What is meloxicam used for?
Meloxicam is commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation. It is used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Meloxicam may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
How does meloxicam work (mechanism of action)?
Meloxicam works by blocking certain substances in the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever.
How is meloxicam supplied (dosage forms)?
Brands and other names
- Mobic
- Vivlodex
Dosage forms and strengths
- 5 mg, 10 mg oral capsules
- 7.5 mg/5 mL oral suspension
- 7.5 mg, 15 mg oral tablets
How should I store meloxicam?
Meloxicam should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Keep the container tightly closed to protect it from moisture. Store in a cool, dry place.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of meloxicam?
The most common side effects of meloxicam are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Gas or heartburn
- Upset stomach or stomach pain
- Infection in the nose or throat, sore throat, or common cold symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms
- Dizziness
There may be other side effects of meloxicam that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of meloxicam?
While less common, the most serious side effects of meloxicam are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Heart Attack and Stroke. Meloxicam can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk is higher in people who already have heart disease and with higher doses and longer use of meloxicam. Do not take meloxicam if you have had a recent heart attack without talking to your healthcare provider. This could increase your risk of having another heart attack. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
- Chest pain or pressure
- Fast or abnormal heartbeat
- Trouble breathing
- Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
- Sudden weakness on one side of your body
- Sudden and severe headache
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
Stomach Bleeding. Meloxicam can increase your risk of bleeding, ulcers, and tears (perforation) in your gut. This can sometimes lead to death. The risk is higher if you have a history of stomach ulcers, or bleeding problems, take higher doses of meloxicam or take it for longer than directed, have poor health, are age 60 or older, have liver disease, smoke, drink alcohol, or take certain other medicines. Stop taking meloxicam and get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Vomit blood
- Black or tarry poop
- Stomach pain that does not go away
- Upset stomach
- Feel faint
Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking meloxicam. This can sometimes lead to liver failure or even death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach or belly pain
- Fever
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Light-colored poop
- Dark-colored urine
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Meloxicam may increase your blood pressure or make it worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your healthcare provider if your blood pressure increases while taking this medicine.
If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. An increase in blood pressure may not be noticeable but look out for any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.
- Sudden, severe headache
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or confusion
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea/vomiting
- Blurry or other changes to the vision
- Anxiety
- Buzzing in the ears
- Nosebleed
- Feeling of skipped heartbeats
Heart Failure. Meloxicam may increase your risk of heart failure. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of heart failure.
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs (edema)
- Unusually fast weight gain
- Unusual tiredness
Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when taking meloxicam. Stop taking meloxicam and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.
- Reduced need to pee
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs (edema)
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
High Potassium Levels (Hyperkalemia). Meloxicam can cause a high potassium level (hyperkalemia), which can be serious and may lead to death. Your healthcare provider may check your potassium levels, especially if you take certain other medicines. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a high potassium level.
- Muscle weakness or unusual tiredness
- Slow heartbeat or feeling of skipped heartbeats
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble breathing
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Severe Skin Reactions. Meloxicam can cause severe skin reactions called exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) that can lead to death if not treated. If you develop a rash, stop meloxicam and call your healthcare provider right away. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a severe skin reaction.
- Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
- Flat red rash or blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
- Red, painful, watery eyes
- Fever
Severe Allergic Reactions. Meloxicam may cause allergic reactions, including a specific type of allergic reaction called DRESS. DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms. It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Stop taking the medicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
- Dark-colored urine
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
Anemia. Meloxicam may cause anemia, which is when you have low levels of red blood cells. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of anemia.
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Cold hands and feet
- Fast or abnormal heartbeat
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
- Shortness of breath
Bleeding. Meloxicam can increase your risk of bleeding, especially if you have a bleeding disorder or take other medicines that increase your risk for bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any signs of bleeding, including easy bruising or bleeding.
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use meloxicam?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take meloxicam.
- Meloxicam
- Mobic
- Vivlodex
- Aspirin or any other medicine known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific meloxicam products they stock.
Heart Surgery. Do not take meloxicam right before or after a heart surgery called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Taking meloxicam during this time can increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke.
What should I know about meloxicam before using it?
Do not take meloxicam unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share meloxicam with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep meloxicam out of the reach of children.
Use an accurate measuring device to measure your meloxicam oral liquid dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.
People aged 65 years or older can be at greater risk for some side effects of meloxicam. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
Your healthcare provider may need to check lab work before and while you are taking meloxicam. It is important for you to keep all appointments, including those for lab work.
Taking meloxicam may make it more difficult for you to get pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using meloxicam?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if meloxicam is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
- Heart problems such as heart failure or a recent heart attack
- Bleeding problems
- Kidney or liver problems
- Fluid retention (edema)
- Stomach ulcers, bleeding, or other stomach problems like heartburn
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
- Stroke
Other Medicines and Supplements. Meloxicam may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking meloxicam, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. Do not take meloxicam at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy without talking to your healthcare provider. Taking meloxicam during this time may cause harm to an unborn baby and complications during delivery. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take meloxicam while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if meloxicam passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take meloxicam while breastfeeding.
Interactions
Does meloxicam interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between meloxicam and foods or drinks.
Drinking alcohol while taking meloxicam increases your risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Does meloxicam interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking meloxicam.
- A blood thinner, which is a medicine used to treat or prevent blood clots
- A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
- Aspirin, which is in many prescription and OTC products including those for pain, swelling, and fever
- An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain kidney problems
- An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart conditions
- A beta-blocker, such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), atenolol (Tenormin), or propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL), which is a medicine that may be used for certain heart conditions or to reduce blood pressure
- A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
- Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
- Methotrexate (Trexall and others), which is a medicine commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis or certain types of cancer
- Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine to suppress your immune system
- A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which is in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling, and fever
- A salicylate, such as diflunisal or salsalate, which is a medicine used for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Pemetrexed (Alimta, Pemfexy), which is a medicine to treat certain cancers
- A corticosteroid, which is a medicine for certain inflammatory conditions
- Digoxin, which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
- Cholestyramine (Prevalite), which is a medicine for high cholesterol
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with meloxicam. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Does Meloxicam interact with other drugs you are taking?
Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much meloxicam?
If you or someone else has taken too much meloxicam, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of meloxicam?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
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