2007-09-20 01:12:44 · 2 answers · asked by weldon216 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Celebrex is a "cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor" (Cox-2 inhibitor, for short) and, unlike Advil, (an "over the counter" non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), it may have "disease-modifying" properties. That means that it may provide more than temporary relief for pain and may help fix or lessen the inflammatory process that causes pain. Also, whereas prolonged daily use of NSAIDs can cause stomach problems (ulcers and what not), Cox-2 agents do not. Unfortunately , Cox-2 inhibitors--specifically Vioxx--have been linked to serious side effects affecting the heart. That is, certain people--a relatively small percentage--can get serious heart problems over time. For this reason, when a doctor prescribes any Cox-2 drug, the patient must be carefully monitored (blood work is taken every few weeks) to make sure the drug is not creating other problems.
All drugs have benefits and risks attached to their use.
2007-09-20 01:31:42 · answer #1 · answered by philosophyangel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're both in the same family of drugs called NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), but you can only get Celebrex by prescription and it carries a higher risk of causing heart problems than Advil.
2007-09-20 01:21:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