Which medication is specifically classified as a Cox-2 inhibitor?

Celecoxib is a medication specifically classified as a Cox-2 inhibitor. This means it selectively inhibits the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme, which plays a significant role in inflammation and pain signaling in the body. The advantage of using Cox-2 inhibitors like celecoxib is that they are designed to reduce inflammation with a lower risk of gastrointestinal side effects commonly associated with traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that inhibit both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes.

Other medications listed such as prochlorperazine, hydromorphone, and ketorolac do not fall into the Cox-2 inhibitor classification. Prochlorperazine is primarily an antipsychotic and antiemetic, hydromorphone is an opioid analgesic, and ketorolac is a non-selective NSAID that inhibits both Cox-1 and Cox-2. Therefore, celecoxib's specific mechanism of action as a selective Cox-2 inhibitor is what distinguishes it in this context.