Bextra Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bextra?

Bextra is a type of pain medication, called COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat arthritis and menstrual pain.

What did the FDA do?

Who should not take Bextra?

You should not take Bextra if you: 

• had asthma, hives or allergic reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or COX-2 inhibitors. Some examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), ketoprofen (Orudis), celecoxib (Celebrex), and rofecoxib (Vioxx). You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of these medications 
• are allergic to valdecoxib (Bextra) or to any of the ingredients in Bextra

What other problems should I know about?

Bextra can also cause stomach ulcers. You should stop Bextra and call your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Burning pain in your stomach
• Dark stools or blood in your stools
• Vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds

What should I tell my health care provider?

Tell your health care provider if you: 

• have heart problems or high blood pressure 
• have liver or kidney problems 
• have or had stomach ulcers or stomach bleeding 
• have asthma 
• are allergic to aspirin or other NSAID medicines 
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant 
• are breast-feeding 

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines that you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your health care provider may have to adjust your dose or watch you more closely if you take the following medications: 

• certain blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors 
• furosemide (Lasix) 
• fluconazole or ketoconazole 
• lithium 
• warfarin (coumadin) 
• aspirin 

What are some possible side effects of Bextra?

Side effects can include: 

• Indigestion 
• Nausea 
•  Stomach pain 
• Upper respiratory tract infection 
• Diarrhea 
• Headache 

Rarely serious ulcers and stomach bleeding have occurred in patients taking Bextra. 

Why did FDA take this action?

Patients need to have all the information available about the drugs they are taking and their potential side effects, so they can stop the medication and seek immediate treatment if needed.

To report any unexpected adverse or serious events associated with the use of Bextra, you can contact Pfizer, Inc., at 1-800-323-4204 or FDA MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088 or on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/index.html