Arcoxia 60mg Tablets (Generic Equivalent)

Arcoxia is used for the following: * acute and chronic treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis * management of ankylosing spondylitis * relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain * relief of acute pain * to treat acute gouty arthritis Your doctor will prescribe Arcoxia for you only after you have used other medicines for your condition and they have not been suitable for you. Your doctor will want discuss your treatment with Arcoxia from time to time. It is important that you use the lowest dose that controls your pain and you should not take Arcoxia for longer than necessary. This is because the risk of heart attacks and strokes might increase after prolonged treatment, especially with high doses. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a joint disease. It results from the gradual breakdown of the cartilage that covers the joints and cushions the ends of bones. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, tenderness, stiffness of one or more joints, and physical disability. The hips and knees are the most commonly affected joints, but other joints such as those of the hands and spine may also be affected. Osteoarthritis is more common in women than in men. Many factors can lead to the development of osteoarthritis including obesity and joint injury (eg. from sport). Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function in the joints and inflammation in other body organs. Ankylosing Spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease of the spine and large joints. Gout is a disorder characterised by sudden, recurring attacks of pain and inflammation in one or more joints.

The health and medical information provided here is for general purposes only and is not a substitute for the expertise and judgment of your physician, or other health care professional. It should not be understood to indicate that the use of this medicine is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Always consult your health care professional before using this, or any other, drug.

Do not take Arcoxia if:

you have an allergy to Arcoxia or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
the expiry date on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.
You have had heart failure, a heart attack, bypass surgery, chest pain (angina), narrow or blocked arteries of the extremities (peripheral arterial disease), a stroke or mini stroke (TIA or transient ischaemic attack).
You have high blood pressure that is not well controlled on blood pressure medication.
You are having major surgery and have conditions which increase your risk of coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking.
You are having major surgery on you heart or arteries.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking Arcoxia, talk to your doctor.

Arcoxia has not been adequately studied in children. Therefore, Arcoxia should not be given to children.

Arcoxia works equally well in older and younger adult patients. Adverse experiences may occur at a higher incidence in older patients compared to younger patients. If you are elderly (ie over 65 years of age), your doctor will want to appropriately keep a check on you. No dosage adjustment is necessary for older patients.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Arcoxia.

Arcoxia helps most people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain, gout or other types of pain, but it may have unwanted adverse effects in a few people. All medicines can have adverse effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the adverse effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice or have any of the following and they worry you:>

feeling sick (nausea), vomiting
, heartburn, indigestion, uncomfortable feeling or pain in the stomach
, diarrhoea
, swelling of the legs, ankles or feet
, high blood pressure
, dizziness
, headache

Additionally, the following have been reported:

allergic reactions including rash, itching and hives
, severe skin reactions, which may occur without warning
, taste alteration
, wheezing
, insomnia
, anxiety
, drowsiness
, mouth ulcers
, diarrhoea
, severe increase in blood pressure
, confusion
, hallucinations
, platelets decreased

These are usually the mild adverse effects of Arcoxia.

If any of the following happen, stop taking Arcoxia and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing (hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions including shock)
abnormal rhythm of the heart (atrial fibrillation)
heart failure
palpitations
serious kidney problems
serious liver problems
stomach pain
stomach ulcers that may become serious and may bleed, and may occur at any time during use and without warning

Other adverse effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible adverse effects. You may not experience any of them.

Take Arcoxia only when prescribed by your doctor.

For osteoarthritis, the recommended dose is 60 mg once a day.

For rheumatoid arthritis the recommended dose is 90 mg once a day.

For ankylosing spondylitis the recommended dose is 90 mg once a day.

For the relief of gout attacks the recommended dose is 120 mg once a day, which should only be used for the acute painful period.

For the relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain the recommended dose is 60 mg once a day.

Doses greater than those recommended for each condition have either not demonstrated additional efficacy or have not been studied. Therefore, the daily doses stated above for each condition should not be exceeded.

If you have mild liver disease, you should not take more than 60 mg a day. If you have moderate liver disease, you should not take more than 60 mg every other day.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

Arcoxia comes as tablets.

When taking the tablets, swallow them with a glass of water. Do not halve the tablet.

Take your Arcoxia at about the same time each day.

Taking Arcoxia at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the dose.

It does not matter if you take Arcoxia before or after food.

Do not use Arcoxia for longer than your doctor says.

Your doctor will want to discuss your treatment from time to time. It is important that you use the lowest dose that controls your pain and you should not take Arcoxia for longer than necessary. This is because the risk of heart attacks and strokes might increase after prolonged treatment, especially with high doses.

Depending on your condition, you may need to take Arcoxia for a few days or for a longer period.

For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis Arcoxia helps relieve your symptoms but it does not cure it. Continue taking Arcoxia for as long as your doctor prescribes.

For the relief of gout attacks or other types of pain, Arcoxia is usually only needed for a few days.

If you are not sure how long to take Arcoxia, talk to your doctor.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet(s) as you would normally.

If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much Arcoxia (overdose) immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Centre or go to the emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Arcoxia. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.