The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 2 generic versions of the popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) celecoxib in late May.
Celecoxib is indicated for several conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and acute musculoskeletal pain. Like other NSAIDs in the cox-2 inhibitor family, the drug鈥檚 label carried a boxed warning that the drug may increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. Individuals with high blood pressure or those taking the drug for extended periods are at greatest risk, according to the FDA. All NSAIDs are also associated with an elevated risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. An FDA medication guide describes precautions physicians should take when prescribing NSAIDs ().