The new drug combining tramadol and celecoxib is called Seglentis (generic name: celecoxib and tramadol hydrochloride). It is a fixed-dose, first-in-class co-crystal medicine for managing acute pain in adults that is severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.
Celecoxib and tramadol combination is used to relieve acute pain severe enough to require an opioid treatment and when other pain medicines did not work well enough or cannot be tolerated. When used together, the combination provides better pain relief than either medicine used alone.
It's safe to take tramadol with paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin (aspirin is only suitable for most people aged 16 and over). Some everyday painkillers that you can buy from pharmacies contain codeine, which is a similar medicine to tramadol.
Celecoxib is less likely to cause stomach upset and ulcers than NSAIDS. However, in some cases patients have complained of upset stomachs, indigestion, or diarrhea. Stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink alcoholic beverages while being treated with this medicine.
Answer Tramadol is known to have GI side effects including heart burn, indigestion, constipation and/or diarrhea. So, while it's likely that the medication is causing your discomfort it's hard to tell exactly what the pain is coming from.
Common side effects
Many NSAIDs are also available at higher prescription doses. The most powerful pain relievers are opioids, sometimes called narcotics. They include strong prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, or morphine. Opioids are sometimes used to treat moderate to severe pain.
This medication can cause serious bleeding, ulcers, or tears in the stomach. These problems can occur at any time and with no warning signs. They are more common with long-term use.
Celecoxib, like the non-specific NSAIDs, can adversely affect kidney function. For this reason, people with abnormal kidney function should avoid or sharply limit the use of this medication, and if it is used the kidney function should be followed.
One study showed that diarrhea due to NSAID use could last for up to six days after their use.
Two drugs that can't be taken together include opioids and alcohol, or benzodiazepines and alcohol, as this combination severely slows breathing and increases overdose risk, and also aspirin and ibuprofen (or other NSAIDs), which heighthens the danger of serious bleeding or stomach ulcers, highlighting the importance of checking all medications for dangerous interactions.
If you take it for a long time, your body can become used to it (known as tolerance). That means you need higher doses to control your pain over time. Some people can become more sensitive to pain (hyperalgesia). If this happens, your doctor will reduce your dose gradually to help these symptoms.
One of the primary alternatives is non-opioid medication options. These include over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which can be effective for mild to moderate pain.
Celecoxib and ibuprofen appeared to be generally safe for treatment of acute postsurgical pain as no adverse effect was associated with their administration for the 48 hours postoperative period. The administration tramadol in this study, was significantly associated with adverse effects.
Acetaminophen and tramadol work in different ways than Celebrex, and they do not interact with Celebrex. It's generally considered safe to take them together. If you have additional questions about taking a pain reliever during your Celebrex treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Co-crystal of tramadol–celecoxib (CTC) has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and contains three active therapeutic moieties (both enantiomers of tramadol, plus celecoxib)23.
Can you stop taking Celebrex cold turkey? Yes, but you should only stop taking celecoxib (Celebrex) with your prescriber's OK. Unlike some pain medications, celecoxib doesn't cause withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking it. But pain and swelling may return if you stop taking it sooner than recommended.
Celebrex (celecoxib) is an NSAID that tends to cause fewer GI side effects compared to more commonly used NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). However, it's only available with a prescription. On the flip side, ibuprofen is available over the counter (OTC) and as a prescription.
In a study on the cardiovascular safety of NSAIDs (patients' conditions unlimited), celecoxib was found to be related to a higher risk of cardiovascular death, as well as myocardial infarction, stroke, death from any cause, and APTC composite outcome, but none of them was statistically significant [48].
Naproxen is considered one of the strongest OTC medications because it is longer acting than ibuprofen. Other medications such as Celebrex, diclofenac, indomethacin, and meloxicam are also longer acting and may be stronger than ibuprofen.
Prescription NSAIDs that may also cause hair loss include: celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail), oxaprozin (Daypro), nabumetone (Relafen), and sulindac (Clinoril).
Some people who take Celebrex (celecoxib) have reported weight gain, but it isn't a common side effect of this medication. If you find yourself gaining weight while taking Celebrex (celecoxib), talk with your provider. They can examine you and discuss with you about possible other causes of your weight gain.
Opioids. Opioid medications are synthetic cousins of opium and the drugs derived from opium such as heroin and morphine. These medications are typically prescribed for pain that's new, known as acute pain. Acute pain can stem from an injury, such as surgery or a broken bone.
Tramadol and codeine are generally considered to have similar strength for pain relief, both being "weak opioids," though tramadol has two mechanisms (opioid and non-opioid) and codeine is a natural opiate, making them not perfectly interchangeable; research shows similar effectiveness, but tramadol might have different side effect profiles, with some studies showing tramadol associated with lower constipation but higher seizure risk, while codeine combinations (with acetaminophen/NSAIDs) are often stronger than either alone.
Good for mild, persistent pain, acetaminophen is your safest choice of the OTC pain relievers. The less-safe options are aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen.