Celebrex is a prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and acute pain. Celebrex capsules contain the active ingredient celcoxib, which helps to relieve symptoms of swelling, stiffness and discomfort and improve daily physical function. Celebrex also contains a number of other inactive ingredients that help stabilize the drug and improve its absorption in the human body.
Celcoxib
Celcoxib is the active ingredient in Celebrex capsules. It is present in dosages of 50, 100, 200 or 400 milligrams. It works to relieve pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis that affects the spine). Celecoxib is a type of NSAID called a COX-2 inhibitor that works by inhibiting the body's production of a substance that causes inflammation and pain.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, or a wetting agent, that lowers the surface tension between two substances that do not normally mix. It is used to solubilize mixtures, helping drug ingredients to mix to form stable solutions.
Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium stearate is a magnesium salt of stearic acid that is used as an additive in pharmaceutical drugs. It is typically used as a lubricant in the formation of drug tablets, aiding the process of coating the tablets and helping to prevent ingredients from sticking to machinery during their manufacture.
Povidone
Povidone is a polymerized form of a powder called vinylpyrrolidone. It is water soluble and is used as a dispersing and suspending agent in pharmaceutical drug preparations. Povidone helps to keep ingredients separated, preventing them from clumping together, as well as keeping them from forming a sediment at the bottom of the mixture during the manufacturing process.
Croscarmellose Sodium
Croscarmellose sodium is an additive that is used as a disintegrant in pharmaceutical drugs, meaning it induces the capsule or tablet to break up once it is put in a fluid environment such as water or the human body. By enhancing a drug's ability to dissolve in the intestinal tract, it improves its effectiveness and bioavailability (the extent to and rate at which a drug enters the blood stream). Without croscarmellose sodium, the medication might disintegrate too slowly, not at all or in the wrong part of the intestine.
Lactose Monohydrate
Lactose is commonly used as a diluent in drug tablets, diluting or dissolving active ingredients to keep them from becoming too potent. Lactose monohydrate is a type of lactose that acts as a carrier for active ingredients in pharmaceutical drugs. An inactive substance in the medication, lactose monohydrate helps to stabilize and preserve the active ingredient, making sure it stays active and allowing it to be more easily absorbed by the body.
Inks and Gelatins
Gelatins are natural, digestible proteins derived from skin, connective tissue and animal bones. They are used in formulating the outer coating of drug capsules. Celebrex also contains edible inks that give color to the capsules.
