Celecoxib is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute pain, chronic pain, primary dysmenorrhea and familial adenomatous polyposis. However, the insolubility of celecoxib can lead to limited bioavailability and delayed pain relief after oral administration. The present invention relates to an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a reduced dose of celecoxib relative to conventional celecoxib in 400 mg oral capsules and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein said composition a) releases no less than about 70% of the celecoxib at a period of 10 minutes； or b) releases no less than about 80% of the celecoxib at a period of 15 minutes, in 900 ml of 0.01N HCl with 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate, when tested in a USP Type 2 apparatus with sinkers at 50 rpm and 37° C. The present invention further relates to a method of treating pain in a human subject via administration of the composition claimed.
