Celebrex® (Celecoxib)       Back to main page

Celebrex® (Celecoxib)

Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) that is used to reduce pain and inflammation(swelling and soreness). Celebrex is a medicine for:

  • relief of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related “wear and tear” on bones and joints) 
  • relief of rheumatoid arthritis in adults 
  • management of acute pain in adults (like the short term pain you can get after a dental or surgical operation) 
  • treatment of menstrual pain (pain during women’s monthly periods) 
  • reduce the number of colon and rectum growths (colorectal polyps) in patients with a disease called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is an inherited disease in which the rectum and colon are covered with many polyps. Celebrex is used along with the usual care for FAP patients such as surgery and exams of the rectum and colon. 
  • Celebrex has not been shown to reduce cancer that happens with FAP. It is not known whether the effects of Celebrex will last after treatment is stopped. The use of Celebrex in FAP patients for longer than six months has not been studied. Therefore, the usual care of FAP patients should not be changed because of the use of Celebrex. Regular exams of the colon and rectum should take place as scheduled and surgeries for FAP should happen as planned. 

Are the side effects worth it?!