etoricoxib at a glance
Medicine class
Selective COX-2 inhibitor, a type of NSAID.
Licensed age
Adults and adolescents aged 16 years and over.
Administration
The tablet can be taken with or without food; its effect may begin faster without food.
Important checks
Cardiovascular, blood-pressure, gastrointestinal, kidney and liver risks should be assessed before and during treatment.
What is etoricoxib used for?
The selected product is licensed for symptomatic treatment in people aged 16 years and over.
Osteoarthritis pain and inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation
Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms
Pain and inflammation during acute gouty arthritis
Short-term moderate pain associated with dental surgery
How does etoricoxib work?
Etoricoxib selectively blocks cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involved in producing prostaglandins that contribute to pain, inflammation and fever. It has little direct effect on COX-1 or platelet function, but serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects can still occur.
etoricoxib preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, 120 mg, 90120 mg
How to take etoricoxib
Take the film-coated tablet exactly as prescribed and swallow it by mouth. It may be taken with or without food; taking it without food may produce a faster onset of effect. Do not add ibuprofen, naproxen or another NSAID unless a clinician has specifically advised this.
Follow the prescription label and use the tablet strength supplied for you.
Do not share prescribed tablets with anyone else.
If dizziness, vertigo or sleepiness occurs, do not drive or operate machinery.
etoricoxib side effects
Common or expected effects
- Stomach pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
- Headache or dizziness
- Raised blood pressure
- Fluid retention or swelling of the legs and feet
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Tiredness or weakness
- Changes in liver blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Face, lip, tongue or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or another severe allergic reaction
- Black stools, vomiting blood, or severe or persistent abdominal pain
- Chest pain, stroke symptoms, worsening breathlessness or increasing ankle swelling
- Blistering, peeling skin or sores affecting the mouth or eyes
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Reduced kidney function, which may present with swelling, breathlessness or changes in urination
etoricoxib in pregnancy
The selected product is contraindicated during pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs while taking etoricoxib, stop it and contact the prescriber promptly. It is also not recommended when trying to conceive, so alternatives should be discussed in advance.
etoricoxib while breastfeeding
The product information states that people taking etoricoxib must not breastfeed because human milk data are unavailable. Specialist breastfeeding guidance says it may sometimes be used cautiously when clinically appropriate for a full-term, healthy infant, with monitoring for vomiting or diarrhoea; this requires individual prescriber or specialist assessment.
etoricoxib interactions
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products. Important interactions include:
Warfarin and other oral anticoagulants
May increase anticoagulant effect and bleeding risk; closer clotting monitoring may be required.
ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and diuretics
May reduce blood-pressure control and increase kidney-impairment risk, particularly with dehydration or renal vulnerability.
Aspirin and other NSAIDs
Combining them increases gastrointestinal harm. Antiplatelet aspirin prescribed for cardiovascular prevention should not be stopped without medical advice.
Common questions about etoricoxib
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is etoricoxib an NSAID?
Yes. It is a prescription-only NSAID that selectively inhibits COX-2.
Can etoricoxib be taken with ibuprofen or naproxen?
They should not normally be combined because using more than one NSAID increases the risk of adverse effects.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.