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Package leaflet: Information for the user Celebrex® 100 mg hard capsules Celebrex® 200 mg hard capsules celecoxib Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you. − Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again. − If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. − This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours. − If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4. What is in this leaflet
- What Celebrex is and what it is used for
- What you need to know before you take Celebrex
- How to take Celebrex
- Possible side effects
- How to store Celebrex
- Contents of the pack and other information 1. What Celebrex is and what it is used for Celebrex belongs to a group of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and specifically a sub-group known as cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Your body makes prostaglandins that may cause pain and inflammation. In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis your body makes more of these. Celebrex acts by reducing the production of prostaglandins, thereby reducing the pain and inflammation. Celebrex is used in adults for the relief of signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. You should expect your medicine to start working within hours of taking the first dose, but you may not experience a full effect for several days. 2. What you need to know before you take Celebrex You have been prescribed Celebrex by your doctor. The following information will help you get the best results with Celebrex. If you have any further questions please ask your doctor or pharmacist. Do not take Celebrex
Tell your doctor if any of the following are true for you as patients with these conditions should not take Celebrex.
- if you are allergic to celecoxib or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- if you have had an allergic reaction to a group of medicines called “sulfonamides” (e.g. some antibiotics used to treat infections)
- if you currently have an ulcer in your stomach or intestines, or bleeding in your stomach or intestines
- if as a result of taking acetylsalicylic acid or any other anti-inflammatory and pain- relieving medicine (NSAID) you have had asthma, nose polyps, severe nose congestion, or an allergic reaction such as an itchy skin rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, breathing difficulties or wheezing
- if you are pregnant. If you can become pregnant during ongoing treatment you should discuss methods of contraception with your doctor
- if you are breast-feeding
- if you have severe liver disease
- if you have severe kidney disease
- if you have an inflammatory disease of the intestines such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- if you have heart failure, established ischaemic heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease, e.g. you have been diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain; also known as “mini-stroke”), angina, or blockages of blood vessels to the heart or brain
- if you have or have had problems with your blood circulation (peripheral arterial disease) or if you have had surgery on the arteries of your legs Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Celebrex:
- if you have previously had an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach or intestines. (Do not take Celebrex if you currently have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach or intestine)
- if you are taking acetylsalicylic acid (even at low dose for heart protective purposes)
- if you are taking antiplatelet therapies
- if you use medicines to reduce blood clotting (e.g. warfarin/warfarin like anticoagulants or novel oral anti-clotting medicines, e.g. apixaban)
- if you use medicines called corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone)
- if you are using Celebrex at the same time as other non-acetylsalicylic NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac. The use of these medicines together should be avoided
- if you smoke, have diabetes, raised blood pressure or raised cholesterol
- if your heart, liver or kidneys are not working well your doctor may want to keep a regular check on you
- if you have fluid retention (such as swollen ankles and feet)
- if you are dehydrated, for instance due to sickness, diarrhoea or the use of diuretics (used to treat excess fluid in the body)
- if you have had a serious allergic reaction or a serious skin reaction to any medicines
- if you feel ill due to an infection or think you have an infection, as Celebrex may mask a fever or other signs of infection and inflammation
- if you are over 65 years of age your doctor will want to monitor you regularly
- the consumption of alcohol and NSAIDs may increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems
Driving and using machines You should be aware of how you react to Celebrex before you drive or operate machinery. If you feel dizzy or drowsy after taking Celebrex, do not drive or operate machinery until these effects wear off. Celebrex contains lactose Celebrex contains lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. Celebrex contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium ( 23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Celebrex Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. If you think or feel that the effect of Celebrex is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor will tell you what dose you should take. As the risk of side effects associated with heart problems may increase with dose and duration of use, it is important that you use the lowest dose that controls your pain and you should not take Celebrex for longer than necessary to control symptoms. Method of administration Celebrex is for oral use. The capsules can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. However, try to take each dose of Celebrex at the same time each day. If you have difficulty swallowing capsules: The entire capsule contents can be sprinkled onto a level teaspoon of semi-solid food (such as cool or room temperature applesauce, rice gruel, yogurt or mashed banana) and swallowed immediately with a drink approximately 240 ml of water. To open the capsule, hold upright to contain the granules at the bottom then gently squeeze the top and twist to remove, taking care not to spill the contents. Do not chew or crush the granules. Contact your doctor within two weeks of starting treatment if you do not experience any benefit. The recommended dose is For osteoarthritis the recommended dose is 200 mg each day, increased by your doctor to a maximum of 400 mg, if needed. The dose is usually:
◼ one 200 mg capsule once a day; or
◼ one 100 mg capsule twice a day.
For rheumatoid arthritis the recommended dose is 200 mg each day, increased by your doctor to a maximum of 400 mg, if needed. The dose is usually:
◼ one 100 mg capsule twice a day.
For ankylosing spondylitis the recommended dose is 200 mg each day, increased by your doctor to a maximum of 400 mg, if needed. The dose is usually:
◼ one 200 mg capsule once a day; or
◼ one 100 mg capsule twice a day.
