Etoricoxib is a prescription NSAID that targets pain and inflammation with once-daily dosing. If you or someone you care for has arthritis, gout flares, or musculoskeletal pain, etoricoxib often comes up as an option. This page gives straight answers on how it works, typical doses, important risks, and simple rules to use it more safely.
Etoricoxib is a COX-2 selective inhibitor. That means it reduces the enzymes that make pain and swelling, while aiming to spare some stomach-protecting COX-1 activity. Doctors commonly prescribe it for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and short-term relief of gout attacks. Typical daily doses range from about 30 mg up to 120 mg depending on the condition and how severe the symptoms are. Because it has a long half-life, most people take it once a day.
It’s not a cure—think of it as a tool to control symptoms so you can move and sleep better. For long-term use, your doctor will weigh benefits against risks like heart or kidney effects and may order periodic checks.
Be careful if you have heart disease, previous stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or heart failure. COX-2 drugs can raise cardiovascular risk, especially with long-term use or higher doses. If you have active stomach ulcers, bleeding disorders, severe liver or kidney disease, or are in the third trimester of pregnancy, etoricoxib is usually not recommended.
Watch for interactions. Etoricoxib can increase bleeding risk with blood thinners (warfarin), and it interacts with lithium and methotrexate. Combining it with ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or diuretics can reduce kidney function in some people—your clinician may want to monitor kidney tests and blood pressure if you’re on those drugs.
Common side effects include stomach upset, headache, dizziness, raised blood pressure, and fluid retention or swelling in the legs. Serious signs that need immediate care are chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness, black tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Practical tips: take the lowest effective dose for the shortest time that controls symptoms. Take it with food if stomach upset occurs. Don’t combine etoricoxib with other NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen. If you need long-term pain control, ask your doctor about regular blood pressure checks and kidney/liver tests.
Finally, etoricoxib is prescription-only. Talk openly with your prescriber about your heart, stomach, and kidney history, and list every medicine you take, including supplements. That helps your clinician pick the safest plan and avoid nasty surprises.
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