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Basic Celebrex Information
Like Vioxx, Celebrex, manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in 1998, belongs to a family of painkillers referred to as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are intended to reduce swelling and inflammation, and are frequently taken to treat several types of arthritis, menstrual discomfort, and other kinds of pain.
Along with other NSAIDs, such as Bextra and Vioxx, Celebrex was prescribed as a substitute to other pain medications because they were thought to have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than conventional drugs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed to patients who suffer from arthritis and pain where the major adverse side effect from taking these medicines is gastrointestinal toxicity.
NSAIDs works by blocking both COX-1 enzymes (produces prostaglandins that maintain a homeostatic environment in the stomach, kidney, GI tract and causes platelet coagulation and endothelial constriction) and COX-2 enzymes (produces prostaglandins that create pain, inflammation, dilates endothelial tissues, and acts as a natural anti-coagulant).
The inhibitory effect on each type of enzyme depends upon the unique chemical constitution of each NSAID. The most common adverse effect from these non-selective NSAIDs occurs within a patient’s gastrointestinal tract.
Celebrex is a part of a new class of NSAIDs, the COX-2 selective drugs. Selective COX-2 drugs, also including Bextra and Vioxx were created to decrease stomach, kidney and gastrointestinal problems by only inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme that is explicitly responsible for inflammation and pain unlike traditional NSAIDs that targeted all COX enzymes that included COX-1 (that creates prostaglandins that help the stomach, kidneys, and GI tract). Nonetheless, inhibiting only COX-2 enzymes creates an imbalance that leads to increased adverse cardiovascular events.
Although COX-2 enzymes are commonly recognized for their symptoms of inflammation and pain, they aid in the maintenance of healthy platelet activity that decreases the risk for adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Patients may be exchanging GI risks for cardiovascular risks when switching traditional NSAIDs for COX-2 selective drugs, because inhibiting mostly COX-2 enzymes creates a higher level of COX-1 enzymes that are known for promoting vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation.
Although each COX-2 selective drug has a slightly different composition, they virtually have similar side effects those of which include increased cardiovascular risk, gastrointestinal events, and in patients.
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see also:
Dosage
Important Celebrex dosage information all users should know aboutCelebrex can cause harm - Learn about the proper dosage from the FDA
Market Names for Bextra, Vioxx & Celebrex
Bextra, Vioxx, Celebrex - Brand NamesMarket Names for Bextra, Vioxx, & Celebrex
Learn More
Read more about heart problems due to CelebrexCelebrex can lead to serious heart problems - Learn about them here
