Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Ankylosing spondylitis
Long term symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Short term symptomatic treatment of acute exacerbations of osteoarthritis

Dosage
ADULTS 

Osteoarthritis

7.5mg daily. Increase to 15mg daily if necessary.

Rheumatoid arthritis

15mg daily. Reduce to 7.5mg daily if necessary.

Ankylosing spondylitis

15mg daily. Reduce to 7.5mg daily if necessary.

Children aged 16 to 18 years

(See Dosage; Adult)

The following alternative dosing schedule may be suitable:

Relief of pain and inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders in adolescents intolerant to other NSAIDs (unlicensed)

Children aged 12 to 18 years weighing 50kg and above: 15mg once daily.
Children aged 12 to 18 years weighing under 50kg: 7.5mg once daily.

Contraindications

Children under 12 years
Suspected cerebrovascular haemorrhage
Breastfeeding
Cerebrovascular haemorrhage
Coagulopathy
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Gastrointestinal perforation
Non-dialysed severe renal failure
Peptic ulcer
Recurrent peptic ulcer
Severe congestive cardiac failure
Severe hepatic impairment
Third trimester of pregnancy

Precautions and Warnings

Children aged 12 to 16 years
Elderly
Predisposition to hypovolaemia
Risk factors for cardiovascular disorder
Cerebrovascular disorder
Congestive cardiac failure
Connective tissue disorder
First trimester of pregnancy
Galactosaemia
Gastritis
Glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome
Hepatic impairment
History of gastrointestinal bleeding
History of gastrointestinal perforation
History of peptic ulcer
Hyperkalaemia
Hypertension
Inflammatory bowel disease
Ischaemic heart disease
Lactose intolerance
Nephrotic syndrome
Oesophagitis
Peripheral arterial circulatory disorder
Renal impairment
Second trimester of pregnancy

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

During the first and second trimester of pregnancy, the dose of meloxicam should be kept as low and duration of treatment as short as possible.

Meloxicam is contraindicated in the third trimester.

Lactation

Meloxicam is contraindicated in breastfeeding.

Side Effects

Abdominal pain
Abnormal kidney function tests
Acute tubular necrosis
Agranulocytosis
Altered liver function tests
Anaemia
Anaphylactic reaction
Anaphylactoid reaction
Angioedema
Arterial thrombosis
Blood disorders
Blurred vision
Bullous dermatoses
Cardiac failure
Colitis
Confusion
Conjunctivitis
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Disorientation
Dizziness
Dyspepsia
Eructation
Erythema multiforme
Exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease
Flatulence
Flushing
Gastritis
Gastro-intestinal perforation
Gastro-intestinal symptoms
Gastro-intestinal ulceration and bleeding
Haematemesis
Haematuria
Headache
Hepatitis
Hyperkalaemia
Hypersensitivity reactions
Increased blood pressure
Induces asthma attacks
Interstitial nephritis
Leucopenia
Lower limb oedema
Melaena
Mood changes
Myocardial infarction
Nausea
Nephrotic syndrome
Nightmares
Oedema
Oesophagitis
Palpitations
Papillary necrosis
Photosensitivity
Pruritus
Rash
Renal failure
Renal medullary necrosis
Sodium/water retention
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Stroke
Suppressed female fertility
Thrombocytopenia
Tinnitus
Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Urticaria
Vertigo
Visual disturbances
Vomiting