Kidney or liver problems : make sure your doctor knows if you have liver or kidney problems as you may need a lower dose. The elderly, especially those with a weight less than 50 kg: if you are over 65 years of age and especially if you weigh less than 50 kg, your doctor may want to monitor you more closely. You should not take more than 400 mg per day. Use in children Celebrex is for adults only, it is not for use in children. If you take more Celebrex than you should You should not take more capsules than your doctor tells you to. If you take too many capsules contact your doctor, pharmacist or hospital and take your medicine with you. If you forget to take Celebrex If you forget to take a capsule, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop taking Celebrex Suddenly stopping your treatment with Celebrex may lead to your symptoms getting worse. Do not stop taking Celebrex unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor may tell you to reduce the dose over a few days before stopping completely. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects listed below were observed in arthritis patients who took Celebrex. Side effects marked with an asterisk () are listed below at the higher frequencies that occurred in patients who took Celebrex to prevent colon polyps. Patients in these studies took Celebrex at high doses and for a long duration. If any of the following happen, stop taking Celebrex and tell your doctor immediately:* If you have: - an allergic reaction such as skin rash, swelling of the face, wheezing or difficulty breathing - heart problems such as pain in the chest
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,00 0 people
- Ulcers (bleeding) in the stomach, gullet or intestines; or rupture of the intestine (can cause stomach ache, fever, nausea, vomiting, intestinal blockage), dark or black stools, inflammation of the pancreas (can lead to stomach pain), inflammation of the gullet (oesophagus)
- Low levels of sodium in the blood (a condition known as hyponatraemia)
- Reduced number of white blood cells (which help to protect the body from infection) or blood platelets (increased chance of bleeding or bruising)
- Difficulty coordinating muscular movements
- Feeling confused, changes in the way things taste
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Loss of hair
- Hallucinations
- Bleeding in the eye
- Acute reaction that may lead to lung inflammation
- Irregular heartbeat
- Flushing
- Blood clot in the blood vessels in the lungs. Symptoms may include sudden breathlessness, sharp pains when you breathe or collapse
- Bleeding of the stomach or intestines (can lead to bloody stools or vomiting), inflammation of the intestine or colon
- Severe liver inflammation (hepatitis). Symptoms may include nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, jaundice (yellow discolouration of the skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stools, bleeding easily, itching or chills
- Acute kidney failure
- Menstrual disturbances
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, or difficulty swallowing Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- Serious allergic reactions (including potentially fatal anaphylactic shock)
- Serious skin conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis (can cause rash, blistering or peeling of the skin) and acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (symptoms include the skin becoming red with swollen areas covered in numerous small pustules)
- A delayed allergic reaction with possible symptoms such as rash, swelling of the face, fever, swollen glands, and abnormal test results (e.g., liver, blood cell (eosinophilia, a type of raised white blood cell count))
- Bleeding within the brain causing death
- Meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord)
- Liver failure, liver damage and severe liver inflammation (fulminant hepatitis) (sometimes fatal or requiring liver transplant). Symptoms may include nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, jaundice (yellow discolouration of the skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stools, bleeding easily, itching or chills
- Liver problems (such as cholestasis and cholestatic hepatitis, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as discoloured stools, nausea and yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Inflammation of the kidneys and other kidney problems (such as nephrotic syndrome and minimal change disease, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as water retention (oedema), foamy urine, fatigue and a loss of appetite)
- Worsening of epilepsy (possible more frequent and/or severe seizures)
- Blockage of an artery or vein in the eye leading to partial or complete loss of vision
- Inflamed blood vessels (can cause fever, aches, purple blotches on the skin)
- A reduction in the number of red and white blood cells and platelets (may cause tiredness, easy bruising, frequent nose bleeds and increased risk of infections)
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Impaired sense of smell
- Loss of taste Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
- Decreased fertility in females, which is usually reversible on discontinuation of the medicine In clinical studies not associated with arthritis or other arthritic conditions, where Celebrex was taken at doses of 400 mg per day for up to 3 years, the following additional side effects have been observed: Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Heart problems: angina (chest pain)
- Stomach problems: irritable bowel syndrome (can include stomach ache, diarrhoea, indigestion, wind)
- Kidney stones (which may lead to stomach or back pain, blood in urine), difficulty passing urine
- Weight gain Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot usually in the leg, which may cause pain, swelling or redness of the calf or breathing problems)
- Stomach problems: stomach infection (which can cause irritation and ulcers of the stomach and intestines)
- Lower limb fracture
- Shingles, skin infection, eczema (dry itchy rash), pneumonia (chest infection (possible cough, fever, difficulty breathing))
- Floaters in the eye causing blurred or impaired vision, vertigo due to inner ear troubles, sore, inflamed or bleeding gums, mouth sores
- Excessive urination at night, bleeding from piles/ haemorrhoids, frequent bowel movements
- Fatty lumps in skin or elsewhere, ganglion cyst (harmless swellings on or around joints and tendons in the hand or foot), difficulty speaking, abnormal or very heavy bleeding from the vagina, breast pain
- High levels of sodium in blood test results Reporting of side effects
Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder United Kingdom Upjohn UK Limited Ramsgate Road Sandwich Kent CT13 9NJ United Kingdom Malta UPJOHN HELLAS LTD 253 - 255, Mesogion Avenue, 154 51 Neo Psychiko, Athens, Greece. Manufacturer R-Pharm Germany GmbH Heinrich-Mack-Str. 35 89257 Illertissen Germany Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH Betriebsstätte Freiburg Mooswaldallee 1, 79090 Freiburg Germany This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names: Name Country Celebra Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden Celebrex Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK This leaflet was last revised in 01 / 2021. Other sources of information Detailed information on this medicine is available on the web site of: Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Ref: CB 38 _ 2
