英文药名: Bextra (Valdecoxib Tablets)

中文药名: 伐地昔布
品牌药生产厂家: Pfizer

【中文品名】伐地昔布
【药效类别】抗关节炎药>昔布类
【通用药名】VALDECOXIB
【别　　名】Bextra, SC-65872
【化学名称】 Benzenesulfonamide, 4-(5-methyl-3-phenyl-4-isoxazolyl)-
【CA登记号】[181695-72-7]
【结 构 式】

【分 子 式】C16H14N2O3S
【分 子 量】314.36
【收录药典】USP2000
【开发单位】Searle
【首次上市】1998年
【性　　状】白色或淡黄色结晶粉末，溶于乙醇，几乎不溶于水。
【用　　途】为第二代特异性COX-2抑制剂，抗关节炎药，肠胃副作用小，用于治疗关节炎，骨关节炎。

Bextra

Bextra, a Drug consisting of Valdecoxib compound, is a medicine used for the treatment of Arthritis and other joint pains. Bextra/Valdecoxib comes in the category of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) called COX-2 inhibitors. The main function of Bextra/Valdecoxib is to stop the creation of a substance that results in the pain and inflammation in joints. Bextra/Valdecoxib is being manufactured by Pfizer/Pharmacia.

What are the major disorders for which Bextra may be Used?

• Bextra is used to treat any kind of Arthritis, where in Arthritis means the inflammation of the joints in the body and a person suffering from this problem suffers from some symptoms like pain, swelling, redness, heat.

• Arthritis basically stands for Joint-Inflammation i.e. Arthr - joint, itis – inflammation.

• Arthritis is characterized by certain ailments that affects the joints and muscles in the body. The indications of this disease are joint pain, inflammation and limited movement of joints. Every joint in human body consists of a lubricating substance that helps as grease to the joints. This in turn helps in the smooth movement of the joints and thus a person can very easily do any muscle activity. The problem occurs when there is a malfunctioning in the production of this lubricating substance. Thereby the joint gets inflamed, which may lead to swelling and pain in the joints.

• If this problems persists for a longer time than the person suffering from this faces problem in movement of body parts, swelling in various parts, difficulty climbing stairs and walking, etc.

• To be more specific Arthritis is of two types: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis is a type of Arthritis where the lubricating substance, which helps in easy movement of the joints, gets decreased day by day and the problems relating to this like, pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints increases day by day. Also this kind of arthritis is most commonly seen in women.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is another kind of arthritis wherein the problems spreads throughout the body and is not only limited to the joints. This means that the person suffering from this may have pain and inflammation in any body part, including the joints. Besides the normal symptoms of arthritis, it may also lead to loss of appetite, frequent suffering from fever, and loss of energy, and lumps of tissue may form under the skin.

• Bextra/Valdecoxib is one drug that helps in reducing the inflammation and pain in the joints.

How Bextra works?

Arthritis is caused by the decrease in the lubricating substance that helps in the normal movement of the joints. An enzyme called COX-2 that is formed inside the body characterizes this decrease, and it functions to decrease the amount of the lubricating substance, thereby resulting in pain and inflammation.

Bextra does a very simple function and acts as a problematic substance for this enzyme and thus the level of the lubricant comes to normal. Thus Bextra/Valdecoxib helps in reducing the pain and inflammation in the joints.

Hence Bextra works well for patients suffering from any kind of arthritis, which leads to pain and inflammation in the various body parts, specially the joints.

Is any prescription required to get Bextra?

Bextra/Valdecoxib is not meant for every individual and hence must not be taken without the advise of a doctor. Bextra may interact with some other drug that a person is taking. It is strictly recommended to consult a medical practitioner before taking Bextra/Valdecoxib.

Dosage of Bextra?

Bextra is generally recommended to be taken once in a day. As Bextra/Valdecoxib comes in 10mg and 20mg tablets, so dose of Bextra may vary depending upon the complexity of the problem and the doctor. Bextra/Valdecoxib may be taken with or without food but for the exact dosage of Bextra a doctor must be consulted.

What is the minimum duration for which Bextra should be taken?

As per the research done on this uptill now, there is no specific time period identified for the duration of Bextra use. Since the problem is not completely curable, hence there is no specific time limit for the intake of Bextra/Valdecoxib. Bextra and other such drugs can only reduce the intensity of the problem, and cannot cure it completely. So, Bextra may be taken continuously if one is being benefited out of it.

Are there any side effects of Bextra?

• Diarrhea
• Extreme tiredness
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Respiratory infection
• Nausea

Note: The intensity of the above is not too much and is generally very mild, but varies from person to person.

Under what circumstances should Bextra not be used?

• If a person is taking some other drug, Bextra should be taken with the consent of a Medical practitioner.
• If a person has allergy with Bextra/ Valdecoxib or any other specific drug.
• If a person is being operated, may be minor, the doctor must be informed about it before one takes Bextra.
• If one is taking some medicine for some heart problem or problem with any other body part.
• If a person is in the habit of smoking, one must inform the doctor, because smoking may result in an increase in the intensity of side effects that Bextra causes.
• If a female is pregnant, is planning to become pregnant or is breast feeding, Bextra/Valdecoxib should be taken by the advice of a doctor.

Under which storage conditions Bextra should be kept?

Bextra/Valdecoxib should be stored at room temperature and the place where Bextra is kept should not have excessive moisture and temperature. However, Bextra should be kept in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Also, as per the general indications for any medicine, Bextra should also be thrown away if it is outdated.

Major Drug (Bextra and other NSAIDs) Manufacturers

• Merck Sharp & Dohme
• Pharmacia
• Viatris
• Shire Pharmaceuticals

Similar drugs

• Arcoxia (Merck Sharp & Dohme)
• Celebrex (Pharmacia)
• Celecoxib (Pharmacia)
• Eccoxolac (Viatris)
• Etodolac (Shire Pharmaceuticals)
• Etoricoxib (Merck Sharp & Dohme)
• Lodine SR (Shire Pharmaceuticals)
• Rofecoxib (Merck Sharp & Dohme)
• Vioxx (Merck Sharp & Dohme)

辉瑞公司的包膜片剂Bextra（valdecoxib）在欧洲获得了上市批准

Valdecoxib是一种最新的COX-2选择性抑制剂，可用于与骨关节炎(OA)、类风湿性关节炎（RA）和原发性痛经等相关的疼痛和炎症反应的治疗。Valdecoxib是由欧洲委员会获得批准的，这就意味着它在欧盟的15个成员国中都有效，并且这项批准将扩大到挪威和冰岛。这使得辉瑞的COX-2选择性抑制剂在欧洲有了最广泛的市场。Valdecoxib将以商品名Bextra、Valdyn和Kudeq在欧盟销售。Bextra是于2002年在美国和拉丁美洲上市的，预计今年它将在欧盟成员国及其以外的国家上市。辉瑞公司COX-2抑制剂类的其它产品还包括有Celebrex（celecoxib）和Dynastat（parecoxib钠盐注射液），前者于2000年按照相互承认程序在欧洲获得批准，用于缓解骨性关节炎和类风湿关节炎的症状；后者于2002年3月在欧盟获准上市，用于手术后疼痛的短期治疗，目前则已经在欧洲、亚洲和拉丁美洲的几个市场上市。