Arcoxia (Etoricoxib)

Etoricoxib is the newset of the COX-II inhibitors released onto the market by Merck Frosst. Etoricoxib can be used to treat acute gouty arthritis, osteoarthirtis and other conditions as determined by your doctor. Etoricoxib is administered orally and may be taken with or without food. The onset of Etoricoxib effect may be faster when Etoricoxib is administered without food. This should be considered when rapid symptomatic relief is needed. Osteoarthritis: The recommended dose of Etoricoxib is 60 mg once daily. Rheumatoid arthritis- The recommended dose is 90 mg once daily. Acute gouty arthritis- The recommended dose of Etoricoxib is 120 mg once daily. ETORICOXIB 20 mg should be used only for the acute symptomatic period. In clinical trials for acute gouty arthritis, Etoricoxib was given for 8 days. Doses greater than those recommended for each indication have either not demonstrated additional efficacy or have not been studied. Therefore, the dose for each indication is the maximum recommended dose. ETORICOXIB is contra-indicated in: - patients with known hypersensitivity to etoricoxib or to any of the excipients of this medicinal product - patients with active peptic ulceration or gastro-intestinal (GI) bleeding - patients with severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh score>9) - patients with estimated creatinine clearance <30 ml/min - patients who have developed signs of asthma, acute rhinitis, nasal polyps, angioneurotic oedema or urticaria following the administration of acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - pregnancy and lactation (see 4.6 'Pregnancy and lactation' and 5.3 'Preclinical safety data') - children and adolescents under 16 years of age - patients with inflammatory bowel disease - patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Information about Etoricoxib Side Effects: <br> In clinical trials, Etoricoxib was evaluated for safety in approximately 4800 individuals, including approximately 3400 patients with OA, RA or chronic low back pain (approximately 600 patients with OA or RA were treated for one year or longer).<br><br> In clinical studies the following undesirable Etoricoxib side effects were reported at an incidence greater than placebo in patients with OA, RA or chronic low back pain treated with etoricoxib 60 mg or 90 mg for up to 12 weeks: [Common (>1/100, <1/10) Uncommon (>1/1000, <1/100) Rare (>1/10,000, <1/1,000) Very rare ( <1/10,000)] <br><br>Etoricoxib side effects include: Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects:gastro-enteritis, upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection.<br> Immune system disorder Etoricoxib Side Effects:<br> Very rare Etoricoxib Side Effects:drug hypersensitivity.<br> Metabolism and nutrition disorders Etoricoxib Side Effects: <br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: appetite increase or decrease, oedema/fluid retention, weight gain.<br> Psychiatric disorders Etoricoxib Side Effects:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: anxiety, depression, mental acuity decreased.<br> Nervous system disorder:<br> Common Etoricoxib Side Effects: dizziness, headache.<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: dysgeusia, insomnia, paraesthesia/hypaesthesia, somnolence.<br> Eye disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: blurred vision.<br> Ear and labyrinth disorders:<br> Uncommon: tinnitus. <br> Cardiac disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: congestive heart failure, non-specific ECG changes.<br> Very rare Etoricoxib Side Effects: myocardial infarction.<br> Vascular disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: flushing, hypertension.<br> Very rare Etoricoxib Side Effects: cerebrovascular accident.<br> Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: cough, dyspnoea, epistaxis.<br> Gastro-intestinal disorders:<br> Common Etoricoxib Side Effects: gastro-intestinal disorders (e.g. abdominal pain, flatulence, heartburn), diarrhoea, dyspepsia, epigastric discomfort, nausea.<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: abdominal distention, acid reflux, bowel movement pattern change, constipation, dry mouth, gastroduodenal ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, oesophagitis, oral ulcer, vomiting.<br> Very Rare Etoricoxib Side Effects: gastro-intestinal perforation and bleeding.<br> Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: ecchymosis, facial oedema, pruritus, rash.<br> Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: muscular cramp/spasm, musculoskeletal pain/stiffness.<br> Renal and urinary disorders Etoricoxib Side Effects:<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: proteinuria.<br> General disorders and administration site conditions:<br> Common Etoricoxib Side Effects: asthenia/fatigue, flu-like disease.<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: chest pain.<br> Investigations:<br> CommonEtoricoxib Side Effects: ALT increased, AST increased.<br> Uncommon Etoricoxib Side Effects: blood urea nitrogen increased, creatine phosphokinase increased, haematocrit decreased, haemoglobin decreased, hyperkalaemia, leukocytes decreased, platelets decreased, serum creatinine increased, uric acid increased.

Etoricoxib comes from a class of drugs that is similar to Vioxx (Rofecoxib), Celebrex (Celecoxib, Bextra (Valdecoxib) and Mobic (Meloxicam).