If you or your friend or a family member have been recently diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and are prescribed celecoxib, keep reading this article to know more about it. The article talks about how celecoxib treats ankylosing spondylitis, precautions, instructions while taking the medication, and its side effects.

What is ankylosing spondylitis Bechterew’s disease, and what does it look like?

Ankylosing spondylitis is also known as Bechterew’s disease and mainly affects the spine. In ankylosing spondylitis, inflammation occurs between your vertebrae (bones that make up the spine) and joints between the pelvis and spine. The inflammation of the spinal joints may lead to long-standing pain and discomfort, resulting in disability if it is untreated. Ankylosing spondylitis may also cause fusion of some bones of the spine, making the spine less flexible, often resulting in a hunched posture. 

Ankylosing spondylitis can cause stiffness and pain in other parts of the body. It may also affect other joints like hips, heels, shoulders, and knees. 

Ankylosing spondylitis is more prevalent and severe in men Ankylosing spondylitis compared to women. It often passes from one generation to another.

Causes of ankylosing spondylitis Bechterew’s disease

The exact causes of Ankylosing spondylitis are currently unknown. However, it is believed that it does run in families. Research suggests that genetics and environmental factors play a role in causing the disease. You are likely to develop Ankylosing spondylitis if your parents or siblings have Ankylosing spondylitis. 

Risk Factors: You are likely to have ankylosing spondylitis if you: 

• Have a family history of ankylosing spondylitis 
• Age (adults aged between 20-40 are likely to be affected by AS)
• Sex (males are more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis as compared to women)

Symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis Bechterew’s disease

The symptoms of the disease may vary from person to person. However, early signs and symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis include stiffness and pain in the lower back and hips (especially during early morning and night and when you are inactive). Like other forms of arthritis, the symptoms flare up with no symptoms the rest of the time. 

The symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitisAS may include: 

• Stiffness in joints (at night or early morning)
• Reduced lung function 
• Weight loss 
• Loss of appetite 
• Postural changes (stooped shoulders)
• Low-grade fever 
• Pain in the lower back 
• Neck pain 
• Fatigue 
• Hip and shoulder pain 

Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect other parts of the body. If you have Ankylosing spondylitis, you may experience: 

• Heart valve inflammation 
• Eye inflammation 
• Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue that connects toes and heel bones)
• Inflammation of bowels 
• Achilles tendinitis (inflammation of calf tissues that connects calf muscles to the heel bone)

Celecoxib treatment for ankylosing spondylitis Bechterew’s disease, use and dosage

Celecoxib does not prevent ankylosing spondylitis; however, it helps reduce and manage the symptoms of the disease. 

Celecoxib work by blocking the action of certain chemicals that are associated with inflammation and pain. They block cyclooxygenases (COX) enzyme, and there are two forms of COX enzyme: 

• COX-1 
• COX-2 

The COX enzymes control the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are a group of chemicals associated with inflammation, the formation of blood clots, and blood flow. Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 enzyme inhibitor. 

Celecoxib Use for Ankylosing spondylitis Bechterew’s disease

Celecoxib is available in capsule form and is to be taken orally. Celecoxib may be prescribed once or twice daily. If your daily dose of celecoxib is 200 mg, it can be taken with or without food. If your dose is greater than 200 mg, you should take the medication with food. 

Follow the directions on your prescription label. You can ask your healthcare worker in case of any queries. Take the medication as directed by your healthcare worker. Do not take more or less than prescribed. To help you remember your daily dose, try to take the medication at the same time every day. 

If you miss your dose while taking the medication, consume it as soon as you remember it. In case if it is almost time for your next dose, you can skip the missed dose and follow your regular dosing schedule. Do not consume double doses to make up for the missed dose. 

Celecoxib Dosage for Ankylosing spondylitis  Bechterew’s disease

Usually, celecoxib is prescribed in the range of 100-200 mg, to be taken once or twice per day. The standard adult dose prescribed is 200 mg to be taken once daily or 100 mg twice daily in an evenly spaced dose. 

If celecoxib does not improve your Ankylosing spondylitis pain and symptoms, your doctor may increase your dose to 400 mg (that can be prescribed once daily or 200 mg to be taken twice a day). 

Celecoxib Side effects 

Like all medications, celecoxib also has some side effects. It is possible that you may not experience any side effects. Below mentioned are the side effects. Please inform your doctor immediately if they are severe or if they do not go away:

• Sore throat
• Gas
• Dysgeusia
• Dizziness 
• Constipation
• Cold symptoms   

Stop using the medications if they experience any of the below-mentioned side effects and call your doctor immediately: 

• Nausea 
• Itching 
• Diarrhea 
• Loss of appetite 
• Back pain 
• Lack of energy 
• Unexplained weight gain 
• Fatigue
• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Rash
• Hives 
• Fever 
• Pale skin
• Painful urination 
• Frequent urination (at night)
• Hoarseness
• Swelling of face, lips, eyes, hands, tongue, or throat
• Fast heartbeat 
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Cloudy or discolored urine 
• Flu-like symptoms 
• Blisters 
• Pain in the upper right part of the stomach 

The above-mentioned side effects of each class of medication are not comprehensive. There may likely be other side effects. Call your physician if they experience anything unusual or persistent. 

Other precautions 

Please inform the doctor and pharmacist about allergic to any medication or any of its ingredients. If they have any other allergies, do not forget to share the same with the health care professional. 

Inform your health worker about other prescription, non-prescription medications, and nutritional supplements that are being taken. Also, inform about vitamins and herbal supplements consumed or planned. 

Inform your doctor if they are suffering from any comorbidities. You should inform your physician you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while on treatment, inform your doctor immediately.  You should not take Celecoxib after 20 weeks of pregnancy unless advised by the doctor. 

If you are taking celecoxib, you should inform your doctor before going surgery or dental procedure. 

Before your treatment begins, inform your doctor if you have asthma, a frequently runny nose, stuffed nose, or nasal polyps (a condition where swelling occurs on the lining of the nose). You should also inform if you have a history of heart, liver, or kidney disease.

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