Any Celebrex users here?

[girl gone mad]

My doctor gave me Celebrex today for some pain I've been having in my leg. It could be referred hip pain, a pulled muscle or ligament damage.

Since she only gave me free samples, I don't have a drug fact sheet. I know it's an anti-inflammatory. Is it a pretty safe drug? Does it work? Is it expensive (I don't have prescription drug coverage).

I'm not going to go to the Celebrex web site for propoganda, and Google only gives me foreign pharmacies.

[Snow]

1. It's aspirin without the g-i side-effects.....

it's really expensive, got pushed big-time by the drug companies because they figured there'd be a major market for a med for arthritis sufferers that didn't cause gut bleeds. Good idea, but they tacked a huge price tag on it, figuring whoever paid for the old folks' meds would pony up. I don't think that happened. It has about the same pain-relieving & anti-inflammatory strength as aspirin - in other words, not too bad - but some docs & some of the public seem to think it's a lot stronger than that. Probably due to some ambiguous phrasing by drug salesmen.

[mopinko]

8. a study came out the other day

that said that celebrex slowed the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. i honestly don't know that much about it, but i don't think your characterization is exactly correct.
however, i don't think it is worthwile for a short term problem.

[Snow]

15. I think you misunderstood my remark about aspirin -

it's a pretty damned effective drug, especially as an anti-inflammatory and fever-reliever. As a pain killer it's as good as anything out there that's available OTC. And the cox-2 inhibitors have the same degree of effectiveness without the cox-1 problems of g-i distress. Are we communicating?

[Catherine Vincent]

2. I'd like some info on it too.

[silverweb]

3. Here's pricing information

http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/drugindex/rxsearch.asp?search=celebrex

Celebrex is quite expensive.

I can post you pharmaceutical info here, too....

[Punkingal]

4. I have taken it...

because I have a chronic condition that causes inflammation in my connective tissue, and it is just an awesome drug. I have never had any side effects, but it can cause stomach problems. As for cost, I don't know, because I have a prescription plan, so I only had to pay 10 bucks. I highly reccommend it, but watch for stomach upset. You should always take it with food.

[mopinko]

5. how long have you had this pain?

i think celebrex may be an expensive solution to a simple problem. it's usually used for chronic problems, like arthritis. does ibuprophen work? or a combination of ibuprophen and tylenol?

[girl gone mad]

11. I've had the pain for a few months..

it usually only bothers me when I walk long distances, sometimes when I get up out of a chair or walk up stairs.

I'm only in my 20s, but the doctor said if it's a hip problem (I had hip surgery when I was a baby), then it's just going to get worse. She said I should try stretching and strengthening my muscles.

Aspirin and Tylenol don't help much, Ibuprofen works a little better.

[xultar]

6. Celebrex is awesome. I take it for my back. Track injury from college

It is wonderful. Usually I only need to take 1 maybe a coupla times a month. No biggie.

I'm very thankful for it. Cuz when I travel I have my Chihuahua, my laptop bag and a suitcase. Being on the road is MURDER. It is nice to be pain free for a long time when I have to.

I like it better than Vioxx

[Julien Sorel]

7. I have stomach ulcers and herniated discs in my back, so I'm a natural

for it. It helps a tad when my back is acting up mildly, and it has never bothered my stomach, but it messes up my blood sugar. Overall, I prefer ibuprofen for mild pain because it seems to have no side effects, and works almost as well as Celebrex for me. Given the hype, I was disappointed by Celebrex, although I've had worse stuff prescribed to me.

[Nite Owl]

9. I've taken it for several years

and have had no problems. It's similar to Ibuprophen with slightly less stomach problems and it lasts most of the day instead of just 4-6 hrs. It helps, not a miracle drug. Have a Rx plan so it's only $15 for a three month supply. I think it is expensive though.

[Corgigal]

10. Wish the doc

gave you some real painkillers, even tylenol 3 is cheap and told you to rest.

[rexcat]

12. For the most part it is safe...

but if you have a history of GI bleeding (ulcers, etc.) there could be a problem with spontaneous GI bleeding. Any of the Cox 2 inhibitors such as Celebrex are a lot safer than ibuprofen or naproxen.

It is expensive! We have Rx coverage and my co-pay for a 30 day supply is over $20.00 (1/3 or 1/2 of the prescription we have to pay). My wife's company changed the insurance coverage this year and we are paying more for Rx coverage and co-pays to see a doctor.

Best to shop around, such as COSTCO or another discount pharmacy if you don't have coverage.

I have had chronic upper back pain and none of the analgesics have really helped so I just started to see a pain management specialist. At least he is getting to the root cause of my pain and I am not taking analgesics anymore.

Good Luck!!!!!

[Cleita]

13. You have to be careful about damage to your kidneys

with those kinds of drugs. I would discuss this with your doctor.

[Dennis Quaranta]

14. Orthopedic Patients Love It

It takes a lot to get a hip patient to jump with joy, but those people are usually very pleased with Celebrex. I forget the name of the other one patients take, in case Celebrex disagrees with them. There was a scandal about the other one, a couple of people died.

[Beaker]

16. i don't like it.

I prefer Opioids to NSAIDS for the level of chronic pain i endure.