Celecoxib is approved for the relief of signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Celecoxib is an NSAID with improved gastrointestinal tolerability. It is recommended that the lowest dose of celecoxib should be sought for each patient, particularly for elderly patients weighing <50kg.

The approved dose for osteoarthritis is 200mg administered once or twice daily. Although all doses of celecoxib used in clinical trials of osteoarthritis were effective compared with placebo, the lowest dose (50mg twice daily) was not as effective as the 100 or 200mg twice daily dosage regimens.

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis the recommended dose is 100 or 200mg twice daily. The 400mg twice daily dose used in clinical trials showed no advantage over the lower doses. Celecoxib doses of 100 to 400mg have been used for the treatment of postoperative pain. However, approvals for this indication are not currently widespread.

Celecoxib is contraindicated in patients with a history of asthma, urticaria or allergic-type reactions after administration of aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Celecoxib is a sulfonamide-containing drug and is therefore contraindicated in those patients who have demonstrated allergic reactions to sulfonamides.