Celecoxib side effects 😨: Hi all I've just been... - NRAS

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Celecoxib side effects 😨

Billybongos profile image
23 Replies

Hi all I've just been perscribed celecoxib for my ra and osteo athritis

I have read common side effects more than 1 in 10 high blood pressure. .common 1 in 10 heart attack 😨 infection , muscle stiffness , painfull joints , accidental injury .advice from anyone already taking much appreciated

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Billybongos
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23 Replies
helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

I take a different anti-inflammatory, but they have similar risks. What you need to weight up for yourself is what balance of risks and benefits you are prepared to accept. Is a 90% chance that the drugs will help you without any negative side effects a reasonable one for you?

If your RA/inflammation is not controlled your risks of heart attack, other cardiovascular disease and so on also go up. So you don't escape risks by not accepting the celecoxib. Basically we are all stuck between a rock and a hard place.

What I do is that yes I take the drugs, but I do everything else I can to minimise risks. So I have got my weight under control, stopped smoking, take daily exercise and eat a good diet with less fats and sugars than I used to. I also have an annual check of my heart health and monitor my blood pressure.

Billybongos profile image
Billybongos in reply tohelixhelix

Morning to you helixhelix , yes your right but I have had various anti inflams over the years but common side effects on these are well....really scary to say the least

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toBillybongos

Have you looked recently at the warnings on the ones you have taken? In the last few years they have recognised risks much more and changed the way these are described. The leaflet in my pack of ibuprofen reads

Risk of heart attack or stroke:

Anti-inflammatory/pain-killer medicines like ibuprofen may be associated with a small increased risk of heart attack or stroke, particularly when used at high doses.

I think Deminem's advice is spot on as well...

Deminem profile image
Deminem

Hia Billy!

I have nothing bad to say about these meds, for me they worked like a dream.

Obv everyone is different, at different ages and stages, and diseases, these things do come into play.

I'm guessing that if they have put you on Cele then...

1) You are not elderly

2) Have normal or controlled BP

Of course risks would be higher if the above mentioned were an issue. I was in my mid 40's when I started them(now 50,well 49) I was scared to take them but my very good Doc reassured me that I'd be fine bcz I wasn't in the risk age group and my BP was optimum.

I took the max dose for 4 years everyday and had great relief from stiffness and pain. Even though now I'm on Biologics, on well ruff days I sling one of them into the mix and notice I'm running like a smooth engine again. It's normal to be worried, fear of the unknown ect. But for us with chronic illness, it's something we have to learn to deal with on the job and in quick time.

Keep a written log of how you are feeling to reassure yourself, they kick in pretty quick so let us know how you get on.

All the best!

D

Billybongos profile image
Billybongos

Thank you deminem for swift reply heart attack as a common side effect was freaking me out .makes sense what your saying yes I have normal BP and I'm 48 just taken one fingers crossed it works as well as it did for you , once again thanku for your swift reply I was getting myself in a bit of a pickle about taking them

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992

It's very hard for the patient to know what med to choose when seldom given all the facts. There are always alternatives that may or may not suit you better, but it is important to do an educated choice. There are many individual differences that always need to be considered. You can take a bigger risk and you can minimize your risk. The Cox-2 inhibitors like Celecoxib may have more risk factors than pain meds that work in different ways?

news-medical.net/news/20141...

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toSimba1992

A reasonable sized study, but unfortunately no information about age, existing health issues or other factors for the participants. For all we know they could be people with existing high risk factors.... so yes backs up the point that there are risks, but doesn't help further to me.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

But what research does tell us is that COX-2 in fact may have a protective effect on cardiovascular function. So why would you choose a pain med that in fact takes away this protective component? Choosing something else would, in my opinion, be a way of minimizing risks(?)

