Rheumatology Drug Updates: Celecoxib and Cardiovascular Safety Trial Results Reviewed

In summary, because higher doses of celecoxib were not studied, the data cannot be extrapolated to other, higher doses. In addition, only two non-selective NSAIDs were compared, so the same holds true for data extrapolation. These data show that at moderate doses, celecoxib was found to be non-inferior with respect to cardiovascular safety compared with ibuprofen or naproxen. Use of celecoxib also led to fewer GI events than either NSAID, and fewer renal adverse events compared with ibuprofen.

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City and a pharmacist at New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

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