Celebrex/Celecoxib
I'm just curious as to who else is taking Celecoxib. I have arthritis but am really taking it as an anti-inflammatory that I hope will delay progression. I've been taking it daily since last June but today a Physician's Assistant refused to renew my prescription. Her reasoning was that my kidney numbers on the GFR test are too low. Mine seem to have been low even before the Celebrex. Sometimes they are a little above the minimum desired range but often a little below. My PCP moved to a concierge practice and I can't get an appointment with a new PCP until June. If you are on celebrex, was it prescribed by your MO or your PCP?
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Here's an article showing the effectiveness of celecoxib against breast cancer:
I'm appealing to my MO in hopes that she will grant the prescription or at least do a reasoned risk/benefit analysis.
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Hi Chicagoan
I've been on Celebrex for 2.5 years. I also have arthritis and was just putting up with that pain, but when I was diagnosed stage IV with multiple bone mets, I persuaded my MO to prescribe it to treat the arthritis pain and therefore minimize my overall pain. Twice in this period my eGFR has dropped to 54, but then back to normal the following month. Normal readings just say >60. I'm really strict about avoiding Advil, even though it's my favorite OTC pain reliever. I also drink lots of extra water the day before and day of my monthly blood work, as my calcium and potassium readings range between high normal and over the limit and I'm tired of being lectured.
Thanks for the article and good luck.
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Thanks Eleanora. Do you get your eGFR tested monthly? They only test mine before CT scans. I will remember to really drink a lot of extra water before that blood work. (That is if I can convince someone to write me a prescription, I still have 130 pills left). I'm thinking of just getting a PCP outside of my cancer hospital if necessary. I'm sure I can find some doctor in Chicago who will write me a prescription for Celebrex for the arthritis pain. Feeling ticked off today at having my health care decided by a PA who has no knowledge of cancer.
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Hi Chicagoan
I have full blood work every month before the faslodex and xgeva injections and it includes the eGFR.
I was taking celebrex for 3 years before my hip replacement (and before my cancer diagnosis) and it was prescribed by my PCP. I think the cdk4/6 meds have a negative impact on the kidneys as well. Understand your anger with the PA. I've had ones who are at the cancer institute order incomplete sets of scans and I had to call the MO to have it corrected. It's hard enough fighting for our lives without having to deal with idiots.
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