From the Guidelines
Celebrex (celecoxib) does not directly cause tachycardia, but it can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, especially with long-term use or in people with existing cardiovascular conditions. According to the most recent study 1, celecoxib was not associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, which is a type of irregular heartbeat that can lead to tachycardia. However, the study did find that non-selective NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors, including celecoxib, may increase the risk of cardiovascular events due to their effects on blood pressure and plasma volume.
Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammation. It works by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes, which reduces prostaglandin production. While this mechanism doesn't typically cause an immediate increase in heart rate, Celebrex can impact blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, especially with long-term use or in people with existing cardiovascular conditions.
Some key points to consider when taking Celebrex include:
- Taking the medication as directed by your doctor, usually 200 mg once daily for osteoarthritis or 100-200 mg twice daily for rheumatoid arthritis
- Being aware of potential side effects and informing your doctor if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or other cardiovascular symptoms
- Using Celebrex cautiously and only under close medical supervision if you have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or are at risk for cardiovascular events
- Regular check-ups to monitor blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health are important while taking this medication, as recommended by the American Heart Association 1.
It's also important to note that the risk of cardiovascular events associated with Celebrex can be increased by other factors, such as:
- Long-term use of the medication
- Existing cardiovascular conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure
- Use of other medications that can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such as corticosteroids 1
- Underlying medical conditions, such as renal or cardiovascular disease, as highlighted in the 2015 ACC/AHA/HRS guideline for the management of adult patients with supraventricular tachycardia 1.
From the Research
Tachycardia and Celebrex (Celecoxib)
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies that Celebrex (celecoxib) causes tachycardia.
- A study on the effects of celecoxib on ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients on ACE inhibitors found that celecoxib had no significant effect on blood pressure 2.
- A thorough QT/QTc study found that celecoxib caused no clinically relevant increase in the QT/QTc interval, which is a measure of the heart's electrical activity 3.
- A study on the cardiovascular risks of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in patients after hospitalization for serious coronary heart disease found that short-term use of celecoxib increased the risk of serious coronary heart disease, but did not specifically address tachycardia 4.
- A review of heart rate as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality discussed the importance of heart rate in cardiovascular disease, but did not mention celecoxib specifically 5.
Cardiovascular Risks
- The studies suggest that celecoxib may have some cardiovascular risks, particularly with short-term use or high doses 2, 4.
- However, the evidence on the specific risk of tachycardia associated with celecoxib is limited and inconclusive.
- Further research would be needed to fully understand the relationship between celecoxib and tachycardia.