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What is the most important information I should know about meloxicam?
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Contact your doctor if you experience bloody, black, or tarry stools,
blood in your vomit; swelling or rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
unusual fatigue or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; excessive
itching; flu-like symptoms; or abdominal
pain or tenderness. These symptoms could indicate serious side
effects. |
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Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and pain medicines
contain aspirin or other medicines similar to meloxicam (such as
ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and others). Before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicine, talk to your doctor and pharmacist. |
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Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you drink more than
three alcoholic beverages a day, meloxicam may increase the risk of
dangerous stomach bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking meloxicam
if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day. |
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Meloxicam is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Meloxicam works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in
the body. |
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Meloxicam is used to reduce the pain, inflammation, and stiffness
caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.. |
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Meloxicam may also be used for purposes not listed in this
medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
meloxicam?
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you |
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have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs, |
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have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach, |
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drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, |
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have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, |
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have congestive heart failure, |
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have high blood pressure. |
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You may not be able to take meloxicam, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Meloxicam is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means it is not
known whether meloxicam will be harmful to an unborn baby. Meloxicam
should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because a
similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take meloxicam
without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become
pregnant during treatment. |
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It is not known whether meloxicam passes into breast milk. Do not
take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take meloxicam?
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Take meloxicam exactly as directed. If you do not understand these
instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to
you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Meloxicam may be taken with or without food. |
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Store meloxicam at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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If you are taking meloxicam on a regular schedule, take the missed
dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next
dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled
dose. Do not take a double dose. |
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If you are taking meloxicam as needed, take the missed dose if it is
needed, then wait the recommended or prescribed amount of time before
taking another dose. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. |
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Symptoms of a meloxicam overdose include nausea, vomiting, stomach
pain, loss of consciousness, drowsiness, headache, cardiac arrest,
stomach pain, seizures, little or no urine production, and slow
breathing. |
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What should I avoid while taking meloxicam?
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Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you drink more than
three alcoholic beverages a day, meloxicam may increase the risk of
dangerous stomach bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking meloxicam
if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day. |
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• |
Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and pain medicines
contain aspirin or other medicines similar to meloxicam (such as
ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and others). Before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicine, talk to your doctor and pharmacist. |
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What are the possible side effects of meloxicam?
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Contact your doctor if you experience bloody, black, or tarry stools,
blood in your vomit; swelling or rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
unusual fatigue or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; excessive
itching; flu-like symptoms; or abdominal pain or tenderness. These
symptoms could indicate serious side effects. |
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking meloxicam and seek medical treatment or contact your doctor
immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling; |
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ulcers (open sores) in the mouth; |
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decreased hearing or ringing in the ears; or |
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abdominal cramping, heartburn, or indigestion. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take meloxicam and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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nausea, diarrhea, or constipation; |
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irregular menstrual periods. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect meloxicam?
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Before taking meloxicam, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following drugs: |
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aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid),
diflunisal (Dolobid), choline salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate,
Tricosal, others), and magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others); |
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another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as
diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon),
flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), indomethacin (Indocin),
ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT), ketorolac (Toradol), naproxen (Aleve,
Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, others), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro),
piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin); |
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an over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or
pain medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen, meloxicam, or
ketoprofen; |
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a diuretic such as furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex),
ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), torsemide (Demadex), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ,
HydroDiuril, Microzide), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton,
Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and
others; |
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an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); or |
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or |
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You may not be able to take meloxicam, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any
of the medicines listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with meloxicam.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about meloxicam written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 8/
11/ 04. |