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Learn more about Celebrex

Celebrex is a popular arthritis drug first marketed to the general public in January 1999. The drug enjoyed high record sales in the first year of its release. Yet early reports began to show an unusually high relationship between Celebrex and serious side effects such as gastrointestinal hemorrhages, cardiovascular problems, kidney and liver damages, and ulcers. In response, the FDA began to issue warnings and expressed concern over the manufacturer's promotional activities, claiming they were misleading regarding the safety of Celebrex. The FDA was not satisfied with the company's response to their criticisms and warned the manufacturer to stop engaging in misrepresenting the drug's safety record. Notwithstanding, The manufacturer's advertising continued to claim that this arthritis medication was safer and gentler on the stomach compared to older drugs. This has led to a number of legal actions claiming that Celebrex was violating the law and engaging in fraud and misrepresentation.

Pfizer's Celebrex, like Merck's Vioxx, is a COX-2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is used to treat symptoms such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, related acute pain, and menstrual cramping. The use of the drug has been associated in some patients with serious problems with stomach ulcers, including internal bleeding. These types of medications have also been associated with liver damage. Controversy over this class of drugs has recently increased following the recall of Vioxx from the market.

Medical professionals and drug experts have argued that the drugs in this class have been over-prescribed for treatment of pain that could be managed as well with older, safer and less costly medications. Moreover, unlike Vioxx, Celebrex is not associated with a reduction in the incidence of gastric ulcers.

While Merck withdrew Vioxx, Pfizer still refuses to remove Celebrex from the market, arguing that their drug is not unreasonably dangerous for its intended use and that the warnings on its drugs label are adequate and complete. Many believe, however, that Celebrex, like Vioxx, is a potential time bomb for those patients who regularly use the drug as well as for the manufacturers and distributors who distributes it.