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NSAID Safety Update: Celecoxib Can Increase Your Risk of Heart Valve Problems, Per a New Study

Celecoxib (Celebrex), a special type of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) called a COX-2 inhibitor, has had a rocky history almost from the beginning. When it first hit the market in 1998, it was hailed for its ability to control inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) while being gentler on the stomach than traditional NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. It subsequently gained FDA approval for acute pain and osteoarthritis, in addition to RA. But about a handful of years later, it appeared there was a catch. In 2005, the FDA issued a boxed warning for celecoxib. The main problem. Studies had found that the drug was associated with a substantially higher risk…

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 Should you still take Celebrex?

We continue to believe that celecoxib should be used as a last resort, and only by people who are at low risk of heart disease or stroke, high risk of gastrointestinal problems, or who have not responded to less risky alternatives. Patients who have diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol levels, or high blood pressure should be especially cautious about using the drug.

Articles of Interest

Are ALL Arthritis Drugs Including Celebrex Risky for the Heart?

Tens of millions of people take NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen every day to ease pain. Is celecoxib (Celebrex) safer or just as bad for the heart?

Celebrex vs. Ibuprofen: Which Is Better?

Celebrex is a more selective NSAID which is marketed as having fewer GI side effects and similar effectiveness. Celebrex is more expensive and prescription-only, but is it better than ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)? Let’s look.

In Documents on Pain Drug, Signs of Doubt and Deception

The drug is the last of the so-called COX-2 inhibitor pain drugs, after Vioxx and Bextra were withdrawn in 2004 and 2005 because of safety concerns.

Surprise! Arthritis Drug Celebrex Shown As Safe As Ibuprofen And Naproxen

The events that surrounded the withdrawal of Vioxx from the market led to a slew of attacks on the pharmaceutical industry. The industry, specifically Pfizer and Merck, were looked at as profiteers, committed not to patients but to profits. It was alleged that the COX-2 inhibitors were drugs that weren’t necessary and which actually harmed patients. The PRECISION results show that this isn’t the case. Celebrex is an important drug for physicians to use in treating arthritis patients in significant pain. It is safer to use from a GI perspective than non-selective NSAIDs and, in patients with kidney function issues, it is safer than ibuprofen.

Resources

Celebrex

All prescription NSAIDs, like CELEBREX, ibuprofen, naproxen, and meloxicam, increase the risk of heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This may happen early in treatment and may increase with increasing doses of NSAIDs and with longer use of NSAIDs..