Is Turmeric Safe with Celecoxib?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Use caution combining high-dose turmeric (curcumin) supplements with celecoxib. While possibly complementary for inflammation, overlapping COX-2 inhibition and curcumin's antiplatelet effects warrant medical supervision. Stick to dietary turmeric amounts when possible.
Why this interaction occurs
Curcumin inhibits COX-2 and NF-κB inflammatory pathways, overlapping with celecoxib's mechanism. Additionally, curcumin inhibits CYP2C9, the primary enzyme metabolizing celecoxib, potentially raising celecoxib plasma levels and increasing exposure-related cardiovascular or renal toxicity.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 37,331 reports mentioning Celecoxib. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Celecoxib + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Turmeric interactions → · All Celecoxib interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.