Author: Mona Bapat, Ph.D., HSPP

If you’re already taking meloxicam or thinking about taking it, it can be helpful to know more about the medication, its side effects, associated potential dangers, and what concerns to discuss with your doctor to weigh the risks versus benefits.

In this article: 

• What is Meloxicam?
• Meloxicam Side Effects
• What Happens If You Misuse Meloxicam?
• What Should I Discuss with My Doctor about Meloxicam?

What is Meloxicam?

There are two main types of pain-relieving drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

NSAIDs are different from acetaminophen in that in addition to alleviating pain, they reduce inflammation.¹ Meloxicam is a prescription analgesic (pain-relieving) NSAID and is one option if you’re looking for a non-narcotic pain-relieving drug. You might also know it by the brand names of Mobic and Vivlodex.

A few other NSAIDs available over-the-counter (OTC) include:¹

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (brand name Motrin)
• Naproxen (brand name Aleve)

Meloxicam is different from these OTC medications in terms of the chemical compounds it contains. Meloxicam is legally available by doctor prescription only; it’s much stronger than the OTC NSAIDs.²

What is Meloxicam Prescribed For?

Meloxicam is used for pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as part of chronic pain management. Others use it to treat arthritis that affects children ages 2 years and older.² Meloxicam doesn’t permanently cure arthritis; it only helps with pain as long as you continue to take it.³

Other studies have shown meloxicam effective in managing pain related to surgery. Researchers reported that meloxicam successfully managed pain for patients after dental surgery with very few and low-risk adverse effects, mostly nausea.⁴

Other studies found that it greatly reduced post-surgery pain for patients and the need for opioids as painkillers.^5,6 Despite the advantage of needing fewer opioid painkillers thanks to meloxicam, it’s still important to understand the risks of taking prescription opioids.

Meloxicam Side Effects

You may experience some common meloxicam side effects that typically don’t require medical attention. They may go away as your body gets used to the medication.

These common side effects include:³

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Indigestion

Some less frequent side effects of Meloxicam include:³

• Anxiety
• Increased appetite
• Unusual or unpleasant after taste
• Bloating
• Burning in chest or stomach
• Dry, itchy eyes
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Continual ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Dry mouth
• Stomach gas
• Agitation
• Feeling sad
• Hair loss
• Hot flushes
• Loss of interest/pleasure
• Pain or burning in the throat
• Rapid breathing
• Redness, pain, or swelling of the eye
• Sleepiness
• Thirst
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects. Remember to only take meloxicam as prescribed.

Get emergency medical help right away if you experience these less frequent side effects:²

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness in one part or side of the body
• Slurred speech

What Happens If You Misuse Meloxicam?

If you take a larger dose of meloxicam than prescribed, it’s possible to overdose.

The short-term effects of misusing Meloxicam could include:²

• Lack of energy
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Bloody, black, or tarry stools
• Vomit that’s bloody or looks like coffee grounds
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Coma

If you experience any of these symptoms, get medical attention right away.

Information regarding the addictive potential of Meloxicam is sparse and inconclusive; documented incidences of NSAID overdose and toxicity involved mostly ibuprofen and naproxen.⁷

Data from various sports show that many athletes take NSAIDs before their sporting events to prevent pain or inflammation. However, scientific evidence for such use is lacking, and using NSAIDs preventatively can cause significant side effects.⁸

The long-term effects of misusing meloxicam could include:²

• Stomach ulcers, bleeding, or holes
• Intestinal ulcers, bleeding, or holes
• Risk of death

The risk for these long-term problems is higher for those who do the following:²

• Take higher doses of meloxicam⁹
• Are older in age
• Have poor health
• Drink large amounts of alcohol while taking meloxicam

Issues related to overdose of ibuprofen and naproxen tend to come to doctors’ attention more often because those medications are readily available when compared to meloxicam.¹⁰ That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to misuse meloxicam or experience adverse effects from it.

