Meloxicam oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

Key takeaways

• Meloxicam is prescribed to treat arthritis in adults and some children, with the dosage varying based on the condition and individual factors like age and other health conditions.
• It is essential to stick to the dosage prescribed by a doctor. Exceeding the recommended amount can lead to serious side effects, including heart and digestive system problems.
• Meloxicam is typically taken once daily, and it’s important to take it around the same time each day to maintain a consistent level of the drug in the body. If your symptoms don’t ease, consult a doctor for alternative treatments.

Overview

This article describes meloxicam oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for meloxicam.

If you want to know more about the meloxicam oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Meloxicam oral tablet is a generic medication. Its branded form was called Mobic, but it is now discontinued. Meloxicam also comes as oral capsules and an oral suspension, but they aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes. For $29, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings about serious gastrointestinal (digestive system), heart, and blood vessel effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.

Form and strengths of meloxicam

Meloxicam oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 7.5 milligrams (mg), 15 mg

Dosage of meloxicam

This article describes the recommended dosages for meloxicam oral tablets. The manufacturer provides these recommended dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of meloxicam oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Meloxicam dosage for adults

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of meloxicam oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of meloxicam oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.

Meloxicam oral tablet is approved to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The recommended dosage for both conditions is:

• Starting dosage: 7.5 milligrams (mg) once per day
• Maximum dosage: 15 mg once per day

Your doctor will usually begin your treatment with the starting dosage. They’ll watch to see whether that manages your pain and arthritis symptoms. If it doesn’t, they may increase your dosage to 15 mg once per day.

Meloxicam dosage for children

Meloxicam oral tablet is approved to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) in certain children. They must weigh 60 kilograms (kg) or more, which is about 132 pounds (lb).* (For reference, there are about 2.2 lb per kg.)

The recommended dosage for children is 7.5 mg once per day. The maximum dosage of the drug is also 7.5 mg once per day.

* Meloxicam’s safety and effectiveness have been studied in children ages 2 years and older.

Dosage adjustments for meloxicam

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of meloxicam oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and its severity
• your age
• other health conditions you may have

Missed dose of meloxicam

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of meloxicam oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose, skip it, or take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of meloxicam oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about meloxicam oral tablet and its dosage.

Is it safe to take 30 mg of meloxicam daily or 15 mg twice per day?

No, it’s not safe to take 30 mg of meloxicam daily. And it’s also not safe to take 15 mg twice per day. Both dosages exceed the recommended maximum daily dosage of meloxicam.

To treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults, the maximum dosage is 15 mg once per day. To treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis in certain children, the maximum dosage is 7.5 mg once per day. See full recommended dosages in the “Dosage of meloxicam” section discussed earlier.

Taking a dosage higher than the recommended maximum dosage of meloxicam increases your risk of serious side effects. These include:

• heart attack
• stroke
• serious digestive system problems
• serious kidney damage
• serious liver damage
• skin reactions
• severe allergic reaction
• high amount of potassium in your blood
• new or worsening high blood pressure
• bleeding in your digestive system

For more information about side effects of meloxicam, see this article.

If your dosage of meloxicam isn’t managing your symptoms, call your doctor. But do not increase your dosage on your own. Your doctor can discuss your treatment options.

Is meloxicam taken long term?

Yes, doctors typically prescribe meloxicam oral tablet as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take meloxicam oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How often can I take meloxicam?

You’ll take meloxicam once per day, which is usually the recommended frequency for taking this drug. Your doctor will prescribe a low dose to start. Depending on how well the medication helps manage your symptoms, they may increase your dosage.

Taking meloxicam more often than your doctor prescribes could increase your risk of side effects and possibly lead to overdose. (For more information, see the “Is it safe to take 30 mg of meloxicam daily or 15 mg twice per day?” FAQ.)

Be sure to take meloxicam around the same time each day. This helps ensure a consistent level of the drug in your body to aid in relieving symptoms of your condition.

If you follow the prescribed dosing instructions for meloxicam and your symptoms don’t improve, talk with your doctor. They may recommend other treatments for your condition.

How meloxicam is taken

You’ll swallow meloxicam oral tablet once per day. You can take it with or without food. But if it causes stomach upset, you might try taking it with food.

You should not chew the tablets. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it. This may include suggesting other forms of meloxicam.

Meloxicam coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for meloxicam when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

Overdose of meloxicam

It’s important that you do not take more meloxicam than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of meloxicam overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• bleeding and perforation related to digestion
• drowsiness or sleepiness
• breathing problems
• high blood pressure
• nausea and vomiting
• pain in the upper abdomen
• sudden kidney failure

In extreme cases, symptoms of an overdose can include coma.

What to do if you take too much meloxicam

If you think you’ve taken too much meloxicam, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Boxed warnings for meloxicam

This drug has boxed warnings about serious digestive, heart, and blood vessel problems. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of serious digestive system problems

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Taking NSAIDs can increase your risk of serious digestive system problems. Some doctors call these gastrointestinal (GI) problems. They include ulcers, bleeding, and GI tears (perforations). In rare cases, GI tears may be fatal.

Your risk of GI side effects is higher when you begin meloxicam treatment and if you take it for a long time.

Risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems

NSAIDs, including meloxicam, can increase your risk of heart and blood vessel problems. These include stroke and heart attack. In rare cases, these problems may be fatal.

You should not take meloxicam if you’ve had coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

To learn more about these warnings, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.