Celebrex

Hi all, My surgeon has put me on a medication (NSAID) called "Celebrex". It's commonly given to people who have arthritis among other things. I have found it to be very effective in managing my pain from my seroma! I didn't realize it was indeed a NSAID until I got it home and someone posted about it on another WLS list I'm on. Apparently, some people have had problems with ulcers from taking this form of medication...but I guess my doctor felt it necessary for me to take the risk (though I'm not sure how large of a risk it is). It seems like it's one of those things where every doctor has a differing opinion about this medicine. My question: Have you taken this medication prior to WLS or do you take it now? I don't want to end up with ulcers, but I do find that it is helping tremendously with my pain. Hopefully, this seroma will go away completely soon and it won't be an issue for long! Thanks, everyone! Chele

Hey Lady, Good to see ya !!!!! I just read an article that mentioned NSAIDS ... here it is http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/2/481?eaf God Bless, Jen

That's a good article...and thank you for posting that. I learned a lot...not a whole lot about NSAIDS in WLS patients but it says in that article that drinking while eating can cause dumping. So far, I don't believe I dump at all, but I thought that was interesting. Also, it states that there is little to no malabsorption with RNY....whereas, I have read and heard elsewhere (by my surgeon, for one thing!) that there is. Kinda confusing. I think I'll do what Steph suggests and take an acid reducer along with the Celebrex, just to be on the safe side. Thanks! Chele

My doc said that if you are taking a pepcid or other acid reducer that the risks of ulcers is greatly reduced, HTH!! Steph

Steph, Thank you...I'm going to do just that! I appreciate the suggestion! Chele

Hi Chele, sorry to hear that you are in pain, hopefully you won't need the celebrex for a long time. My PCP and surgeon won't give me anything for my arthritis, I take tylenol, arthritis, only helps take the edge off I'll keep you in my prayers, Rosemary

Much appreciated, Rosemary...thanks! Chele

Hi Chele!! Being a nurse and working with many gastrointestinal patients and doctors, any NSAID can do damage to anyones stomach(To much tylenol even can cause this to, yet has to be a good amount per day the person is taking) doesn't have to be a bypass patient or not. Just take protonix or pepcid to minimize stomach acid that is caused from NSAID irritation. To much NSAID medication can cause a small hole/ulcer in stomach, yet not all poeple will develop problems. Just do what your doctor is telling you. DO you have athritis in your knees? Are injections a possiblity? Best of luck to you. Are you taking 200 mg once daily or twice daily? Here is an article from FDA. Hope this helps you. Just remember that ALL medications have side effects and you have to outweigh the risks and benefits. Not all people have the side effects. It is just like our surgery we had. Always a risk.Take care!!! 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For details, talk to your healthcare provider. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FDA ALERT-[4/7/2005]: Celebrex has been linked to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) events (such as heart attack or stroke) which appears to be a risk shared by all medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (excluding aspirin). FDA has requested that the package insert (labeling) for all NSAIDs, including Celebrex, be revised to include a "boxed" or serious warning to highlight the potential increased risk of CV events, and the well known risk of serious, and potentially life-threatening, stomach bleeding. FDA has also requested that the package insert for all NSAIDs be revised to state that patients who have just had heart surgery should not take these medicines. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is Celebrex? Celebrex is used to: relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related "wear and tear" on bones and joints) relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults manage acute pain in adults (like the short term pain you can get after a dental or surgical operation) treat painful menstrual cycles 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. Who Should Not Take Celebrex? Do not take Celebrex if you: have had an allergic-type reaction to sulfa medicines. have had asthma, hives or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) medicines. If you have asthma, you may have aspirin-sensitive asthma. If an aspirin-sensitive asthmatic takes aspirin it can cause severe narrowing of the airway (bronchospasm), and even death. Since this type of reaction also has occurred after taking NSAIDs Celebrex should not be given to aspirin-sensitive patients. Some examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and ketoprofen (Orudis). You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of these medications. are pregnant, especially during your last 3 months What are The Risks? Celebrex and other NSAID medicines can cause serious problems such as: Stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this serious problem increases the longer you take Celebrex, but it can also happen suddenly. Stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare professional right away if you get a burning stomach pain, black bowel movements that look like tar, or vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds. Liver damage. Some of the warning signs of liver damage are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, "flu-like" symptoms and dark urine. If this happens, stop taking Celebrex and call your healthcare professional right away. Kidney problems that include sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already have. Fluid retention (holding of water in your body) and swelling. Fluid retention can be a serious problem if you have high blood pressure or heart failure. In addition to the serious side effects listed above, some common, but less serious side effects with Celebrex may include: headache indigestion upper respiratory tract infection (a "cold") diarrhea sinus inflammation stomach pain nausea What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional? Tell your healthcare professional if you: have heart problems or high blood pressure have liver or kidney problems have or had stomach ulcers or stomach bleeding have asthma are allergic to aspirin or other NSAID medicines are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding Are There Any Interactions With Drugs or Foods? Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Celebrex works or Celebrex may affect how your other medicines work. Your healthcare professional may have to adjust your dose or watch you closely if you take any of the following medications: certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors furosemide fluconazole or ketoconazole phenytoin warfarin aspirin Celebrex FDA Approved 1998 Patient Information Sheet Revised 04/2005 Patient Information Sheet - Questions? 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geeze....thought I did the link, not the whole page...lol..Sorry about that Chele! Anytime you have a question about a drug, go to the FDA ( food and drug administration website) These are the federal guidelines for drugs whom must be approved by them before they are even marketed. So every new drug, must go through FDA and supply the information to us as consumers. Andrea

Hi Andrea... Wow! Lots of info! I did go to the Celebrex site too. Thanks for posting that! No, I don't have arthritis...my surgeon gave me 200mg capsules to be taken once a day. I appreciate all the information I can get...and you're right, we have to weigh the benefits and risks. To be safer, I'll take prevacid or an acid reducer along with it. Chele