Two medicines, side by side
Celecoxib vs prednisone
Celecoxib and prednisone are both labeled for osteoarthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of celecoxib since 1998 and of prednisone since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.0762 per celecoxib 200 mg capsule and $0.0643 per prednisone 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the celecoxib FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 22, 2024); the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025).
Highlights of the celecoxib record
Celecoxib (Celebrex) · label of November 22, 2024
RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in the treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsCELEBREX is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for: • Osteoarthritis (OA) ( 1.1 ) • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ( 1.2 ) • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in patients 2 years and older ( 1.3 ) • Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) ( 1.4 ) • Acute Pain (AP) ( 1.5 ) • Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) ( 1.6 ) 1.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) For the management of the signs and symptoms of OA [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. 1.2 […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 63 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0762 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the prednisone record
Prednisone (Meticorten) · label of April 22, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 1. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 21, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0643 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Celecoxib label of November 22, 2024, Prednisone label of April 22, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do celecoxib and prednisone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and prednisone a corticosteroid.
Only the celecoxib label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: celecoxib since 2014; prednisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Celecoxib | Prednisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Migraine | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Organ transplant rejection |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | Celecoxib has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The mechanism of action of CELEBREX is believed to be due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, primarily via inhibition of COX-2. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | It is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9 with a half-life of approximately 11 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1998 | February 21, 1955 |
| First generic approved | May 30, 2014 | December 23, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 63 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0762 per capsule (Celecoxib 200 mg capsule) | $0.0643 per tablet (Prednisone 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -13% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 130,882 | 499,950 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Celecoxib label, drug interactionsConcomitant 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) ].
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to celecoxib
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions