News that market-leading pain reliever, Celebrex, could be unsafe for GCC users is patently untrue, say medical experts speaking out on the issue today.
While one recent study has shown that Celebrex was associated with increased cardiovascular risk in some patients, other newer studies have demonstrated that the drug causes no greater risk of serious cardiovascular events in arthritis patients, even at higher than recommended doses.
“Pain sufferers, and their physicians, must keep recent news reports in context – Celebrex is still a very safe drug for use in the Gulf,” said Dr. Ayman Al Mufti, Rheumatologist, American Hospital, Dubai.
He added: “It is important that millions of regional pain sufferers take pain killers and anti-inflamatory medications, such as Celebrex, which is more tolerable on the stomach compared to alternatives.”
Celebrex remains a viable treatment option for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute pain, and, according to good medical practice, should be administered at the lowest effective dose for appropriate patients, physicians say.
