If you suffer from inflammation and pain, your doctor might prescribe you with celecoxib. This particular medication acts as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. So it is able to reduce the hormones in your body that cause inflammation and pain to begin with. As a result, celecoxib can treat a number of painful conditions, such as arthritis, ankylosing, spondylitis, and even menstrual pain.

Other uses for celecoxib can include treating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children who are two years of age or above and dealing with hereditary polyps found in the colon.

Please note that if you suffer from an allergy to sulfa drugs or asthma attacks from taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, celecoxib may likely not be for you. And if your doctor doesn’t aware, please notify them.

Additionally, you may speak with your doctor anyways to determine the safety of celecoxib for you. This especially might be the case if you have ever experienced the following: stomach ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, bleeding problems, liver disease, kidney disease, smoking, or drinking.

Overdosing on celecoxib can lead to emergency medical assistance. And missing doses can interfere with how well celecoxib helps reduce your inflammation and pain. So it’s best if you follow the directions for celecoxib exactly as your doctor and prescription label suggest.

Depending on your condition, your dose of celecoxib may vary.

If you are taking celecoxib for general pain or dysmenorrhea, your doctor may initially prescribe you with 400 mg of the medication. Eventually, this initial prescription will change depending on your doctor’s diagnosis.

If you are taking celecoxib for osteoarthritis, you will likely be instructed to take 200 mg of the medication orally once a day or 100 mg orally twice a day. If you are taking celecoxib for rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely recommend that you take 100 to 200 mg twice a day.

If you are taking celecoxib for familial adenomatous polyposis, you may need to take much more medication — such as 400 mg twice a day.

If you are taking celecoxib for ankylosing spondylitis, your treatment may be much more involved. This treatment could include 200 mg of celecoxib a day or 100 mg twice a day. After six weeks of this routine, if no benefits have occurred, you might be offered a different treatment.

If you are taking celecoxib for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, you’ll likely take a much smaller dose, such as 50 to 100 mg twice a day.

When you are ready to start your dose of celecoxib, you may find it easier to take with food. But you don’t have to. Celecoxib can easily be taken with or without food.

You might find it difficult to swallow celecoxib whole. And if that is the case, you can choose to open the celecoxib capsule and sprinkle its contents into a spoonful of applesauce.

To take the medication right away, swallow the applesauce mixture with water.

There are a number of concerns that you should consider when taking celecoxib.

Try to avoid taking aspirins or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs when you’re on this medication. If you feel your condition calls for you to break this particular recommendation, talk to your doctor first. They may be able to offer you an alternative solution.

Even if you feel that you need other medication for pain, fever, swelling, or cold or flu symptoms, please talk to your doctor. That medication could contain similar ingredients to celecoxib, which could unintentionally cause you to overdose.

You might experience similar issues if you’re on an antidepressant as well as celecoxib, as certain antidepressants will react poorly with celecoxib.

Other drugs may also interact poorly with celecoxib, so be very cautious about which prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products you take alongside it. It’s not recommended that you do so without talking to your doctor.

It’s also not recommended that you drink alcohol of any kind while on celecoxib.

When you’re not using them, be sure to store them at room temperature and away from any moisture or heat.

As you take celecoxib, you may encounter some side effects. Common ones include:

• Stomach pain
• Heartburn
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swelling in your hands or your feet
• Dizziness

Less common ones can include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Decreased appetite
• Difficulty moving
• Excessive muscle tension or tightness
• Hair loss
• Tenderness

Unfortunately, you may encounter more severe side effects.

One particular severe side effect might be symptoms of an allergic reaction to celecoxib. You’ll know if your body is allergic to the medication when you experience hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling in your face or throat. You may also experience a severe skin reaction that could involve a fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, and a red or purple blistering and peeling skin rash.

Another severe side effect might be signs of a heart attack or stroke. Some of these signs could include chest pain that spreads from your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, leg swelling, and shortness of breath.

If you experience either severe side effect, stop whatever you are doing and seek emergency medical help right away.

Do the same and also stop taking celecoxib if you notice heart problems, signs of stomach bleeding, liver problems, kidney problems, or symptoms of anemia.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Celebrex?

If you miss a dose of Celebrex, you should take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, then skip your missed dose.

How long does it take Celebrex to work?

It can take up to two weeks to feel the full benefit of Celebrex. Keep taking it regularly.