PMR and Celebrex

[Linny3]

Why doesn't some of the anti-inflammatory drugs like celebrex work for pmr? Seems like they would be less harmful to the body.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Because they are NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs-and the only drug that successfully treats PMR or GCA is steroids or to give it its correct title - corticosteroid.

[HeronNS]

Not necessarily. I agreed to take pred. I think prednisone has been found to contribute to increased mortality in patients with RA, but I don't know if it affects the rest of us on longterm low dose therapy the same way. Several times Celebrex was suggested to me, I even had a prescription for it, never filled. But when I looked it up I wondered why it was still on the market. It seems to be a drug which should be contraindicated for someone like me with a family history of cerebral haemorrhage, just for starters. All the other drugs in that class have been removed from the market, Celebrex is only the best of a bad lot. Of course I won't take ibuprofen for the same reason. I trust aspirin, possibly misguidedly, although it can be hard on the stomach and needs to be taken carefully. And I did find aspirin had a minor but noticeable effect on PMR pain, although at the time I didn't know it was PMR. When I took aspirin for a headache I would find the other aches and pains, which I was attributing to osteoarthritis, were also slightly relieved.

[Joaclp in reply to HeronNS]

I agree with you about Celebrex, besides causing stomach problems it can damage the heart. About pred and RA: I saw some recent research that recommends its use lose dose (under 10 mg) for as long as possible, years even, rather rushing to biologics.

[Omanain in reply to HeronNS]

Hi Heron, if you take aspirin for pain, how much do you take?

[HeronNS in reply to Omanain]

I only take aspirin for headaches. I take nothing except pred for PMR, and never have. I didn't take anything specifically for osteoarthritis or for the undiagnosed PMR, just enjoyed the slight amelioration of that pain when I was treating a headache. I also use tylenol (paracetemol) for headaches, and real killer headaches get otc codeine + acetaminophen, but that is extremely rare. I take what I need to deal with the headache, which is not nearly as often as it used to be. Since I dealt with my salt deficiency morning headaches I just get occasional weather-related (air pressure?) or food sensitivity ones which is a great improvement over my life since about the age of nine.

[Omanain in reply to HeronNS]

Hi Heron, I guessed you were only taking the aspirin occasionally for headaches, I just wondered what the effective dose was. I take a 75mg daily as I had a TIA a couple of years ago but that is quite a low dose. I do get headaches more often now which is probably the pred and I though I might try aspirin but didn't know how much. Thanks. kate

[HeronNS in reply to Omanain]

I overdose. I take 3 extra strength aspirin. I do not recommend this. Two is the maximum single dose. I think, without checking the bottle, each tablet is 500 mg. I'm a lot more careful never to take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen!

Never take aspirin or any nsaid at the same time as pred. Always have something to eat and drink about a cup of water with it.

[Purplecrow]

Have tried celebrex, worked well for osteoarthritis pain, etc., but not pmr. Am skittery about taking it for reasons others have stated, and though I have a prescription , do not currently use it.

I am allergic to ibuphrophen, but do use aspirIn periodically for some osteo pain, and it works for me. I do however, experience severe bruising if i take more than a A few tabs in a weeks time.

Chronic pain, not pmr, is a wretched partner alongside PMR. Its always a challenge to find the management combo that will work for todays pain.

So far, tylenol is my carefully used pain reliever, taken most days, alongside my daily dose of prednisone.

.

[HeronNS in reply to Purplecrow]

It is not a good idea to use NSAIDs, including aspirin, for osteoarthritis as they interfere with cartilage regeneration.

[SnazzyD]

Apart from what others have said, I suspect Celebrex is not used for PMR because it doesn’t stop the prodction of the type of inflammatory substances that fuel PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Although the medical literature used to say use NSAIDs for mild PMR (that has been recommended against in the newest guidelines) they rarely work in PMR. And celebrex works on another pain mediator, not IL-6.

But actually, although the way doctors sometimes go on you wouldn't think so, the long term adverse effects of celebrex make pred look an absolute pussy-cat.