Meloxicam

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 29, 2022

Warnings

Meloxicam Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Meloxicam can cause serious side effects in certain people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options if you are at high risk of complications from meloxicam use.

HEART ATTACK OR STROKE: Taking meloxicam increases the risk of blood clot, heart attack, or stroke. People with pre-existing heart problems and those taking high doses of meloxicam or taking it for a long time are at higher risk of this occurring. People who have had or will be having coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass surgery) should not take meloxicam. Talk to your doctor about the safety of taking meloxicam if you have heart problems. Your doctor will prescribe meloxicam at the lowest dose for the shortest time possible. Call 911 or seek emergency medical help if you experience warning symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty walking or talking.
STOMACH BLEEDING: Meloxicam can cause potentially dangerous stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Certain medical conditions and medications can increase your risk of this happening, such as a prior history of stomach ulcer or stomach bleeding. Taking aspirin, other NSAIDs, a blood thinner, or oral corticosteroids also increases the risk. Drinking alcohol and smoking can also lead to an increased risk of stomach bleeding. Taking meloxicam for a long time can increase the risk of this occurring. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have blood in your vomit or stool, stool that looks like coffee grounds, or severe pain in the stomach.
SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION: Rarely, meloxicam can cause severe allergic reactions, including possibly fatal problems like closing of the throat (anaphylaxis) and severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Call 911 if this occurs. Seek immediate medical care if you develop painful blisters all over your body, rash, hives, swelling of the tongue or lips, or difficulty breathing. People who have an allergy to aspirin and other NSAIDs are at higher risk. Your risk of a severe allergic reaction is also higher if you have aspirin-sensitive asthma (asthma that gets worse if you take aspirin).
KIDNEY DAMAGE: Taking meloxicam can damage your kidneys. Risk factors include pre-existing kidney problems, liver problems, heart failure, dehydration, and taking certain medications for high blood pressure. Older adults and people taking meloxicam for a long time also have a higher risk. Contact your healthcare provider without delay if you notice any changes in urination after starting meloxicam.
LIVER DAMAGE: In a very small number of people, meloxicam can cause liver damage, which can be life-threatening. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, pale stools, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Your doctor may order blood tests to check liver function before starting you on meloxicam.
HARM TO UNBORN BABIES: If a pregnant woman takes meloxicam during the last 3 months of pregnancy, it can increase the risk of heart problems in the unborn baby. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what medications are safe for pregnant women.

Precautions Before Starting Meloxicam

Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to meloxicam, any of the active or inactive ingredients in meloxicam tablets, capsules, or oral suspension, or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients. Tell your healthcare provider if you have fructose intolerance. Meloxicam oral suspension contains fructose.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Meloxicam may not be right for people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, nasal polyps, frequent stuffy or runny nose, heart failure, swelling of the legs or feet, liver disease, or kidney disease.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding. Meloxicam can be harmful to the unborn baby if it is taken by a pregnant woman after around 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is not known if this medication may pass into breast milk and cause harm to a breastfeeding infant.

Precautions During Use of Meloxicam

Keep all your doctor’s appointments and lab appointments while taking meloxicam.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking meloxicam.

Tell all your doctors you are on meloxicam before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Meloxicam Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how meloxicam works. Possible interactions between meloxicam and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. The following medications can have possible interactions with meloxicam:

Medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, for example, lisinopril (in Zestoretic), enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), captopril, benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), fosinopril, and quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic, in Quinaretic); angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) such as losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, in Benicar HCT, in Tribenzor), candesartan (Atacand, in Atacand HCT), azilsartan (Edarbi, in Edarbyclor), irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT, in Twynsta), eprosartan (Teveten); and beta blockers such as propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, Innopran), atenolol (Tenormin, in Tenoretic), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), labetalol (Trandate), and nadolol (Corgard, in Corzide)
Diuretics (water pills)
Cholesterol-lowering medications like cholestyramine (Prevalite)
Immunomodulators like cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
Psychiatric medications like lithium (Lithobid)
Cancer medications like pemetrexed (Alimta) and methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Trexall)
Potassium-removing agents like sodium polystyrene sulfonate

The above list may not describe all possible interactions of meloxicam. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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