COX-2 inhibitors are a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) which are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.  They can be used to treat pain or inflammation associated with the following conditions;

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
• Acute gout
• Joint or muscle pains due to over use or injury
• Pain relief after surgery 
• Tooth ache or dental pain

How do COX-2 inhibitors work?

Prostaglandins are chemicals in your body which cause fever, inflammation and pain.  Non-selective COX inhibitors which block prostaglandins such as NSAIDs are effective pain relief medications but have side effects such as stomach irritation, gastritis and ulcer.  Selective COX-2 inhibitors such as Celecoxib (Celebrex), Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) and Parecoxib (Dynastat) have less stomach side effects and as such, more widely used for pain relief.

How fast does a COX-2 inhibitor take effect?

The pain relief starts within 60-90 minutes of taking a dose and may take up 1 to 2 days to have the optimum effect.  In the meantime, you can take some topical lotion or gel to apply to the joint or a pain relief patch for muscle strain or sprain to achieve faster pain relief. 

How long should I take a COX-2 inhibitor?

Try to take the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time and do NOT use pain medication for long duration to avoid side effects.  

Caution

You shouldn’t take a COX-2 inhibitor if you have;

• Have a history of stroke or TIA
• Had coronary artery bypass surgery
• Have poorly controlled high blood pressure
• Have severe kidney or liver disease
• Have allergy to NSAID or aspirin

See your doctor or pharmacist if you experience the follow symptoms;

• Liver symptoms such as yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine or light-coloured stools
• Gut symptoms such as coughing up blood, black stools, bleeding gums or easy bruising
• Kidney symptoms such as blood in your urine
• Allergy symptoms such as skin rash, itching, lip or face swelling or breathing difficulty

Discuss the treatment options with your doctor or pharmacist

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If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.