Any prescription NSAID, including CELEBREX, may increase the chance of heart attack
or stroke, which can lead to death. This chance increases if you have heart disease
or risk factors for it, such as high blood pressure, or when NSAIDs are taken for
long periods.
These medicines also increase the chance of serious skin reactions or stomach and
intestine problems, such as bleeding and ulcers, which can occur without warning
and may cause death. With any of these medicines, patients also taking aspirin and
the elderly are at increased risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers.
People with aspirin-sensitive asthma or allergic reactions due to aspirin or other
arthritis medicines or certain drugs called sulfonamides should not take CELEBREX.
Understanding the risks and benefits of NSAIDs is important. All NSAIDs, including
CELEBREX, help relieve arthritis pain, but only you and your doctor can decide which
one is right for you. An NSAID like CELEBREX might be an option.