Billybongos profile image
Billybongos in reply toSimba1992

Im not sure what you mean

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply toBillybongos

In Celecoxib and other meds with the same maechanism of action, COX-2 is removed. Not so good since shown to have a protective function on cardiovascular function.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toSimba1992

Except that some things work better for some people than others. I've found a significant positive difference with Arcoxia over lower risk things like Naproxen - so I accept the risks as the benefit to my quality of life is good enough.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

So that was an educated choice😊Whereas in so many cases here on this forum anxious bewildered Ra sufferers are not helped by by their rheumie teams to see the whole picture with the offered meds and come to this forum to get support and advice. The advice is most often encouragements to try the offered med because it has worked on some forum members. Which in reality tells you very little about how it will work on the anxious ra sufferer in question. This is often thanktully received by the sufferer. Gives them hope. But what I wonder is that isn't forum in fact then doing exact the same thing as the rheumie team that believes that keeping facts from the patient is a better way to go? Wouldn't it help the patient more to have a place that would help with the reality of RA and encourage selfreflxion and educating oneself in seeing the broad picture of ones individual disease situation🤔

Billybongos profile image
Billybongos in reply toSimba1992

Thanx for your reply my gp said I will put down we have discussed (celecoxib) she just said they were more expensive. I now feel she was covering her own backside and you would assume that from we've discussed celecoxib it would have been the increased risk in heart problems not the price !I'm so annoyed

Eiram50 profile image
Eiram50 in reply toSimba1992

Is this the best advice to be offering someone anxious about meds prescribed? As had been noted I'm other posts, various factors are a consideration and would almost certainly have been considered, in a measured way, by the physician treating the individual?

I sometimes thin a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. We should be careful and responsible in how we share it.

Marie

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

If we did not just know that all life has risks and some we just have to accept them would any of us drive, get on an airplane or swallow a tablet?

I'd have died had I not accepted the risk of one medication. As my haematologist said 8 people died last year from taking Paracetamol none from this medication, but of course I can't promise you won't be first !

I've said this before but 90% chance of no side effects is great and anyway its usually only until the body gets used to it. I hope it helps you and if it does'nt then talk to your doctor.

Billybongos profile image
Billybongos

Well after all that , I only took 1 .had swelling lips , sore itchy throat ears n a rash so had stop taking them .so I've decided to give up on anti inflams they just don't suit me . A big thanku for all the advice ,your opinions are well and truly appreciated ❤❤❤❤

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply toBillybongos

Reading these kind of news makes you feel that being a bit paranoid is better than having blind trust in meds😳.

independent.co.uk/news/uk/h...

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toSimba1992

But at least we live in counties where health care is still a service, rather than the US view that it is an industry.

But yes, questioning things is always good, alongside some faith & common sense.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

I am with you in questioning things but not so sure how much help from faith and common sense😉

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toSimba1992

I still have faith that 99% of professionals are really trying to do their best for me, so don't dismiss their ideas lightly. And common sense works for me, as trends/fads come and go and I plod on with my approach of keeping things simple. Local food, in season, with minimal extras (although my turmeric plants are coming on a treat now), walking swimming and cycling rather than expensive gyms and fitness machines, etc etc. We are animals, so me and the dog have similar lifestyles...

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

I am not contesting in any way that doctors would do their best, but sadly more a question of that the best is too often not good enough (especially in treating chronic autoimmune conditions) and not based on scientific holistic knowledge but on biased knowledge of symptom control with meds, like the above link tells us, resulting in overmedication and often life threatening complications.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toBillybongos

It happens - my sister is like that too.

CATHYANN1965 profile image
CATHYANN1965

I can't take any NSAID'S for my arthritis and including this tablet, I have had full blown anaphylatic shock 3 times with various ones and once in a coma, now I just suffer and take painkillers tho now they hardly work, and I'm terrified to be put on anything different I've only been saved by the fact that I had family with me when this has happened, and sometimes the anaphylaxis doesn't start immediately with this particular medicine it happened after taking it for 7 days.

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