Meloxicam (Systemic)

Brand Names : Mobic

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For meloxicam, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to meloxicam, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Meloxicam has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that meloxicam causes birth defects. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Studies to determine if meloxicam passes into human breast milk have not been done. However, meloxicam has been found in the milk of rats. Meloxicam may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children - Children - Meloxicam has been studied only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of meloxicam in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Older adults - This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking meloxicam, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Aspirin - Use of aspirin with meloxicam may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding

• Lithium (e.g., Lithane) - When you take meloxicam, your dose of lithium may need to be changed because higher blood levels of lithium may occur

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of meloxicam. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse or
• Bleeding problems or
• Stomach ulcer or other stomach problems or
• Tobacco (or recent history of ) - The chance of side effects may be increased

• Anemia or
• Asthma or
• Dehydration or
• Fluid retention (swelling of feet or lower legs) or
• Heart disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Meloxicam may make these conditions worse

• Aspirin triad (asthma, nasal polyps, and aspirin intolerance) or
• Previous allergic or anaphylactic response to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Use of meloxicam may cause a serious allergic reaction