Effectiveness of Celebrex
By Carly Main | June 10, 2008
In both short- and long-term trials, Celebrex provided more effective pain relief in patients suffering from arthritis pain and inflammation. The overall effectiveness of Celebrex, including its side effects and possible complications, may be related to dosages.
Learn more about Celebrex Dosages.
Short-term Effects of Celebrex
In short-term studies, patients suffering from chronic pain, such as is associated with arthritis, experienced the same level of pain relief with COX-2 Inhibitors as with other NSAIDs, but with fewer immediate gastrointestinal side effects.
Long-term Effects of Celebrex
Celebrex was designed specifically for use with chronic conditions requiring long-term pain management. Over the course of long-term pain management therapy using Celebrex, patients on average found Celebrex to be effective, particularly at higher dosages. However, side effects including stomach ulceration occurred at a higher rate in patients who were on high dosages of the medication (400mg or more per day). Additionally, in long-term studies, COX-2 Inhibitors, especially administered in high dosages, caused a higher incidence of fatal cardiovascular events than placebo.
While Celebrex may ease the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, it does not slow down or halt the progression of these diseases.
Though Celebrex remains on the market while many COX-2 Inhibitors have been banned, it is recommended that the minimum dose be used, and it is not recommended at all for patients with a higher-than-average risk of cardiovascular complications, including stroke and heart attack.
Absorption Variations
Celebrex is processed at different rates by different people. On average, the measure of drug absorbency versus time, called the area under the curve (AUC), varies within test sub-groups. A higher AUC means that a lower dosage of the medication is required for maximum potency, compared to the average. In studies, the following variations in AUC were found:
- Elderly patients (aged 65 and up) had a 50% higher AUC.
- Blacks showed a 40% higher AUC than caucasions, for unknown reasons.
- Patients with Hepatitis A showed a 40% higher AUC, and patients with Hepatitis B showed a 180% higher AUC.
- Patients with renal insufficiency showed a 40% lower AUC than average.