Metacam

Meloxicam is a prescription medication used to relieve the pain and swelling of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Meloxicam belongs to a group of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which work by stopping substances in your body that cause inflammation and pain.

This medication comes in tablet and oral suspension forms and is taken once a day, with or without food.

Common side effects of meloxicam include diarrhea, upset stomach, and upper respiratory infections.

Meloxicam can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how meloxicam will affect you.

Meloxicam is a prescription medication used to relieve symptoms of:

• osteoarthritis (arthritis from the damage of joint linings)
• rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis from the swelling of joint linings)
• juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children 2 years of age and older

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take meloxicam exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dose of meloxicam depending on the severity of your arthritis and your response to the medication. The dosage range of meloxicam is between 7.5 and 15 mg per day for adults. The maximum daily dose of meloxicam is 15 mg for adults.

For the treatment of children over two years old with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the child’s body weight will determine the dosage of the medication. The maximum daily dose in children is 7.5 mg.

Cardiovascular Risk:

NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use. Patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease may be at greater risk.

Meloxicam is contraindicated for the treatment of peri-operative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Gastrointestinal Risk:

NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events.

Serious side effects have been reported with meloxicam including:

• Cardiovascular thrombotic events. Meloxicam can increase your risk of cardiovascular and heart diseases such as strokes and myocardial infarctions, which can lead to death. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease.
• Gastrointestinal effects. Meloxicam can cause digestive tract problems such as ulcers, bleeding, inflammation, and perforations (small holes). Tell your doctor if you have a history of digestive problems, or if you smoke or frequently drink alcohol. Alert your doctor if you take anticoagulants (blood-thinners) or corticosteroids such as prednisone.
• Hepatic events. Meloxicam c­­an cause damage to the liver and increase liver tests. Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease.
• Hypertension. Meloxicam may raise your blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have a history of high blood pressure or take ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril and enalapril) or diuretics (water pills).
• Congestive heart failure and edema. Meloxicam can increase the chance of congestive heart failure, fluid retention, and weight gain.
• Renal effects. Kidney damage can result from the use of meloxicam. Tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease or take ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril and enalapril) or diuretics (water pills).
• Hypersensitivity reaction. An allergic reaction to meloxicam can occur. Symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction include:
  • hives
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • itching
  • swelling
• Adverse skin reactions. Meloxicam can lead to dangerous skin reactions. Symptoms of a skin reaction include:
  • rash
  • red, itchy, or scaly skin
  • blisters
  • fever
• Pregnancy. Meloxicam should not be taken past the 30th week of pregnancy.

Meloxicam can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how meloxicam affects you.

Do not take meloxicam if you:

• are allergic to meloxicam (Mobic)
• will have or have recently had coronary (heart) surgery

Serious side effects have been reported with meloxicam. See “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of meloxicam include:

• diarrhea
• upper respiratory infection
• upset stomach
• flu-like symptoms
• edema, or swelling
• stomach pain
• gas
• digestive problems
• heartburn
• nausea
• headache
• dizziness

This is not a complete list of meloxicam side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril (Prinivil), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec) and others
• aspirin (Ecotrin) and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• diuretics, or water pills, such as thiazides (hydrochlorothiazide) and furosemide (Lasix)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune)
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• cholestyramine (Questran)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)

This is not a complete list of meloxicam drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Meloxicam falls into category C before the 30th week of pregnancy, and category D after the 30th week.

For Pregnancy Category C before the 30th week of pregnancy: Studies in animals have shown a harmful and undesired effect on the unborn baby, yet there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This medication may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to her unborn baby.

For Pregnancy Category D after the thirtieth week of pregnancy: Meloxicam should be avoided during the third trimester of pregnancy. There is evidence of risk to the unborn baby based on studies in humans or adverse reaction data. 

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if meloxicam is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Meloxicam belongs to class of medications of called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS).

• Many other NSAIDs are available in over-the-counter pain relievers, cold preparations, and allergy medications.
• Talk to your pharmacist or physican about your over-the-counter medication use before starting meloxicam.

Long-term use of meloxicam and other potent NSAIDs can increase the risk of serious heart problems including heart attack and stroke.

• Know the signs and symptoms of serious heart problems when taking NSAIDs.

Meloxicam and other NSAIDs can increase the risk of serious and sometimes life-threatening stomach bleeding.

• Alcohol use can increase this risk.
• Alert your pharmacist or physician if your stool becomes black or tarry, if you begin to cough up blood, or you vomit particles that resemble coffee grounds.