Azcura contains etoricoxib 90 mg, a COX-2 selective anti-inflammatory taken once daily. It treats osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout attacks. It is notably gentler on the stomach than older anti-inflammatories, with cardiovascular and blood pressure considerations instead.
What is Azcura?
Azcura contains etoricoxib 90 mg, a coxib — a selective COX-2 inhibitor. It is a Schedule 3 medicine, and the same ingredient is sold as Exinef, Coricib and Arcoxia.
Anti-inflammatories work by blocking cyclo-oxygenase, and there are two forms of that enzyme. COX-1 is the housekeeping one — it maintains the stomach lining, supports kidney blood flow and helps platelets clot. COX-2 appears mainly at sites of inflammation. Older NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and diclofenac block both, which is why they relieve inflammation and irritate the stomach in the same action.
Etoricoxib is highly COX-2 selective — more so than meloxicam, and comparable to or greater than celecoxib. The result is markedly fewer stomach ulcers and less gastrointestinal bleeding than with a conventional NSAID.
The trade-off is well established. Sparing COX-1 in platelets while suppressing COX-2 shifts the balance somewhat toward clot formation, and etoricoxib in particular has a more pronounced effect on blood pressure than other coxibs. That is why blood pressure is checked before starting and monitored during treatment, and why it is avoided in uncontrolled hypertension.
90 mg is a standard strength, used for arthritis and acute gout; 60 mg and 120 mg are also available.
What is Azcura commonly used for?
- Osteoarthritis, for pain and stiffness.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, alongside disease-modifying treatment.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory arthritis of the spine.
- Acute gout attacks, where etoricoxib is genuinely effective and is a recognised alternative to indometacin or colchicine.
- Acute musculoskeletal pain, short-term.
- Pain after dental surgery.
The gout use is worth separating out. Etoricoxib treats the flare — the inflammation caused by urate crystals — and works well for it. It does nothing to prevent the next attack. Prevention means lowering uric acid, usually with allopurinol as in Puricos, which is a separate daily medicine. People frequently treat flare after flare for years without addressing the underlying cause.
In arthritis, etoricoxib relieves pain and stiffness. It does not repair cartilage or slow osteoarthritis, and in rheumatoid arthritis the medicines that prevent joint damage are disease-modifying agents such as methotrexate.
It is usually chosen for someone who needs an anti-inflammatory but has a history of stomach problems, or who needs one long term where cumulative stomach risk matters.
How Azcura fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Simple analgesics | Paracetamol (Donapan) | No anti-inflammatory action; safest stomach profile |
| Non-selective NSAIDs | Ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen | Effective; most stomach risk |
| Preferentially COX-2 selective | Meloxicam | Intermediate |
| COX-2 selective (coxibs) | Etoricoxib (Azcura, Exinef), celecoxib (Colcibra) | Least stomach risk; blood pressure attention |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Far stronger; short courses or injection |
See the pain, inflammation and musculoskeletal medicines hub.
What to check before using Azcura
Have your blood pressure checked before starting, and periodically afterwards. Etoricoxib raises blood pressure more than most anti-inflammatories, and it should not be used if your blood pressure is uncontrolled. This is the check most specific to this medicine.
Take it once daily, at the same time, with or without food.
Never combine it with another anti-inflammatory, including over-the-counter ibuprofen and combination painkillers such as Mybulen — doing so removes the stomach advantage entirely.
Tell your prescriber or pharmacist if:
- You have high blood pressure, particularly if it is not well controlled.
- You have heart disease, heart failure, or have had a heart attack or stroke.
- You have had coronary bypass surgery, after which coxibs are avoided.
- You have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding. Reduced risk is not zero.
- You have kidney disease, or become dehydrated easily.
- You have liver disease.
- You have asthma with NSAID sensitivity.
- You have inflammatory bowel disease.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You take warfarin, an SSRI antidepressant, a diuretic, an ACE inhibitor, lithium, methotrexate or the contraceptive pill — etoricoxib can raise oestrogen levels.
- You are over 65.
Follow the dispensing label. This page does not set doses.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Blood pressure is the effect to watch. Etoricoxib can raise it appreciably, sometimes enough to require treatment or to stop the medicine. Have it checked within a couple of weeks of starting and periodically after — a home monitor is useful if you have one.
Gentler on the stomach is not the same as safe for the stomach. Ulcers and bleeding still occur, particularly in people at higher baseline risk.
Kidney function can decline, particularly in older people, on blood-pressure medicines, or when dehydrated. During an illness with vomiting or diarrhoea, ask whether to pause it.
Fluid retention and ankle swelling are recognised and worth reporting.
Serious skin reactions, though rare, are recognised with etoricoxib. Stop and seek help immediately for a rash that blisters or peels, or involves the mouth or eyes.
Use the lowest amount for the shortest period that controls the problem, and review long-term use periodically.
Seek urgent medical attention for chest pain, breathlessness, one-sided weakness or slurred speech, stomach pain, vomiting blood or coffee-ground material, black tarry stools, marked swelling of the legs or face, significantly reduced urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a blistering or peeling rash.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines guides
- Read: Prednisone used for
- Read: Donapan used for
Frequently asked questions
What is Azcura 90 mg used for? Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout attacks. It contains etoricoxib.
Is it the same as Arcoxia or Exinef? Yes. All are brands of etoricoxib.
Is it easier on the stomach than ibuprofen? Yes, meaningfully so — it largely spares the enzyme that protects the stomach lining. The risk is reduced rather than eliminated.
Why does my blood pressure need checking? Etoricoxib raises blood pressure more than most anti-inflammatories. It should not be used if your blood pressure is uncontrolled.
Does it treat gout? It treats the attack effectively. It does not prevent the next one — that requires lowering uric acid with a medicine such as allopurinol.
Can I take it with ibuprofen? No. Combining two anti-inflammatories removes the stomach advantage and adds risk without improving relief.