What Is the Usual Dosage of Celebrex?

Celebrex is a drug that is classified in a couple of different ways. The medication, manufactured by the Pfizer company, is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), in the same group as ibuprofen and naproxen. Celebrex is also called a COX-2 inhibitor because it stops the enzyme COX-2 from producing inflammation in the body. Celebrex is used primarily to ease the pain that results from several forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile RA). Women who suffer from debilitating menstrual cramps may also be prescribed Celebrex. When the question of a "usual" dosage of Celebrex arises, there is no short answer. The dosages prescribed depend on the individual's medical history and the condition for which the drug is prescribed.

Available Forms

Celebrex was approved by the FDA as a therapy for arthritis at the very end of 1998. The medication is available in capsules of varying strengths, including 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg. Each strength capsule is white, but has different colored printing that serves as a unique identifier. If you have been prescribed Celebrex, be sure you know how many mg is in each pill you receive at your pharmacy and how many times daily you should be taking the medication.

Adult Dosage

Adult dosage of Celebrex will vary according to the condition for which you are taking the drug. Generally speaking, arthritis patients will take 200 mg daily. Your doctor may direct you to take a 200 mg pill of Celebrex once daily, or to split the dose and take two 100 mg pills at each end of the day. The decision about dosing will be made in part by seeing how you tolerate the medication and if you are taking other drugs that could possibly interact with Celebrex. Patients who are taking Celebrex for back pain relating to spondylosis usually begin with a regimen of 200 mg daily, which can be increased to 400 mg daily if needed. Stronger doses can be taken to relieve menstrual cramps--women can take 400 mg as the starting dose and add smaller doses of 200 mg later in the day as needed.

Child Dosage

Children who suffer from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may be prescribed Celebrex to relieve joint pain if over-the-counter remedies such as ibuprofen do not reduce pain and inflammation to a satisfactory degree. As with many other medications, a child must be weighed before starting a regimen of Celebrex, in order to determine the correct dosage. RXlist.com, a drug information service, reports that usual dosages of Celebrex for children in the 20 to 55 lb. range are a twice-daily dose of 50 mg. Children who weigh more than 55 lbs. can take 100 mg of Celebrex twice a day, or as prescribed by their doctors. Celebrex is not approved for toddlers who are younger than two years old.

Special Circumstances

Celebrex is not safe for everyone to take, such as pregnant women and those with a history of ulcers or allergies to sulfa drugs. In most cases, people with liver disease, sometimes called hepatic insufficiency, are not prescribed Celebrex, but there are exceptions to this rule. People with compromised liver function, as well as those who may be taking blood-thinning medications, must use Celebrex and other NSAIDs very cautiously. Beginning doses for people in these risk groups are usually cut in half. For example, if a usual dose would be 200 mg a day, a person with liver disease may be started on 100 mg daily, then assessed to see how he tolerates the medication.

Taking Celebrex

It is important to take Celebrex exactly as your doctor or pharmacist directs, no matter what dosage you have been prescribed. If you forget to take your medication, you will need to use the clock as your guide to decide whether or not you should take it when you remember. If your next dosing time is several hours away, it is generally safe to take the forgotten pill. If your next scheduled dose is within a couple of hours, you are better off skipping the forgotten dose and returning to your schedule going forward to avoid an accidental overdose of the drug. If taking Celebrex upsets your stomach, eat a snack or light meal when you take the medication. Capsules may be opened up and mixed into a soft food such as applesauce for those who have difficulties swallowing medication.