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 →
NADAC price trail: CELECOXIB 100 MG CAPSULE
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (4 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -6.9% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.0896/EA | - | 1 |
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0753/EA | -15.9% | 1 |
| May 22, 2024 | $0.0734/EA | -2.6% | 3 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0683/EA | -6.9% | 39 |
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.
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
12,294 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
10,923 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
9,710 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
9,389 reports
- Drug Hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity
7,713 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
7,296 reports
- Headache
Headache
7,227 reports
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
7,200 reports
- Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial Infarction
7,038 reports
- Malaise
Malaise
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) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
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?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for celecoxib?
Is celecoxib currently in shortage?
Related Medications in COX-2 Selective NSAID
Other drugs grouped near celecoxib - same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
Compare with celecoxib →
acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
Compare with celecoxib →
acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
Compare with celecoxib →
acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
Compare with celecoxib →
adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
Compare with celecoxib →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for celecoxib: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 128,099.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 9.16%.
- omeprazole Δ 0.01 pts · 331,875 reports · Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) 9.15%death share
- folic acid Δ 0.01 pts · 241,433 reports · B Vitamin (Folate) Supplement 9.17%death share
- meclizine Δ 0.03 pts · 15,616 reports · Antihistamine / Antiemetic 9.13%death share
- valsartan Δ 0.06 pts · 102,306 reports · Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) 9.22%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on celecoxib
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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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: August 24, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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