Meloxicam Tablets

What it is for

Is arthritis making your joints sore, stiff or swollen? Meloxicam tablets ease the pain and swelling of:

• rheumatoid arthritis - a long-term condition that inflames your joints
• ankylosing spondylitis - a condition that inflames your spine
• osteoarthritis, when it flares up - wear of the cartilage that cushions your joints

For rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, you can take it long term. For osteoarthritis, it is for a short time, while a flare-up lasts.

It is for adults and children aged 16 years and over.

It will not give quick relief from sudden pain, such as a sprain, a headache or toothache.

Next step: answer our health questions when you order. A prescriber checks them before anything is sent.

Meloxicam may slightly raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke. That is more likely with high doses and long use. So take the lowest dose that works, for the shortest time you need it. If you have heart problems, have had a stroke, or think you could be at risk, talk to our prescriber before you start.

Is it right for you?

Do not take it if you:

• are in the last 3 months of pregnancy
• are allergic to meloxicam or any other ingredient in it
• have had asthma or wheezing, nasal polyps, hives, or a swollen face, lips or throat after aspirin or another anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID)
• have had bleeding in your stomach or gut, or a hole in your gut wall, after taking an anti-inflammatory painkiller
• have a stomach ulcer or bleeding now, or have had an ulcer or bleeding two or more times
• have ever had bleeding in your brain, or have a bleeding disorder
• have severe liver problems
• have severe kidney failure and are not on dialysis
• have severe heart failure
• have been told you cannot digest some sugars (such as lactose) - every make of these tablets contains lactose

Talk to our prescriber or your doctor before you take it if you:

• have had inflammation of your food pipe (oesophagitis) or stomach lining (gastritis), or a stomach ulcer, in the past
• have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• have high blood pressure, now or in the past
• have heart failure, angina, or have had a heart attack, a stroke or a mini-stroke
• have poor circulation in your legs (peripheral arterial disease)
• have diabetes or high cholesterol, or you smoke
• have liver or kidney problems
• have lost a lot of fluid - for example from bleeding, burns, surgery, or not drinking enough
• have been told you have high potassium in your blood
• have kidney problems caused by lupus
• are over 65
• are trying to get pregnant, or find it hard to get pregnant
• have ever had a rash that keeps coming back in the same place after meloxicam or a similar medicine such as piroxicam (fixed drug eruption)

Your stomach and gut

Ulcers, bleeding, and holes in the gut wall (perforation) can happen at any time while you take it. Sometimes there is no warning sign. Some have been fatal. The risk goes up with higher doses, if you are older, and if you have had an ulcer before.

Your prescriber may suggest a second medicine to protect your stomach. That is most likely if you are older, have had an ulcer, or take low-dose aspirin.

Black stools, or stomach pain that will not go away? Stop taking it and get medical help straight away.

Your heart, blood pressure and kidneys

Heart and blood pressure. It can make your body hold on to salt and water. That can cause swelling, raise your blood pressure, or bring on heart failure or make it worse. If you have high blood pressure, it may need checking when you start.

Kidneys. It can reduce blood flow to your kidneys. That matters most if you are older or have heart failure, liver disease or kidney disease. It also matters if you have lost a lot of fluid, or take water tablets or some blood pressure medicines. Your kidneys may need checking while you take it. They usually recover once you stop.

Potassium. It can raise the potassium in your blood, especially if you have diabetes or take medicines that raise potassium.

Infection. It can hide a fever and other signs of infection. If you think you have an infection, see your doctor.

Blood tests. It can change the results of liver and kidney blood tests. If you are due one, tell whoever takes it that you are on meloxicam.

How to take it

Take your whole daily dose at once, with a glass of water or another drink, during a meal.

Your condition sets the dose:

Some people start lower. If you are older and taking it long term for rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, the dose is 7.5 mg a day. It is 7.5 mg a day to start with if you have had stomach problems or have risks for heart disease. And if you have severe kidney failure and are on dialysis, 7.5 mg a day is the most you can take.

Never take more than 15 mg in a day, even if it is not working well enough.

If you feel no better after several days, talk to our prescriber. Do not add another anti-inflammatory painkiller.

Can you split a tablet? It depends on the maker. Some tablets can be halved into two equal doses; with others, the line only helps you swallow it. Do not halve a tablet to make your dose unless the leaflet in your pack says it splits into equal halves.

Your prescriber will review how it is going from time to time. Use the lowest dose that controls your symptoms.

Missed a dose? Take it when you remember. If your next dose is nearly due, skip the missed one. Never take two doses to make up.

Taken too much? Contact a doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. Take the pack with you.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Do not take it in the last 3 months of pregnancy. It can seriously affect your baby's heart, lungs and kidneys, even after one dose.

Earlier in pregnancy, a doctor should only prescribe it if it is clearly needed. If you are pregnant, think you could be, or are planning a baby, talk to us before you order.

It is not recommended while you breastfeed.

It may make it harder to get pregnant. It is not recommended if you are trying for a baby.

Driving

Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you. It may make you dizzy, drowsy or tired, or blur your vision. If it does, do not drive.

Other medicines

Tell our prescriber about every medicine you take, including ones you buy without a prescription.

Do not take it with other anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or COX-2 inhibitors such as etoricoxib. The same goes for high-dose aspirin - 500 mg or more at a time, or 3 g or more a day.

Low-dose aspirin for your heart can be taken with it, but the risk of a stomach ulcer is higher. Tell our prescriber if you take it.

Your doctor may need to check on you, or change a dose, if you take:

• blood thinners, such as warfarin or heparin, and other medicines that stop blood clots forming or break them down
• steroid tablets, such as prednisolone
• SSRI antidepressants, such as citalopram, fluoxetine or sertraline
• water tablets (diuretics), such as furosemide or bendroflumethiazide
• for blood pressure or heart failure: ACE inhibitors such as ramipril, angiotensin receptor blockers such as losartan, or beta-blockers such as atenolol
• medicines that raise potassium, such as potassium supplements, some water tablets, and trimethoprim
• to calm the immune system: ciclosporin or tacrolimus
• lithium, for mood disorders
• methotrexate, for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or cancer
• pemetrexed, for cancer
• colestyramine, for high cholesterol
• diabetes tablets called sulfonylureas, or nateglinide - your blood sugar may need watching
• quinolones, a type of antibiotic
• zidovudine, for HIV
• deferasirox, for too much iron
• mifepristone - anti-inflammatory painkillers should not be used for 8 to 12 days after it

Tell us if you use a contraceptive coil (IUD), too.

What it is and how it works

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), from a group called oxicams. It blocks your body from making prostaglandins. These are chemicals that cause pain and swelling in your joints.

What it will not do

• It does not cure arthritis. It eases the pain, swelling and stiffness.
• It is not for quick relief of sudden pain.
• It is not a long-term daily treatment for osteoarthritis - it is for flare-ups.

Looking for something else? Browse our pain range, or ask our pharmacy team what might suit you.