Celebrex Uses

Celebrex is used to treat joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis (a type of degenerative arthritis that occurs due to wear and tear of the joints). It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy joint tissue). Additionally, Celebrex is used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (a type of arthritis that affects children) and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine). Celebrex is also used to treat acute pain caused by injuries and pain associated with medical or dental procedures or surgeries. It is also used to relieve pain associated with menstrual periods. 

There may be other uses of Celebrex, such as familial adenomatous polyposis—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.

Celebrex Mechanism of Action

Celebrex works by blocking the effects of a protein called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) which plays a role in pain and inflammation. Because Celebrex is a selective COX-2 inhibitor, it does not block the COX-1 protein that protects the stomach lining. For this reason, Celebrex is less likely to cause stomach ulcers and bleeding compared to other non-selective COX inhibitors that affect both COX-1 and COX-2.

Celebrex Doses

Celebrex comes in 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg capsules. The recommended dose of Celebrex is as follows: 

• Osteoarthritis: 200 mg daily as a single dose or 100 mg twice a day.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: 100 to 200 mg twice daily
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (children 2 years of age and older): The dose is based on the child’s body weight. For children weighing between 10 and 25 kg, the recommended Celebrex dose is 50 mg twice daily. For children weighing more than 25 kg, the recommended Celebrex dose is 100 mg twice daily. 
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: 200 mg daily as a single dose or 100 mg twice a day. The dose can be increased to 400 mg daily if there is no improvement in symptoms after 6 weeks. 
• Acute pain and dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain): 400 mg initial dose followed by 200 mg the next day and 200 mg twice daily on subsequent days as needed.