Celebrex

Frequently asked questions

How much does Celebrex increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), which was conducting a study for Pfizer, found that patients in the clinical trial taking 400 milligrams of Celebrex had 2.5 times greater risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those taking a placebo. For patients taking 800 milligrams of Celebrex t he risk was 3-4 times greater. The average duration of treatment in the trial was 33 months.

What were the NCI study findings?
Of the 2,000 patients in the study, 15 individuals taking 400 mg, 20 patients taking 800 mg and 6 patients on placebo suffered either a cardiac-related death, heart attack or stroke. The study, to determine whether Celebrex could prevent polyps, precancerous growths, in patients who had already had at least one such growth, was halted in December 2004 when researchers discovered the serious drug reactions caused by Celebrex.

What other severe drug side effects have Celebrex lawyers seen?

• Stomach ulcers that bleed.
• Vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds.
• Allergic drug reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat that may cause problems with breathing, swallowing, and wheezing. Serious skin reactions also have happened.
• Liver damage which causes nausea, vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, itching, yellow coloring of skin or eyes, flu-like symptoms, and dark urine.
• Kidney problems Celebrex can cause serious kidney problems, including sudden kidney failure or worsening of kidney problems that you already have.
• Fluid retention Celebrex can cause fluid retention (holding of water in your body) and swelling. Fluid retention can be a serious problem if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.
• Black bowel movements that look like tar.

Why is Celebrex still on the market?
After learning of the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious drug reactions from Celebrex, the FDA assembled an advisory panel of physicians and pharmacological researchers to review Celebrex. In February 2005 the panel recommended that even though Celebrex users faced a greater risk for serious, even fatal, drug side effects and cardiovascular events, it should not be withdrawn. The panel voted 31-1 to keep Celebrex on the market, saying that its benefits outweigh their potential dangerous side effects

Although Celebrex has not been removed from the market, the FDA released a study which showed patients taking the highest recommended daily dosage of Celebrex had three times the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death as those taking standard painkillers.

Have more recent studies of Celebrex supported these findings?
The March 2006 issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, published a review in which reviewers from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand examined six studies, covering 12,000 people who had taken Celebrex. They found that across studies Celebrex users nearly doubled their risk of heart attack.