Prescription medication · COX-2 Selective NSAID
celecoxib
Also sold as Celebrex. Celecoxib treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 128,099
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 19
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
celecoxib (Celebrex) is a prescription COX-2 Selective NSAID, more reported than most tracked drugs (128,099 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
celecoxib (Celebrex) is a prescription COX-2 Selective NSAID. Celecoxib treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Celecoxib (Celebrex) is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
celecoxib is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$15.74/unit
Generic Price
$0.07/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (17 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Celecoxib treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Common side effects
Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Upset stomach
Key warnings
Celecoxib may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from celecoxib's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Celecoxib blocks a substance in the body that causes pain and swelling. It targets COX-2, an enzyme involved in inflammation. By blocking COX-2, celecoxib reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
How to Take It
Take celecoxib exactly as your doctor tells you. For osteoarthritis, you may take 200 mg once a day or 100 mg twice a day. You can take it with or without food. For children who cannot swallow capsules, you can mix the capsule contents with applesauce.
This is a plain-language summary of celecoxib's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Using celecoxib after about 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause kidney problems in the baby and low amniotic fluid. Avoid using celecoxib after 30 weeks of pregnancy because it can cause the baby's heart to close too early. If you are trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor, as celecoxib may affect fertility.
This is a plain-language summary of celecoxib's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of celecoxib's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store celecoxib at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 128,099 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for celecoxib, by number of reports
- Pain
Pain
12,297 reports
- Joint pain
Joint pain
10,927 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
9,708 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
9,386 reports
- Allergic reaction to the medicine
Allergic reaction to the medicine
7,712 reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
7,298 reports
- Headache
Headache
7,228 reports
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
7,200 reports
- Heart attack
Heart attack
7,038 reports
- Feeling unwell
Feeling unwell
6,220 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for celecoxib each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where celecoxib sits
celecoxib has more FDA adverse-event reports than 89% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is celecoxib; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 128,099 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
128,099
Reports Mentioning Death
11,737
9.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
39,327
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PAIN | 12,294 |
| 3 | ARTHRALGIA | 10,923 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 9,710 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 9,389 |
| 6 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 7,713 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 7,296 |
| 9 | HEADACHE | 7,227 |
| 10 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 7,200 |
| 11 | MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION | 7,038 |
| 12 | MALAISE | 6,220 |
| 13 | RASH | 6,216 |
| 14 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 6,207 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 6,186 |
| 16 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 6,183 |
| 17 | DYSPNOEA | 6,068 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Celecoxib may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take celecoxib if you are having heart bypass surgery. Celecoxib can also increase the risk of serious stomach and intestine problems like bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. These problems can happen without warning. The elderly and those with a history of ulcers or GI bleeding are at higher risk.
Known Drug Interactions
Methotrexate Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). Celecoxib has no effect on methotrexate pharmacokinetics. Intervention: During concomitant use of celecoxib and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity.
Mechanism: Celecoxib can make methotrexate more harmful to your blood and kidneys. This happens even though the amount of methotrexate in your blood stays the same.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs of methotrexate toxicity while you are taking both drugs.
NSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Celecoxib with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Mechanism: Both drugs are similar types of pain relievers that can harm the stomach lining. Taking them together increases the risk of stomach problems without helping your pain any more than one drug alone.
What to do: You should avoid taking these two medications together to prevent serious stomach or intestinal issues.
7.2 Platelet Inhibitors Drugs such as NSAIDS (including salicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and celecoxib), dextran, phenylbutazone, thienopyridines, dipyridamole, hydroxychloroquine, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists (including abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban), and others that interfere with platelet-aggregation reactions (the main hemostatic defense of heparinized patients) may induce bleeding and should be used with caution in patients receiving heparin sodium.
Mechanism: Both drugs affect how your blood clots, with one thinning the blood and the other stopping platelets from clumping. This combination makes it much easier for you to bleed or bruise.
What to do: Use these medicines together only with caution. Your healthcare provider should monitor you closely for any signs of bleeding.
In the absence of data regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration.
Mechanism: Taking two different pain medicines from the same class can increase the risk of side effects because there is no evidence that they are safe to use together.
What to do: You should talk to your doctor about stopping one of these medicines to avoid a dangerous interaction.
Diuretics Clinical Impact: Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients. ( 7 ) Diuretics : NSAIDs can reduce natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazide diuretics.
Mechanism: This pain medicine can reduce the ability of your water pill to remove salt and extra fluid from your body.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor you for signs that your water pill is not working as well as it should.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I take celecoxib with aspirin?
How long does it take for celecoxib to work?
Can celecoxib affect my blood pressure?
Is celecoxib a strong painkiller?
Can I drink alcohol while taking celecoxib?
Does celecoxib cause weight gain?
Can I take celecoxib if I have kidney problems?
Can celecoxib cause constipation?
Can I stop taking celecoxib suddenly?
What should I do if I have side effects from celecoxib?
What are the common side effects of celecoxib?
Does celecoxib interact with other medications?
What drug class is celecoxib?
Is there a generic version of celecoxib?
Is celecoxib safe during pregnancy?
Is celecoxib currently in shortage?
Related Medications in COX-2 Selective NSAID
Other drugs grouped near celecoxib - same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
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acetaminophen
Tylenol
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acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
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acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
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adalimumab
Humira
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for celecoxib
The FDA label for celecoxib (sold under brand names such as Celebrex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the COX-2 Selective NSAID class. Celecoxib treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Official labeling lists 12 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Upset stomach.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 128,099 voluntary reports. The database also lists 19 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.07 versus $15.74 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 24, 2023
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages