What is the problem with Celebrex?
It has been recently found that Celebrex, like the other COX-2 inhibitors Vioxx and Bextra increases the risk of heart attacks by 2.5 times, as well as strokes and blood clots. Among the researchers that have found these issues with Celebrex are
- Dr. Garret FitzGerald, a cardiologist and pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania and his team of researchers who have indicated that the COX-2 inhibitor painkillers suspected of causing fatal heart disease may act by starting the process of hardening the arteries;
- The National Cancer Institute, which was conducting a long-term cancer study for Pfizer, and prematurely stopped it after finding that patients taking 400mg to 800mg of Celebrex daily had a 2.5 times greater risk of major heart problems than those who were taking placebos (look-alike pills with no active ingredients); and
- A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which indicated that the annual rates of heart attack in both the Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib) studies were increased compared to a review of studies containing a total of more than 48,000 patients.
As a result of these findings, Pfizer and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are being pressured by consumer groups to recall the drug. Pfizer does not plan on recalling the drug and the FDA could not be reached for comment.
Other Celebrex FAQs
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Q:
What is Celebrex?
A: Similar to Vioxx, Celebrex is a COX-2 inhibitor belonging to the drug class nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Like Vioxx, Celebrex was approved by the Food … 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 the Celebrex side effects?
A: The ones causing the biggest uproar are the greatly increased risk of heart attack, and the increased risk of stroke and blood clots because those indicate overall … 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 edema?
A: Edema is an observable swelling in certain parts of the body. Edema most commonly occurs in the feet and legs (peripheral edema). The swelling is the result of the … More -
Q:
What is pitting edema?
A: If you depress the skin of a swollen area (e.g., leg) with a finger and the pressing causes an indentation in the skin that persists for some time after the release … More -
Q:
What is non-pitting edema?
A: Non-pitting edema is where there is not a persistent indentation to the skin. It normally affects the arms and legs. Non-pitting edema can occur in certain disorders … More
