Is Bextra right for me?
You should not take Bextra if you:
• Had asthma, hives or allergic reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or COX-2 inhibitors. Some examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), ketoprofen (Orudis), celecoxib (Celebrex), and rofecoxib (Vioxx). You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of these medications;
• Are allergic to valdecoxib (Bextra) or to any of the ingredients in Bextra.
Bextra, like all NSAID medications can cause stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this serious problem increases the longer you take Bextra, but it can also happen suddenly. Stop taking Bextra and call your doctor right away if you get:
• A burning stomach pain;
• Black bowel movements that look like tar;
• Vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds.
Bextra and other NSAID medications can cause serious problems such as liver damage. Some of the warning signs of liver damage are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, itching, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, "flu-like" symptoms and dark urine. If this happens, stop taking Bextra and call your doctor right away. Bextra can also cause fluid retention (holding of water in your body). Fluid retention can be a serious problem if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.
Other Bextra FAQs
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Q:
What is Bextra?
A: Bextra (Valdecoxib) is similar to Celebrex (Celecoxib) in the respect that it is a prescription COX-2 selective inhibitor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) … More -
Q:
What is the COX enzyme?
A: The cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme has two forms: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is found in a lot of cells all the time, notably the lining of the stomach where it regulates … More -
Q:
What are NSAIDs?
A: NSAIDs are a large group of drugs that have pain-relieving (analgesic) and fever-reducing (antipyretic) effects, as well as the effect of reducing inflammation when … More -
Q:
What is the problem with Bextra?
A: Preliminary studies have indicated that Bextra (valdecoxib), an arthritis drug manufactured by Pfizer, Inc., could potentially be one of the leading causes of Stevens … More -
Q:
What should I tell my health care provider?
A: Tell your health care provider if you: • have heart problems or high blood pressure; • have liver or kidney problems; • have or had … More -
Q:
What is toxic epidermal necrolysis?
A: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (a form of SJS) is a life-threatening skin disorder characterized by blistering of the mucous membranes (similar to Stevens Johnson … More -
Q:
Did the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) know about these allergic reactions?
A: Yes. The FDA announced on November 15, 2002, that it had received about 20 reports of serious reactions, including skin diseases [Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), … More -
Q:
What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?
A: Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an immune-complex-mediated hypersensitivity disorder that may be caused by a reaction to drugs (including Bextra), viral infections, … More -
Q:
What is exfoliative dermatitis?
A: Exfoliative dermatitis, also known as erythroderma, is an uncommon but serious skin disorder. Generalized exfoliative dermatitis is a severe inflammation of the … More -
Q:
What is erythema multiforme?
A: Erythema multiforme (EM) is a serious inflammatory skin eruption (rash) caused by allergic reactions to many different things, including prescription and … More
