Description
🩺 Uses
Etoricoxib is an NSAID designed to relieve pain and inflammation. Typical uses include:
- Osteoarthritis – reduces pain and joint stiffness
- Rheumatoid arthritis – eases inflammatory joint symptoms
- Ankylosing spondylitis – relief of spinal and large joint stiffness
- Gouty arthritis – alleviates acute gout pain
- Chronic low back pain and musculoskeletal pain
- Short-term relief (e.g., dental surgery pain) – usually for up to 3 days at 90 mg (CARE Hospitals, Medicover Hospitals, Medicines.org.uk)
💊 How It Works & Dosage
- By selectively blocking COX‑2 enzymes, it reduces pain and inflammation while sparing the stomach more than typical NSAIDs (DrugBank, Medicover Hospitals).
- Standard dosing: 90 mg once daily for arthritis. For short‑term postoperative pain, 90 mg daily (limited to 3 days). Other conditions may use 60 mg or 120 mg (Medicines.org.uk).
⚠️ Common & Serious Side Effects
Very common
- Stomach pain (Drugs.com, Apollo Pharmacy)
Common (1–10%)
- Digestive problems: indigestion, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, gastritis (Apollo Pharmacy)
- Headache, dizziness (Apollo Pharmacy, Yashoda Hospitals)
- Edema (swelling of legs/feet due to fluid) (Drugs.com)
- Palpitations, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure (Drugs.com)
- Shortness of breath, bronchospasm (especially in asthmatics) (Drugs.com, Apollo Pharmacy)
- Mouth ulcers, dry socket after tooth extraction (Drugs.com)
Less common/serious
- Liver enzyme elevations, jaundice, liver failure (Drugs.com)
- Severe gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers (Yashoda Hospitals)
- Serious skin reactions like exanthematous eruptions (Medicines.org.uk)
- Low sodium (hyponatremia) (Drugs.com, Apollo Pharmacy)
🧭 Precautions & Contraindications
Avoid or use cautious monitoring if you have:
- Cardiovascular issues: heart failure, angina, prior heart attack, stroke, PAD – NSAIDs may worsen these (Medicines.org.uk, Apollo Pharmacy)
- Hypertension – can exacerbate high blood pressure (Medicines.org.uk, Apollo Pharmacy)
- Stomach ulcers or GI bleeding history (Drugs.com)
- Liver or kidney disease – dose adjustments or avoidance recommended (Medicines.org.uk)
- Fluid-depleted state (e.g., dehydration) – risk of kidney damage (Medicines.org.uk, Apollo Pharmacy)
- Asthma – can trigger bronchospasm (Patient, Apollo Pharmacy)
- Elderly (65+) – increased monitoring needed (Medicover Hospitals)
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding – not advised without doctor’s approval (CARE Hospitals, Patient)
- Children/adolescents <16 years – contraindicated (Medicines.org.uk)
Drug Interactions
- With ACE inhibitors, diuretics, digoxin, salbutamol, aspirin (especially high-dose): increased risk of adverse effects (Medicines.org.uk)
✅ Safety Tips
- Take with food to minimize GI irritation.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.
- Monitor blood pressure regularly.
- Watch for signs of stomach bleeding (black stool, severe pain), liver issues (yellowing), heart trouble (chest pain, breathlessness), or allergic reactions. Seek medical attention immediately.
- Avoid alcohol and other NSAIDs to reduce risks.
- Regular check-ups for kidney, liver, and heart health if on long-term therapy.
📋 Quick Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Etoricoxib 90 mg |
| Drug class | Selective COX‑2 inhibitor (NSAID) |
| Primary uses | Arthritis, gout, spine/joint pain, post-op pain |
| Common side effects | Stomach pain, indigestion, headache, dizziness, swelling, palpitations |
| Serious risks | GI bleeding, high BP, heart/kidney/liver issues, skin reactions |
| Key cautions | Heart disease, high BP, ulcers, elderly, renal/liver impairment, asthma, pregnancy |
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