Etoricoxib

Etoricoxib is a potent oral medicine that works by specifically blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and it does so both at normal treatment doses and at doses well above that range. The body has two related enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, that play different roles. COX-1 supports everyday protective functions, such as keeping the stomach lining healthy and helping platelets clot normally. This is why older, non-selective NSAIDs, which block both COX-1 and COX-2, can cause stomach damage and interfere with normal blood clotting. COX-2, on the other hand, is mainly responsible for producing the substances that cause pain, inflammation, and fever. By selectively blocking COX-2 rather than COX-1, etoricoxib relieves these symptoms while carrying a lower risk of stomach-related side effects and clotting problems. At daily doses up to 150 mg, etoricoxib blocks COX-2 in a dose-related manner without affecting COX-1, and it does not reduce the stomach's protective prostaglandin production.