In one instance, an individual was admitted to the hospital, where he was found to have acute pancreatitis or inflammation in the pancreas. His doctors determined that the most likely cause of the pancreatitis was his meloxicam dose being doubled (7.5 mg to 15 mg) two weeks before he went to the hospital.¹¹

Effects of Mixing Meloxicam with Other Drugs

Meloxicam can also interact with many various medications. Drug interaction means that those who take 2+ medications simultaneously experience changes in their system as their bodies adjust to process each drug.

In addition, the risk of side effects for each medication can increase, and each may also not work the way it should. Meloxicam interactions can be dangerous, so your doctor needs to know all the medications you’re taking.⁹

Given these meloxicam dangers and contraindications, it’s essential to speak with your doctor thoroughly before taking it.

What Should I Discuss with My Doctor about Meloxicam?

Again, meloxicam is available only with a doctor’s prescription. To ensure that your doctor finds the pain medication that’s best for you, it’s important to address these issues with them:³

• What type of pain you’ve been experiencing
• How you’ve managed pain in the past
• Any medications you’re allergic to
• If you have other allergies such as to foods, preservatives, dyes, or animals
• Whether you’re pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant
• Whether you’re breastfeeding
• What medications you’re currently taking including OTC, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products
• What to do if you miss a dose
• What side effects you’re likely to experience
• Whether there’s a family history of heart disease, heart attack, stroke
• If you plan on having surgery, what pain to expect and for how long, and what medication may work best
• Whether you smoke and drink alcohol, and how much
• If you have other medical problems or have had them in the past, particularly:
  • Anemia
  • Asthma
  • Bleeding problems
  • Heart problems
  • Dehydration or fluid retention
  • Heart attack or history of high blood potassium or high blood pressure
  • Liver disease
  • Stomach ulcers or bleeding
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
• Whether you use any illegal substances, which ones, and how often
• Any history of an SUD (substance use disorder)

You might be feeling nervous or hesitant to share these last couple of points with the doctor, which is understandable. Note that the information you share with a medical professional is confidential. Moreover, the doctor needs this information to make the safest and most effective recommendation for you.

If you’re concerned about potential or real misuse of OTC or prescription medication, or that of a loved one, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) for 24/7 help.

Resources

1. Pain Relievers: Understanding Your Options. (2004). American Family Physician, 69(5), 1199-1200. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0301/p1199.html
2. MedlinePlus. (2021, Mar 15). Meloxicam. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601242.html
3. Mayo Clinic. Drugs and Supplements: Meloxicam (Oral Route). (2021, Feb 1). https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/meloxicam-oral-route/description/drg-20066928
4. Christensen, S.E., Cooper, S.A., Mack, R.J., McCallum, S.W., Du, W., & Freyer, A. (2018). A randomized double-blind controlled trial of intravenous meloxicam in the treatment of pain following dental impaction surgery. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 58(5), 593-605.
5. Bekker, A., Kloepping, C., & Collingwood, S. (2018). Meloxicam in the management of post-operative pain: Narrative review. Journal of Anesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology, 34(4), 450-457.
6. Sharpe, K.P., Berkowitz, R., Tyndall, W.A., Boyer, D., McCallum, S.W., Mack, R.J., & Du, W. (2020). Safety, tolerability, and effect on opioid use of meloxicam IV following orthopedic surgery. Journal of Pain Research, 13, 221-229.
7. Hunter, L.J., Wood, D.M., & Dargan, P.I. (2011). The patterns of toxicity and management of acute nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSID) overdose. Open Access Emergency Medicine, 3, 39-48.
8. Warden, S.J. (2015). Prophylactic use of NSAIDs by athletes: A risk/benefit assessment. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 38(1). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3810/psm.2010.04.1770?needAccess=true
9. American Academy of Family Physicians. (2020, May 15). Prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medicines. Familydoctor. https://familydoctor.org/prescription-nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines/
10. Williams, R.A. (2018). What patients don’t know about NSAIDs may lead to misuse. Pharmacy Today, 24(5).
11. Landa, E., Ganim, I., Vigandt, E., Talhah, S., & Zhu, Y. (2021). Meloxicam-induced pancreatitis. Cureus, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12976

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