meloxicam (oral/injection)
What is the most important information I should know about meloxicam?
Meloxicam can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). Meloxicam may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal.
What is meloxicam?
Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Meloxicam is also used to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children who are at least 2 years old. The Anjeso brand of meloxicam is used to treat moderate to severe pain in adults.
Vivlodex is for use only in adults. Qmiiz is for adults and children weighing at least 132 pounds (60 kilograms). Meloxicam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking meloxicam?
Meloxicam can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, even if you don't have any risk factors. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Meloxicam may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using meloxicam, especially in older adults.
You should not use meloxicam if you are allergic to it, or if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.
You should not take meloxicam disintegrating tablets (Qmiiz ODT) if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). This form of meloxicam contains phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke;
- a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
- ulcers or bleeding in your stomach;
- asthma;
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- liver disease; or
- fluid retention.
Taking meloxicam during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Meloxicam may cause a delay in ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). You should not take meloxicam if you are undergoing fertility treatment, or are otherwise trying to get pregnant.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Meloxicam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 2 years old.
How should I take meloxicam?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Use the lowest dose that is effective in treating your condition.
Meloxicam oral is taken by mouth. Meloxicam injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may take meloxicam oral with or without food. Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet in your mouth and allow it to dissolve, without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.
Meloxicam doses are based on weight (especially in children and teenagers). Your dose needs may change if you gain or lose weight. If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.
Store meloxicam tablets or capsules at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking meloxicam?
Avoid alcohol. Heavy drinking can increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
Avoid taking aspirin while you are taking meloxicam, unless your doctor tells you to.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using other medicines for pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu symptoms. They may contain ingredients similar to meloxicam (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen).
What are the possible side effects of meloxicam?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, leg swelling, feeling short of breath.
Stop using meloxicam and call your doctor at once if you have:
- the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion);
- swelling or rapid weight gain;
-
signs of stomach bleeding --bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
-
liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
low red blood cells (anemia) --pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed, cold hands and feet; or
-
kidney problems --little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.
Common side effects may include:
- stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn;
- diarrhea, constipation, gas;
- dizziness; or
- cold symptoms, flu symptoms.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect meloxicam?
Ask your doctor before using meloxicam if you take an antidepressant. Taking certain antidepressants with an NSAID may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- cyclosporine;
- lithium;
- methotrexate;
- pemetrexed;
- sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate);
- a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
- heart or blood pressure medication, including a diuretic or "water pill"; or
- steroid medicine (such as prednisone).
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect meloxicam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about meloxicam.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 13.02. Revision date: 4/29/2020.
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