| This medication may be taken with food or immediately after meals to prevent stomach upset. Take this as directed. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than prescribed. This medication provides temporary relief and must be used in addition to rest, physical therapy and other measures. Because this medication makes an injury temporarily feel better, do not attempt to lift or exercise too soon. Follow your doctor's instructions for recovery. Serious but rare side effects that have been reported in patients taking CELEBREX are delineated below : - Serious allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing and wheezing occur rarely but may require treatment right away. Severe skin reactions have also been reported. - If you have high blood pressure. In addition, the following side effects have been reported: anxiety, confusion, depression, hair loss, hallucinations, increased levels of potassium in the blood, low blood cell counts, palpitations, pancreatitis, tingling sensation, unusual headache with stiff neck (aseptic meningitis), vertigo. - Serious stomach problems, such as stomach and intestinal bleeding, can occur with or without warning symptoms. These problems, if severe, could lead to hospitalization or death. Although this happens rarely, you should watch for signs that you may have this serious side effect. Include on your medical history/personal profile all of the other medicines you are taking or plan to take while you are on VIOXX, even other medicines that you can get without a prescription. VIOXX has significant drug interactions with : DO NOT TAKE VIOXX IF YOU HAVE HAD A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION to aspirin or any medicine containing aspirin or to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as Feldene, Motrin, Naprosyn, Clinoril). A severe reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness. If you have a question about whether you are allergic to Vioxx or if a certain medicine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, contact your doctor or pharmacist. IF YOU EXPERIENCE difficulty breathing; tightness of chest; swelling of eyelids, face, or lips; or if you develop a rash or hives, tell your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of Vioxx unless your doctor tells you to do so. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take Vioxx for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using Vioxx. ALCOHOL WARNING: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take Vioxx or other pain relievers/fever reducers. This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicines that contain ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Vioxx during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF VIOXX IS EXCRETED in breast milk. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking Vioxx. - In analgesia and dysmenorrhea, the recommended dose for VIOXX is also 25 to 50 mg once a day. VIOXX provides relief through the day and through the night. SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Vioxx include weakness or nausea. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience itching or skin rash, swelling of the feet or ankles, unexpected weight gain, vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds, or blood in stool or vomit. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience swelling of hands, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hoarseness; flu-like symptoms; sluggishness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; stomach pain; dark urine or pale stools; or unusual fatigue. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. - In Osteoarthritis, the recommended dose for VIOXX is 25 to 50 mg a day. VIOXX delivers 24-hour relief from a once-daily dose. - have had an allergic reaction to celecoxib, which is the active ingredient of CELEBREX any of its inactive ingredients. - ACE inhibitors (medicines used for high blood pressure and heart failure). - Severe liver problems, including hepatitis, jaundice and liver failure, occur rarely in patients taking NSAIDs, including CELEBREX. Symptoms of liver problems include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, and flu-like symptoms. Serious but rare side effects that have been reported in patients taking CELEBREX are delineated below : - If you have had a serious stomach problem (ulcers) in the past. - have had an allergic reaction such as asthma attacks, hives, or swelling of the throat and face to aspirin or other NSAIDs (for example, ibuprofen and naproxen). |