Bextra Side Effects

Function

• Bextra is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) classified as a cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor. This type of drug blocks an enzyme that makes prostaglandins, substances that cause pain and swelling.
  
  

Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects associated with Bextra are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, gas, headache and insomnia.
  
  

History

• Bextra was withdrawn after reports of increased risk of stroke and heart attack in heart-surgery patients. It also is similar to another pain reliever, rofecoxib (Vioxx), which was withdrawn after being linked to serious cardiovascular side effects.
  
  

Other Serious Effects

• Bextra also is linked to a rare serious skin disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme). This disorder can progress to life-threatening toxic epidermal necrolysis. Additionally, some Bextra users reported kidney damage after taking the drug.
  
  

Considerations

• COX-2 medications have certain advantages over other NSAIDs. They do not cause any severe gastrointestinal side effects or increased bleeding. The only COX-2 inhibitor still available as of 2009 is celecoxib (Celebrex).