What should you know about Celebrex and ulcerative colitis?

Celebrex contains celecoxib, a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine used for some types of pain and inflammation. Ulcerative colitis affects the lining of the large bowel and can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. Anti-inflammatory pain medicines can irritate the digestive system or coincide with worsening bowel symptoms in some people, so the decision requires individual review.

Tell the clinician whether your colitis is active, what medicines control it, and whether you have had ulcers, bleeding, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease or reactions to aspirin-like medicines. Do not assume that a prescription is safe to continue during a flare without checking.

Before starting or restarting Celebrex, arrange a GP consultation or speak with the prescriber. Take it only as directed and avoid adding other anti-inflammatory painkillers unless a clinician approves. Keep a record of bowel frequency, pain, blood or mucus and any change after the medicine. A clinician may choose another pain strategy or adjust monitoring based on your history.

Seek urgent help for heavy rectal bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood, severe or persistent abdominal pain, fainting, marked weakness, breathing difficulty or swelling of the face. Contact your colitis team promptly if diarrhoea, urgency, bleeding or pain clearly worsens after starting the medicine.

Ask why Celebrex is being recommended, how it fits with your colitis medicines, what pain alternatives are available, and which bowel changes should lead you to stop and seek advice.