An FDA panel found Celebrex does not cause a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes compared to two other commonly prescribed painkillers, NPR reports.
Here are five things to know.
1. Celecoxib is sold by Pfizer under the brand name Celebrex.
2. Celecoxib is not an opioid, but it is a COX-2 inhibitor like Vioxx, a pain reliever withdrawn from the market in 2004 for safety concerns.
3. The FDA allowed Celebrex to remain on the market, but ordered Pfizer to conduct a study to assess the medication's safety.
4. The Pfizer study involved more than 24,000 osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients; one-third took celecoxib, one-third took prescription doses of ibuprofen and the remaining third took prescription doses of naproxen.
5. According to the study, celecoxib was less likely to cause certain complications including gastrointestinal problems like ulcers and bleeding as well as kidney problems such as kidney failure.
More articles on anesthesia:
Somnia Anesthesia names 6th annual Anesthesiologist of the Year — 4 insights
3 things to know about Portneuf Medical Center's new CMO Dr. Dan Snell
How recent opioid legislation will affect anesthesia groups — 4 insights