This article describes possible interactions with meloxicam oral tablet. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.
To find coupon options for meloxicam and to learn more about the drug, including its uses, see this article.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of serious heart and blood vessel problems and digestive problems. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Serious heart and blood vessel problems. Like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), treatment with meloxicam comes with a risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems. These problems include heart attack and stroke.
Serious digestive problems. Similar to NSAID drugs, treatment with meloxicam comes with a risk of serious digestive problems. These problems include bleeding or holes in your stomach or intestines.
See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.
Other drugs and meloxicam
Drugs that may interact with meloxicam oral tablet are listed below. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with meloxicam.
Drugs that may interact with meloxicam oral tablet include:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
- certain blood pressure medications:
- drug examples: lisinopril (Zestril), losartan (Cozaar), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
- what might happen: blood pressure medications may not work as expected
- blood thinners:
- antiplatelet drugs:
- drug examples: aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix)
- what might happen: increases the risk of bleeding from either drug
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors:
- drug examples: citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft)
- what might happen: increases the risk of bleeding from either drug
- serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors:
- drug examples: venlafaxine ER (Effexor XR), duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- what might happen: increases the risk of bleeding from either drug
- diuretics (water pills):
- drug examples: furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
- what might happen: diuretic medications may not work as expected
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral):
- what might happen: can increase the risk of kidney problems as a side effect of meloxicam or cyclosporine
- methotrexate (Otrexup, others):
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of methotrexate
* Meloxicam oral tablet has a boxed warning for serious digestive problems. For details, see the “Boxed warnings for meloxicam” section below.
Alcohol and meloxicam
Meloxicam oral tablet is not known to have interactions with alcohol.
However, drinking alcohol while taking meloxicam oral tablet may further raise your risk of:
- heart and blood vessel problems
- digestive problems
This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive problems. See the “Boxed warnings for meloxicam” section below for more information about these warnings.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with meloxicam oral tablet.
Questions about meloxicam and interactions
Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about meloxicam and possible interactions.
Does meloxicam interact with Tylenol?
No, meloxicam and acetaminophen (Tylenol) aren’t known to interact with one another. This interaction hasn’t been reported with meloxicam.
Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It interacts with other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is not an NSAID. Meloxicam and acetaminophen are generally safe to take together if your doctor recommends doing so.
If you have questions about taking meloxicam and Tylenol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does meloxicam interact with topical CBD products, such as a CBD cream?
Possibly. Meloxicam has been reported to interact with cannabis and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD). However, these reports don’t specify the form of cannabis or CBD used.
Usually, your body doesn’t absorb topical medications, including topical CBD products. (Topical products are applied to your skin.) But in some cases, the topical drug can still enter your system and cause interactions. Because CBD products are not tested or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s not known for certain whether a topical CBD product is absorbed by your system.
Meloxicam can interact with CBD, so you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using a topical CBD product while you’re taking meloxicam. They can advise on whether this combination is safe for you. For more information about meloxicam and cannabis products, see the “Other interactions and meloxicam” section below.
When to avoid meloxicam
Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks associated with meloxicam oral tablet. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe meloxicam in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.
Here’s a list of contraindications for meloxicam oral tablet:
- Recent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. If you recently had CABG surgery, you have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems* from taking meloxicam oral tablet.
- Past asthma, hives, or other allergic reaction to another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). If you have experienced asthma symptoms, hives, or other allergic reaction to another NSAID, you may have the same reaction from taking meloxicam oral tablet. (Meloxicam is an NSAID.)
- Past allergic reaction to meloxicam. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to meloxicam oral tablet in the past, taking meloxicam oral tablet may cause the reaction to happen again.
Before starting treatment with meloxicam, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take meloxicam.
* Meloxicam oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems. For details, see the “Boxed warnings for meloxicam” section below.
Other interactions and meloxicam
Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether meloxicam oral tablet has these interactions.
The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with meloxicam.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardMeloxicam and supplements
Before taking meloxicam oral tablet, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Doing so may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Meloxicam interactions with herbs
Meloxicam oral tablet may interact with ginkgo (also called ginkgo biloba) This herb is often used to reduce inflammation (swelling).
Taking meloxicam and ginkgo may further increase the risk of bleeding.
Because of this, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking ginkgo or any other herbs during treatment with meloxicam oral tablet.
Meloxicam interactions with vitamins or minerals
Meloxicam oral tablet may interact with potassium supplements. This mineral is often used for increasing a low blood potassium level.
Taking meloxicam and a potassium supplement may lead to a high blood level of potassium.
Because of this, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during treatment with meloxicam oral tablet.
Meloxicam and food
Meloxicam oral tablet may interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Taking meloxicam and consuming grapefruit can increase the amount of the drug in your system. This raises your risk of side effects from meloxicam.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid during treatment with meloxicam oral tablet.
Meloxicam and vaccines
Meloxicam oral tablet isn’t known to interact with vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with certain vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified in the future.
If you have concerns about taking meloxicam or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before or after receiving a specific vaccine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Meloxicam and lab tests
Meloxicam oral tablet isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests during treatment with meloxicam oral tablet.
Meloxicam and cannabis or CBD
Reports have shown cannabis (commonly called marijuana) and cannabis products may interact with meloxicam. Cannabidiol (CBD) is an example of a cannabis product.
Taking meloxicam and cannabidiol or cannabis may lead to an increased amount of meloxicam in your system. This raises your risk of side effects that meloxicam may cause, such as bleeding.
Before you take meloxicam, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. Doing so may help prevent possible interactions.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Health factors and meloxicam
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with meloxicam oral tablet. Before taking meloxicam, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether meloxicam is right for you.
Here’s a list of health conditions or other factors that might interact with meloxicam oral tablet:
- asthma
- kidney conditions
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- tobacco use
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- past allergic reaction to meloxicam
Preventing meloxicam interactions
You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with meloxicam oral tablet. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.
Things to consider include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
- What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug during your meloxicam oral tablet treatment.
Taking meloxicam exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
What to ask your doctor
If you have questions about meloxicam and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Does meloxicam interact with any health conditions I have?
- If meloxicam interacts with another medication I take, can you prescribe a lower dosage of meloxicam or the other medication?
- If I’m prescribed low dose aspirin for my heart health, can I safely take meloxicam with it?
Boxed warnings for meloxicam
This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive problems. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Serious heart and blood vessel problems. Like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, meloxicam treatment has a risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems. These problems were rare in studies, and include heart attack and stroke. This risk increases the longer you take meloxicam and if you take a higher dose. Also, the risk is higher if you have existing heart disease or risk factors for it.
Because of these risks, doctors usually won’t prescribe meloxicam if you’ve recently had a heart attack or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. If they do prescribe the drug, they’ll prescribe the lowest meloxicam dose for the shortest time necessary to treat your symptoms.
If you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, immediately seek medical attention. Your doctor will likely stop your meloxicam treatment if you experience a heart or blood vessel problem while taking the drug.
Serious digestive problems. Similar to other NSAID drugs, taking meloxicam has a risk of serious digestive problems. Examples of these problems include bleeding or holes in your stomach or intestines. These side effects were rare in studies, but can be life threatening in severe cases. Certain factors raise your risk of these side effects, including drinking alcohol and using tobacco.
Symptoms to watch for include blood in your vomit or stool, and abdominal pain. Immediately stop taking meloxicam and call your doctor if you notice symptoms of serious digestive problems while taking the drug.
To learn more, 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.