Arcoxia will start to work after 24 minutes of ingestion and this medication may stay in your body up to 22 hours. Arcoxia is a brand name for a medication that contains an active ingredient known as Etoricoxib. Etoricoxib is an example of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or also called NSAIDs. NSAIDs are medications used to reduce and relieve pain. In other words, NSAIDs are painkillers. Simple analgesics or painkillers like NSAIDs and paracetamol are the first-line medications used to relieve pain. In regards to the World Health Organization (WHO) pain management ladder, pain is classified into mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild pain only required the use of simple analgesics like NSAIDs and paracetamol. Moderate pain will require the use of simple painkillers with opioids based painkillers. Severe pain will need the combination of simple analgesics, opioids containing painkillers, and additional pain relievers. Etoricoxib or Arcoxia is taken orally, with or without food.
The conditions that can be treated with Arcoxia are:
- Acute pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Gout
- Dental procedures (minor)
- Painful menses (physiological)
However, etoricoxib should not be used in:
- Those who are allergic to this medication, whether it is the active ingredient or the other adjuncts
- Congestive heart failure patients
- Ischemic heart disease individuals
- Those with peripheral arterial disease
- Cerebrovascular disease patients
- Pregnant ladies
- Poorly optimized blood pressure in patients with hypertension
The available doses for this medication are 60mg, 90mg, and 120mg in the form of tablets. The inactive ingredients of these medications are:
- Hypromellose
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate
- Carnauba wax
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Magnesium stearate
- Lactose monohydrate
- Titanium dioxide
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Glycerol triacetate
Osteoarthritis is the main form of joint inflammation. The main presentations are joint pain and limitation of joint movement due to pain. There are three stages of pain in osteoarthritis. The stages are:
1- Sharp pain that limits high impact activities
2- Constant pain that affects the daily routines. Mayor may not associate with stiffness
3- Constant dull pain with severe joint limitations
Osteoarthritis may affect single or multiple joints. Osteoarthritis is diagnosed clinically with the aid of imaging. The non-pharmacological therapy for osteoarthritis are:
- Exercises (strength and aerobic)
- Weight reduction (at least 10 percent of body weight)
- Walking aids or knee braces
Other treatment modalities are:
- Painkillers
- Total joint replacement (surgery)
- Supplements like glucosamine and vitamin D
- Acupuncture
- Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS)
On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is a multiple joint inflammation disease with unknown etiology. Other diseases that may mimic rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Viral polyarthritis
- Lyme polyarthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Crystalline arthritis
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
Nonpharmacological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Rest
- Exercise
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Nutritional counseling
The pharmacological treatments are:
- NSAIDs
- Steroids
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Indications for surgery in rheumatoid arthritis patients:
-Intractable pain
-Severe joint destruction
-Rupture of tendon
There are two main pathways for the initiation of pain in the human body. The first one is with the help of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and the other is cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Arcoxia eliminates pain by inhibiting the COX-2. Cox-2 has been shown to produce the mediators for pain, fever, and inflammation. The use of Arcoxia may increase the risk of:
- Gastrointestinal ulceration
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Gastrointestinal perforation
The use of Arcoxia in pregnancy is not recommended as animal studies have shown to cause reproductive toxicity. Animal studies also showed that the medication is released into the breast milk, hence, the decision to stop lactation or to stop the medication in the lactating mother will be decided by your physician. Arcoxia should be stored in 30-degree Celsius and freeform moisture and sunlight.
The use of Arcoxia may interfere with other medications like:
- Warfarin
- Rifampin
- Methotrexate
- ACE inhibitors
- Aspirin
- Lithium
