Zobrex Special Precautions

Upper gastrointestinal complications (perforations, ulcers or bleedings (PUBs)), some of them resulting in fatal outcome, have occurred in patients treated with celecoxib. Caution is advised with treatment of patients most at risk of developing a gastrointestinal complication with NSAIDs; the elderly, patients using any other NSAID or acetylsalicylic acid concomitantly or patients with a prior history of gastrointestinal disease, such as ulceration and GI bleeding.
There is further increase in the risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects for celecoxib (gastrointestinal ulceration or other gastrointestinal complications), when celecoxib is taken concomitantly with acetylsalicylic acid (even at low doses).
The concomitant use of celecoxib and a non-aspirin NSAID should be avoided.
As the cardiovascular risks of celecoxib may increase with dose and duration of exposure, the shortest duration possible and the lowest effective daily dose should be used. The patient's need for symptomatic relief and response to therapy should be re-evaluated periodically, especially in patients with osteoarthritis (see Dosage & Administration, Contraindications, Adverse Reactions and Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Patients with significant risk factors for cardiovascular events (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking) should only be treated with celecoxib after careful consideration (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
COX-2 selective inhibitors are not a substitute for acetylsalicylic acid for prophylaxis of cardiovascular thrombo-embolic diseases because of their lack of antiplatelet effects. Therefore, antiplatelet therapies should not be discontinued.
As with other drugs known to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, fluid retention and oedema have been observed in patients taking celecoxib. Therefore, celecoxib should be used with caution in patients with history of cardiac failure, left ventricular dysfunction or hypertension, and in patients with pre-existing oedema from any other reason, since prostaglandin inhibition may result in deterioration of renal function and fluid retention. Caution is also required in patients taking diuretic treatment or otherwise at risk of hypovolaemia.
As with all NSAIDS, celecoxib can lead to the onset of new hypertension or worsening of pre-existing hypertension, either of which may contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Therefore, blood pressure should be monitored closely during the initiation of therapy with celecoxib and throughout the course of therapy.
Compromised renal or hepatic function and especially cardiac dysfunction are more likely in the elderly and therefore medically appropriate supervision should be maintained.
NSAIDs, including celecoxib, may cause renal toxicity. Patients at greatest risk for renal toxicity are those with impaired renal function, heart failure, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists and the elderly (see Interactions). Such patients should be carefully monitored while receiving treatment with celecoxib.
Some cases of severe hepatic reactions, including fulminant hepatitis (some with fatal outcome), liver necrosis and, hepatic failure (some with fatal outcome or requiring liver transplant), have been reported with celecoxib. Among the cases that reported time to onset, most of the severe adverse hepatic events developed within one month after initiation of celecoxib treatment (see Adverse Reactions).
If during treatment, patients deteriorate in any of the organ system functions previously described, appropriate measures should be taken and discontinuation of celecoxib therapy should be considered.
Celecoxib inhibits CYP2D6. Although it is not a strong inhibitor of this enzyme, a dose reduction may be necessary for individually dose-titrated drugs that are metabolised by CYP2D6 (See Interactions).
Patients known to be CYP2C9 poor metabolisers should be treated with caution (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Serious skin reactions, some of them fatal, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have been reported very rarely in association with the use of celecoxib (see Adverse Reactions). Patients appear to be at highest risk for these reactions early in the course of therapy: the onset of the reaction occurring in the majority of cases within the first month of treatment. Serious hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis, angioedema and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS, or hypersensitivity syndrome) have been reported in patients receiving celecoxib (see Adverse Reactions). Patients with a history of sulphonamide allergy or any drug allergy may be at greater risk of serious skin reactions or hypersensitivity reactions (see Contraindications). Celecoxib should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Celecoxib may mask fever and other signs of inflammation.
In patients on concurrent therapy with warfarin, serious bleeding events have occurred.
Caution should be exercised when combining celecoxib with warfarin and other oral anticoagulants (See Interactions).
Celecoxib capsules contain lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Warning to prescriber when prescribing COX-2 Inhibitors to patients with risk factors of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking patient and patient with peripheral arterial disease.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machine: Patients who experience dizziness, vertigo or somnolence while taking celecoxib should refrain from driving or operating machinery.