Which drug is a COX-2 selective inhibitor?

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Multiple Choice

Which drug is a COX-2 selective inhibitor?

Understanding which NSAID is selective for COX-2 versus those that block both COX-1 and COX-2 helps explain both effectiveness and side effects. COX-1 is a constitutive enzyme important for protecting the stomach lining, supporting platelet function, and maintaining kidney blood flow. COX-2 is inducible at sites of inflammation and mainly drives pain and swelling. A COX-2 selective inhibitor is designed to block the inflammatory enzyme while sparing COX-1, aiming to reduce GI side effects. Celecoxib is the drug that specifically targets COX-2, giving anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects with a lower risk of gastric ulcers compared with nonselective NSAIDs. The other common NSAIDs—ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac—block both COX-1 and COX-2 to varying degrees, so they do not have that selective COX-2 profile. Keep in mind that COX-2 inhibitors still carry cardiovascular risk considerations, but in terms selectivity, celecoxib is the COX-2 selective option.

Understanding which NSAID is selective for COX-2 versus those that block both COX-1 and COX-2 helps explain both effectiveness and side effects. COX-1 is a constitutive enzyme important for protecting the stomach lining, supporting platelet function, and maintaining kidney blood flow. COX-2 is inducible at sites of inflammation and mainly drives pain and swelling. A COX-2 selective inhibitor is designed to block the inflammatory enzyme while sparing COX-1, aiming to reduce GI side effects.

Celecoxib is the drug that specifically targets COX-2, giving anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects with a lower risk of gastric ulcers compared with nonselective NSAIDs. The other common NSAIDs—ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac—block both COX-1 and COX-2 to varying degrees, so they do not have that selective COX-2 profile.

Keep in mind that COX-2 inhibitors still carry cardiovascular risk considerations, but in terms selectivity, celecoxib is the COX-2 selective option.

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