|
Bextra Side Effects
Common Bextra Side Effects
Side effects of using Bextra may include, stomach pain, diarrhea,
heartburn (dyspepsia), nausea, back pain, headache, and upper
respiratory infection. These symptoms can range from mild
to moderate. However, more severe reactions have also been
reported -- some requiring hospitalization.
Bextra and Gastro-Intestinal Toxicity
Serious GI toxicity can occur without any warning symptoms
with of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs).
In patients with a history of GI problems, such as ulcers,
or bleeding, NSAIDs should be used with extreme caution, especially
in elderly patients.
Bextra and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare, severe, and sometimes
fatal form of auto-immune disease. Symptoms include lesions
in the mouth and eyes, headache, fever, fatigue, and conjunctivitis.
Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medications (NSAIDs) including medications such as Arava,
Bextra, Vioxx, and Celebrex are often associated with Stevens-Johnson.
Bextra and Other Serious Skin Reactions
Serious skin reactions have been reported in patients treated
with Bextra. These include:
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, a potentially fatal skin disorder
characterized by the blistering and peeling of the top layer
of skin.
- Erythema Multiforme, an acute eruption of the skin called
an iris or target lesion which can be mild or severe.
- Generalized Exfoliative Dermatitis, a severe inflammation
of the entire skin surface
Bextra and Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal systemic allergic
reaction. Such serious allergic reactions to medications cause
the most allergy-associated deaths in the United States every
year.
Anaphylactic symptoms can occur within minutes, and include
itching, hives, throat swelling, asthma, irregular heart rhythm,
nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and a loss of consciousness.
People who have experienced asthma or allergic reactions
after taking aspirin or NSAIDs should not take Bextra. They
may experience a severe anaphylactic-like reactions to Bextra.
Bextra also should not be taken by patients who have demonstrated
allergic-type reactions to sulfonamides. Since the FDA's warning
in November 2002, Pharmacia has been warning doctors not to
give Bextra to patients who were allergic to sulfa drugs.
However, you or a loved one may have taken Bextra before this
-- or your doctor may have failed to ask you about sulfonamides.
Bextra Side Effects
|
