celecoxib vs diflunisal
Side-by-side comparison of celecoxib and diflunisal. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
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) ] .
Recommendation: You should avoid taking these two medications together to prevent serious stomach or intestinal issues.
Celebrex
Dolobid
Celecoxib (Celebrex) is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Diflunisal is a medicine that can help with pain and swelling. 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.
Diflunisal can help with mild to moderate pain. It can also treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You should use the lowest dose that works for you, for the shortest time needed.
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.
Diflunisal reduces pain and swelling by blocking the production of certain chemicals in your body. These chemicals cause inflammation and pain. By blocking them, diflunisal helps to relieve your symptoms.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Upset stomach
- • Gas
- • Swelling in your legs or feet
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Upset stomach
- • Stomach pain
- • Diarrhea
- Pain 12,297
- Joint pain 10,927
- Tiredness 9,708
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,386
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 7,712
- Feeling sick to your stomach 66
- Feeling very tired 57
- Discomfort or aching 50
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 47
- Pain in your head 45
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.
NSAIDs like diflunisal can increase your risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke, which can be deadly. This risk is higher if you take it for a long time. You should not take diflunisal if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also raise your risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can also be deadly. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking diflunisal late in pregnancy may harm your baby. It is not known if diflunisal passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
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How to Read This celecoxib vs diflunisal Comparison
celecoxib is classified in the COX-2 Selective NSAID drug class, while diflunisal 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 prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, celecoxib has 50,030 submissions while diflunisal has 265. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to 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.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between celecoxib and diflunisal - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.