Valdecoxib was a type of pain medication called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, commonly abbreviated as NSAID. NSAIDs help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by headaches, menstruation and some types of arthritis. The makers of valdecoxib stopped making it in 2005 because it was found to cause serious health issues in some people, such as life-threatening effects on the heart's function.
Like most NSAIDs, valdecoxib helped reduce pain and inflammation by reducing the amount of prostaglandins inside the body. By reducing the level of prostaglandins present, it helped reduce inflammation and pain, relieving many of the painful symptoms associated with menstruation, loss of cartilage between the joints and headaches. It was approved to specifically treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and cramps associated with a woman's menstrual cycle.
Before it was discontinued, valdecoxib was available in 10 to 20 milligram tablets. The 20-milligram tablets typically were intended for menstrual pain sufferers, as the recommended dose to treat menstrual pain was 20 milligrams twice a day. To treat joint pain, doctors recommended smaller doses of about 10 milligrams per day to relieve pain and inflammation. Headache sufferers were given either dose, depending on the severity of the headache.
Valdecoxib was recalled due to serious reactions, some of which were life-threatening. Although it was shown to be effective for pain and inflammation, it also increased a person's risk for blood clots, which led to higher incidences of heart attack and stroke. This risk nearly doubled in people who recently underwent heart surgery, which is why this drug was never recommended for people with any sort of heart function problem.
There were also concerns it could cause fatal skin problems, which sometimes occurred without warning, making it hard to detect. People who experienced symptoms often reported their skin blistered, peeled or felt loose. Other people reported strange lesions on their arms, legs and trunks, which appeared red and inflamed. There is also evidence valdecoxib could be potentially toxic to the liver and kidneys, making it unsafe for people with kidney or liver problems.
Like with most NSAIDs, this drug increased a person's risk for bleeding. This can increase the risk for health conditions characterized by uncontrollable bleeding, such as bleeding in the stomach, nosebleeds and issues stopping bleeding after a cut or scrape. People with bleeding disorders that prevented their blood from coagulating could not take this medication.