plays a role in pain and inflammation. The medication comes in capsule form and is available in several strengths. The most common side effects of Celebrex are indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Celebrex
® (
celecoxib) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions related to pain and inflammation. It is part of a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs for short. It is a specific type of NSAID known as a COX-2 inhibitor.
Celebrex is manufactured by Pfizer.
Uses of Celebrex include the following:
Celebrex has also been shown to decrease the number of
colon and rectal polyps in people with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a hereditary condition that can cause hundreds of growths (called polyps) in the colon and rectum. People with FAP usually develop
colon cancer and/or
rectal cancer by their late 30s.
As mentioned, Celebrex is part of a class of NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors. The drug works by blocking a particular enzyme (COX-2) that plays a role in pain and inflammation. Unlike other NSAIDs (such as
ibuprofen and
naproxen) that target both the COX-1 and the COX-2 enzymes, Celebrex only targets the COX-2 enzyme. The COX-1 enzyme plays an important role in protecting the lining of the stomach.
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