When Celebrex went on the market in 1999, millions of people were delighted. It was effective for treating arthritis pain, menstrual pain, and other chronic pains. Pfizer, the company that marketed the drug, made billions of dollars within the first couple years. Millions of patients asked for it, and doctors, satisfied with the preliminary trials that had been done on the drug, happily prescribed it.

But then new facts began to come to light. While all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have some negative side effects with regard to the patient’s cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, Celebrex was particularly harmful on the cardiovascular. In fact, the American Heart Association has said that Celebrex should be prescribed to people with heart disease (or who are at risk to develop it) only as an absolute last resort.

Some of Celebrex’s side effects have turned out to be serious, even life-threatening, and some deaths have been reported. Damage to the liver and kidneys may also result. Ulcers are also common, as well as various heart-related complications. Some have felt that Pfizer sought to downplay the side effects of Celebrex, or at least their significance, in order to sell more pills. Celebrex was competing against Vioxx at the same time, and each company wanted to make its product look as good as possible. Therefore, it has been alleged that some side effects were minimized in order to increase profits.

At least 10 Celebrex-related deaths were reported within the first year the drug was available, and more than a dozen cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Eventually, the Food and Drug Administration sent Pfizer a letter, warning them about misrepresentations of Celebrex’s side effects.

Some of Celebrex’s side effects are normal and minimal. Diarrhea, indigestion, gas, dizziness, nausea, and headache are typical, and not usually significant. Some patients also retain water when taking Celebrex. For the most part, these problems are not a big deal.

But in some patients, they can be worse. Symptoms of serious Celebrex-related problems can include difficulty breathing, tight chest, swollen eyelids or face, and hives and rashes. Some patients also reported things like weight gain, bloating, vomiting, bloody stools, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and uncommon fatigue.

If you took Celebrex, perhaps you experienced some of these side effects and disregarded them. Maybe the overall positive effect the drug was having on your health made the negative aspects seem worthwhile. Maybe you figured it was all part of the price to pay for pain relief.

Unfortunately, some of the drug’s effects can only be seen later, and only through a doctor’s tests. You may not realize the damage done to your stomach, intestines, heart, and other organs. If you took Celebrex for any length of time, or are taking it now, you should have your doctor give you a careful and thorough check-up. Your doctor can detect problems that may not be evident to you.

Most people are reluctant to bring lawyers into it, but thousands of people have begun to suspect that the makers of Celebrex were not entirely up-front about their drug’s possible side effects. Some have claimed that in the rush to compete against Vioxx, Celebrex downplayed its side effects and went on the market under-tested. If that is the case, it may be that the drug company is responsible for the damage done to the millions of people who took the drug.

If you are one of the patients who had negative side effects, you ought to consult with an attorney, just to see what your options are. Your attorney may conclude that your case is too mild, or he or she might recommend that action be taken. At the very least, you should determine where you stand and then decide whether you want to hold the pharmaceutical company liable for your pain and suffering.