Etoricoxib for pain and inflammation

About etoricoxib tablets

Anti-inflammatoriska smärtstillande medel like etoricoxib are also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or sometimes just 'anti-inflammatories'. Etoricoxib eases pain and swelling (inflammation) in conditions like osteoarthritis, reumatoid artrit and ankylosing spondylitis, and it may also be used for short periods of time in gout.

Etoricoxib works by blocking the effect of a natural chemical called cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. This enzyme helps to make other chemicals, called prostaglandins, in the body. Some prostaglandins are produced at sites of injury or damage, and cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the effect of COX-2 enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are produced, which means pain and inflammation are eased.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking etoricoxib, it is important that your doctor knows:

• Om du har astma eller någon annan allergisk sjukdom.

• If you think you may be lacking in fluid (dehydrated) - for example, if you have recently had severe diarrhoea or vomiting.

• Om du någonsin har haft ett magsår eller duodenalsår, eller om du har en inflammatorisk tarmsjukdom som Crohns sjukdom eller ulcerös kolit.

• Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

• Om du har några problem med hur din lever fungerar, eller om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

• If you have a heart condition or a problem with your blood vessels or circulation.

• If you have high blood pressure (hypertension).

• Om du har högt blodsocker eller kolesterolnivåer.

• If you have any blood clotting problems.

• Om du har en bindvävssjukdom som systemisk lupus erythematosus. Detta är ett inflammatoriskt tillstånd som också kallas lupus eller SLE.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as as herbal and complementary medicines.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot någon annan NSAID (såsom aspirin, ibuprofen, diklofenak och indometacin), eller mot något annat läkemedel.

• Before you start taking etoricoxib, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about the tablets, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking them.

• Take etoricoxib once each day, exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are four strengths of tablet available - 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg and 120 mg. You will be prescribed the strength of tablet that suits your condition. People with osteoarthritis are usually prescribed 30 mg once-daily, although the dose can be increased to 60 mg if needed. People with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis are prescribed 60 mg once-daily, although the dose can be increased to 90 mg if it becomes necessary. If you are taking etoricoxib for gout, you will be prescribed a short course of 120 mg strength tablets to take once-daily for up to eight days.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You can take the tablet either with or without food, although the tablets may work more quickly if they are taken without food.

• Try to take your doses at the same time of day each day as this will help you to remember to take them.

• If you forget to take the tablet at your usual time, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, leave out the forgotten dose from the previous day and take the dose that is due as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

• Your doctor will try to prescribe you the lowest dose for the shortest time to reduce the risk of side-effects. If you need to take etoricoxib for a long time, your doctor may also want to prescribe another medicine for you to take along with etoricoxib to protect your stomach from irritation.

• Try to keep any regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be checked. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure from time to time while you are taking etoricoxib.

• If you have asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness can be made worse by anti-inflammatories such as etoricoxib. If this happens to you, you should stop taking the tablets and see your doctor as soon as possible.

• There is known to be a small increased risk of heart and blood vessel problems in people taking anti-inflammatory painkillers like etoricoxib. Your doctor will explain this to you and will prescribe the lowest suitable dose for the shortest time in order to reduce the risk. Do not take more than the recommended dose for your condition.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. This is because you should not take etoricoxib with any other anti-inflammatory painkiller, some of which are available in cold and flu remedies which can be bought 'over the counter'.

• Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the more common ones associated with etoricoxib. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Viktigt: if you experience any of the following less common but possibly serious symptoms, stop taking etoricoxib and contact your doctor for advice omedelbart:

• Om du har några andningssvårigheter som väsande andning eller andfåddhet.

• Om du har några tecken på en allergisk reaktion, såsom svullnad runt munnen eller ansiktet, eller ett allvarligt kliande hudutslag.

• If you pass blood or black stools, bring up (vomit) blood, or have severe tummy pains.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på medicinen, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.