A snapshot of Celebrex concerns sent to the FDA

When consumers first learned of heart risks associated with the painkillers Bextra and Vioxx - drugs no longer sold - they alerted federal authorities of similiar cardiovascular problems they suffered while taking Celebrex, a painkiller that is still on the market. A snapshot of Celebrex concerns sent to the Food and Drug Administration:

Reported Aug. 25, 2004

Male, 78

Dose not specified

His doctors said these ulcers came as a result of his prescribed course of Celebrex, and attributed the stroke to the trauma associated with the ruptured ulcers. He spent six weeks in (the) hospital for rehabilitation as a result of the stroke, which caused the paralysis of the patient. The patient also states that his doctors were unanimous in drawing (a) conclusion from his medical history: That Celebrex was the root cause of his stroke.

Reported Oct. 1, 2004

Male, Age unknown

250 mg

I had or felt I had a heart attack and still remember the episode that occurred. I felt a bloop [sensation] in my heart in 1999, and sometime later that day had very hot sensation in my left throat side, and later had extreme pains in my neck and back right side of my head, like a severe sharp pain (excruciating pain) …

Reported Oct. 22, 2004

Male, 65

200 mg, 2 x daily

[Patient] awoke at 6:30 a.m. on (date redacted) feeling 'funny.' He went back to bed and at 10 a.m. woke up with right facial droop and slurred speech. He also noticed a tingling sensation in his right arm. He presented to the emergency room later that morning. He was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of CVA.

Reported Oct. 28, 2004

Female, 81

200 mg

This pharmacist reports that her 81-year-old mother, with no history of cardiac problems, diabetes or hypertension started Celebrex (celecoxib) 200 mg on 12July2004 for osteoarthritis. On (date redacted) she had a massive heart attack. She was taken to the hospital and was 'worked on' for four hours. She died at 8:30 a.m.

Reported Nov. 5, 2004

Male, 38

unknown dose

A female consumer reported that her 38-year-old son, diagnosed with a brain tumor (glioma) that changed from class 2 to a class 4, was taking Celebrex (celecoxib) along with other medications for the past two years … He was admitted to the hospital and died one day later on (date redacted) due to a heart attack. He had no history of any heart problems during the past two years.

Occurred Nov. 27, 2001, reported Nov. 11, 2004

Female, Age unknown

200 mg

In (date redacted) I had a heart attack that I believe was caused as a result of taking Celebrex. … up to that time I was in good health; I exercised daily, ate a low fat vegetarian diet, had a total cholesterol of 120, and had no family history of heart disease. Because of my excellent health, my cardiologist was dumfounded as to why I had the heart attack. Now with the link between Vioxx and heart attacks known, I think we know the answer… The Celebrex caused the attack.

Occurred July 22, 2002, reported Dec. 28, 2004

Male physician, 46

400 mg

I had an MI while on 400 mg of Celebrex, twice a day, prescribed by (redacted) for preventive care of probable familial polyposis. No risk factors. No smoking, family heart history, alcohol use, total cholesterol below 160, blood pressure 106/68. Event happened on the last few days of my vacation and I was found to have no known coronary disease so continued on aspirin only.