The prescribed dosage for celecoxib may depend on a person’s individual treatment plan. Other factors, including your specific diagnosis, body weight, and medical history, may also affect your dosage.
Celecoxib comes as an oral capsule. It’s usually taken once or twice per day.
Celecoxib is approved for use in adults to treat:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- osteoarthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis mainly affecting the spine)
- acute (short-term) pain
- primary dysmenorrhea (period pain and menstrual cramps)
Celecoxib is also used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children ages 2 years and older.
Celecoxib is a generic drug and belongs to a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is available in a brand-name version.
This article describes the dosages of celecoxib, its strengths, and how to take it. To learn more about celecoxib, including its uses and side effects, see this celecoxib overview.
Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for celecoxib. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those mentioned here.
Celecoxib form
Celecoxib comes as an oral capsule.
Celecoxib strengths
Celecoxib is available in four strengths:
- 50 milligrams (mg)
- 100 mg
- 200 mg
- 400 mg
Celecoxib is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- osteoarthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis mainly affecting the spine)
- acute (short-term) pain
- primary dysmenorrhea (period pain and menstrual cramps)
The prescribed celecoxib dosage may vary depending on the condition it’s used to treat. Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.
See the table below for details about dosages of celecoxib for adults.
| Condition | Dosage |
|---|---|
| osteoarthritis | • 200 mg once per day or • 100 mg twice per day |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 100 mg to 200 mg twice per day |
| ankylosing spondylitis* | • 200 mg once per day or • 100 mg twice per day |
| short-term pain | 400 mg for the first dose only, then 200 mg twice per day when needed |
| period pain and menstrual cramps | 400 mg for the first dose only, then 200 mg twice per day when needed |
* After 6 weeks of treatment, if needed, the dosage for this condition can increase to 400 mg once per day or 200 mg twice per day. This is the maximum recommended dose of celecoxib for this condition.
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Celecoxib is used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children ages 2 years and older.
The dosage is prescribed according to a child’s weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The dosage for children weighing 10 kg to 25 kg is 50 mg twice per day. The dosage for children weighing more than 25 kg is 100 mg twice per day.
For more information about celecoxib’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.
Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you how to take celecoxib. Typically, recommendations for taking celecoxib include:
- Take your dose with or without food.
- Do not crush or split the capsule. If you or your child have difficulty swallowing, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents onto applesauce.
How long do you take celecoxib?
It depends. For acute pain, including period pain, celecoxib is used as a short-term treatment. For arthritis, if celecoxib is effective for you and doesn’t cause bothersome side effects, it may be used as a long-term treatment.
Do not take more celecoxib than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of celecoxib overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose of celecoxib can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- drowsiness
- lethargy
- bleeding in your digestive system
- high blood pressure
- sudden kidney failure
- slow, shallow breathing
- coma
What to do in case you take too much celecoxib
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Celecoxib. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.