The drug Celebrex blocks the cellular substance prostaglandin, a substance that acts like a hormone in the body and is associated with inflammation and pain. Celebrex fits into the category of medication called Cox-2 inhibitors. This category of drugs prevents the action of the prostaglandin. By inhibiting prostaglandin, analgesia sets in and swelling decreases in disease conditions.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis exists as the most common arthritis. According to the "Center for Disease Control and Prevention", the wear and tear of joints cause the padding between the surface of the joints to wear out, and the bone surfaces strike together causing pain, inflexibility and swelling. CDC reports up to 30% of individuals with osteoarthritis are disabled. The pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis reduces in patients using Celebrex.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
According to the "The Journal of Family Practice," the researchers Carla Megeff and Scott Strayer demonstrated a reduction of inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Celebrex without an increase in gastric symptoms. Although the symptoms of arthritis occur in the joints, the disease arises from dysfunction in the immune system. Fluid in the joint from the immune system destroys the padding and bone in the joint. Inflammation appears as the greater problem in rheumatoid arthritis. The Celebrex diminishes the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.
Colon and Rectal Polyps
Celebrex produces an additional effect of reducing polyps in the lower gastrointestinal tract. "Health Technology Assessment" describes the drug reducing polyps and the recurrence of adenomas in some individuals. Polyps refer to small clumps of cells that form in the colon and may be pre-cancerous. Adenomas describe early cancerous lesions in the colon. By preventing these lesions or removing lesions early, Celebrex reduces the number of individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer.
Pain
"Women's Health: A Primary Care Clinical Guide" describes an increase in the level of prostaglandin during menstruation as causing the pain from menstrual cramps in some women. Since the Celebrix acts on blocking prostaglandin, the drug works effectively to decrease the pain from menstrual cramps.
Side Effects of Drugs
The New York Times, in the article, "A Reminder That No Drug Is Risk-Free," reported that every drug has side effects and the Cox-2 inhibitors possess this same quality as other drugs. The issue at hand involves informing consumers who take the drugs of the possible side effects and allowing each individual to make a decision based on the information presented to them. Celebrex may cause heart attacks and strokes in some individuals, and the users of Celebrex should be aware of this fact.
References
- "Health Technology Assessment"; Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer; K. Cooper et al.; 2010
- "Journal of Family Practice"; Does Celecoxib Relieve Pain in Rheumatoid Arhtiritis; Vst; Carla Megeff and Scott Strayer; 2000
- The New York Times: A Reminder That No Drug is Risk-Free
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Arthritis.
- "Women's Health: A Primary Care Clinical Guide"; Dysmenorrhea; E. Youngkin and M. Davis; 2004
