COX-2 Inhibitors

The cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used as an analgesic for many disorders.

The COX-2 enzyme is predominantly located in the central nervous system and thus there are fewer gastrointestinal side-effects with these drugs compared to COX-1 inhibitors.

Enlarge 

COX-2 inhibitors have been implicated as having increased cardiovascular risk in regards to myocardial infarction and cardiac death. Rofecoxib (Vioxx) was the first to be removed from the marked due to these concerns. Data is conflicting with celecoxib (Celebrex) and it remains available.

Names

Celecoxib, rofecoxib, meloxicam, valdecoxib