celecoxib vs diclofenac
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Side-by-side comparison of celecoxib and diclofenac. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
NSAIDs with short elimination half-lives (e.g., diclofenac, indomethacin) should be avoided for a period of two days before, the day of, and two days following administration of pemetrexed.
Celebrex
Voltaren, Cataflam
Celecoxib (Celebrex) is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Diclofenac is a gel that helps with arthritis pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Celecoxib treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children 2 years and older. Additionally, it is used for ankylosing spondylitis, acute pain, and menstrual pain.
This medicine temporarily relieves arthritis pain. It is only for pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It may take up to 7 days to start working. If you still have pain after 7 days, stop using it.
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.
Diclofenac is an NSAID. It reduces pain and swelling by blocking substances in the body that cause inflammation.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Gas
- • Swelling in your legs or feet
- • Pain
- • Headache
- Pain 12,294
- Arthralgia 10,923
- Fatigue 9,710
- Nausea 9,389
- Drug Hypersensitivity 7,713
- Pain 12,281
- Fatigue 11,317
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 9,241
- Rash 8,747
- Arthralgia 8,640
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.
No specific warnings noted.
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.
No pregnancy information available.
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How to Read This celecoxib vs diclofenac Comparison
celecoxib is classified in the COX-2 Selective NSAID drug class, while diclofenac sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, celecoxib has 50,029 submissions while diclofenac has 50,226. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking two different nsaid pain relievers at the same time increases the chance of serious side effects like stomach ulcers or kidney issues.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for celecoxib or diclofenac.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.