Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Celebrex Warning--(I saw this one coming)

hi,

it';s the whole Cox2 iinhibiter class, that's under suspiscion....been seeing stuff for a few years now.......but I urge everyone to see their Dr.s the dose the manner in which the drug was used and administrered in the reports I've read is not typical AS usage.................but the long term, continuous I'd be concerned about as in any NSAID in our condition......esp where there is a heart problem.

I suppose the there's no smoke without fire is the concern.

I've read and seen some of the reports and I can see why the manufacturer is not pulling th drug.

What do we do now.....? As much as i'm careful with Celebrex it is a wionder on the neck, 2 days of it and I was out of hospital, nothing else works to the same degree......so I keep it as the weapon of last resort.......but intend to keep a stash it is that effective and worth the risk for what it does when the neck is really going......

David

Edited by davo on 12/18/04 05:52 AM (server time).

Hi Dave
I was taking Celebrex for 3yrs until my doc stopped it as I started having nausea and other problems after eating. About a month after stopping Celebrex I have had many problems with joints swelling, eyes getting shooting pains, swelling at top of spine, knees swelling, and the list goes on. I've never felt as bad as this before, it's like being in a gigantic flare with no respite. The pain is horrendous and I am really struggling just to get through each day, trying to push myself to do even the basic of housework, like dusting. I am very tempted to start taking Celebrex again, I've also got a stash of it. Take care.
Love
Sue

A few years back I was put on Celebrex at the dose recommended for AS and RA, 400 mg 2X a day. Within a couple of weeks I developed bad headaches. I took my BP at one of those grocery store things and it was an amazing 190 over 90 - - my usual was about 116 over 65. The only thing I could tie it to was the new meds. I stopped Celebrex and my BP went back to normal. Yep, saw it coming too. The unethical thing about this is the company marketed a target group, mainly older people with osteo, a population that is more apt to have high BP. Those of us on the doses for RA and AS (I have both) were in even more danger. The irony? Celebrex is no more effective at relieving pain than over the counter NSAIDS, at a fraction of the cost, and from my experience Celebrex was no easier on the stomach.

I avoid all NSAIDS now except the occasional Advil when I really, really need it. I walk it off, work it off at the gym, take hot showers, use my heating pad, and am also on Arava, one of the newer DMARDS that allegedly prevents most inflammation, not just relieves the symptoms.

Cheryl


My guy

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. Author Unknown

A common side effect of Celebrex (and Vioxx and Bextra) is elevated BP, which puts you not only at risk for heart damage but also stroke. Since it is no more effective at relieving pain than Advil, I decided not to take the chance after I watched my BP soar after a few short weeks on Celebrex. Guess it's a matter of choosing our poisons.

Cheryl


My guy

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. Author Unknown

My advice is yes, switch to an over the counter pain killer, they work just as well at relieving pain. When I went off the Celebrex my BP returned to normal, when I was on it it was dangerously high, 190 over 90.

Cheryl


My guy

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. Author Unknown

I think by the end of next week the drug maker will pull Celebrex from the market. The biggest reason is that the shark pool of lawyers are already starting to swarm into their attack mode and the sooner the makers of Celebrex pull the drug the less economic damage will be done to them in the long run. Lets be honest, about 90 percent of the stuff we AS people take, to help us cope with our disease, is suspect in long term health effects.

I've been watching the news carefully because Celebrex is the only drug that has worked for me. If they pull it, I am screwed big time.

Cristina

There is no doubt this smoke over the proverbial fire of Celebrex is slughtly unnerving.

What over-the-counter alternatives have you guys used? I know that for me I am as well to eat an ice cube as take an Advil, but I am curious as to the efficacy of the others, like Aleve, Motrin, etc.

Personally, I find acetaminophen - especially Tylenol 8-hour - very effective.

Ken.

For me, Aleve works extremely well, but now that's in the news! I also take motrin (way more than I'd like to) and it works well. I was actually surprised that either of them even did anything after the bigger meds I had been on before them. I took Celebrex for a few years and my diet isn't what anyone would consider very healthy. I never had any problems with my BP or any other parts of me, but I took low doses of it. Who knows what one will be in the news next.

Amanda

Hello all,

I called my doctor today and ask if I should keep taking it or not. I have a heart mumur and did not know what it might do to that. I have been on it since 2000 and really don't like it but they said it did the best for me.

My doctor told me he takes it and thinks it is ok. But that he thinks it will end up getting pulled. But if I did not want to take it any more to call him tomorrow and we would talk more about it. He also told him he takes it so that is one reason he thinks it is ok for me any way.

I trust this doctor he has help me so much so until he tells me some thing diffrent I will go bay what he tells me.

Hugs,
Donna

Love comes in all shapes and sizes