Anjeso, Mobic, Vivlodex

Medically reviewed by Brittany A. Duke, PharmD, RPh, on April 24, 2023
Written by Amber Watson, PharmD

This article describes meloxicam oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Below you’ll find coupon options for meloxicam.

Boxed warnings

Meloxicam has boxed warnings about the risks of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive system problems. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Warnings for meloxicam” section below.

Meloxicam may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of meloxicam oral tablet and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age and overall health and any other medications you take.

To learn more about meloxicam oral tablet’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information for meloxicam oral tablet.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with meloxicam oral tablet are listed below.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Meloxicam oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• dizziness
• hair loss
• headache
• insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• joint pain or back pain
• flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat
• digestive system problems, such as indigestion (upset stomach), diarrhea, and nausea
• mild infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI)
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for meloxicam” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of meloxicam oral tablet are listed below. With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common.

If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Meloxicam oral tablet’s serious side effects include:

• high blood pressure
• high blood potassium level
• low level of red blood cells
• swelling in your face, arms, or legs
• kidney problems, such as kidney failure
• liver problems, such as hepatitis (swelling of your liver) and liver failure
• severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
• boxed warnings: risk of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive system problems*
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for meloxicam” section below.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as meloxicam for certain conditions. Approved uses for meloxicam oral tablet are described below.

Use for certain kinds of arthritis

Doctors may prescribe meloxicam oral tablet for treating certain kinds of arthritis. Specifically, it’s used for:

• osteoarthritis (OA) in adults
• rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)* in children of any age weighing at least 60 kilograms (kg), which is about 132 pounds (lb)†

For these uses, meloxicam may be prescribed as a long-term or short-term treatment.

With arthritis, you have swelling, stiffness, and pain in your joints. The cause of joint damage can vary depending on the kind of arthritis you have. With OA, joint damage is usually caused by wear and tear on the joints over time. With RA and JIA, joint damage occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues around your joints. 

* JIA was known in the past as juvenile RA.

† For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about meloxicam oral tablet.

How does meloxicam compare with other similar drugs, such as Celebrex?

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat certain kinds of arthritis. Celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Cataflem, Flextor, others), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others) are examples of other NSAIDs that are used for this purpose.

Celecoxib, diclofenac, and naproxen can be used for other purposes as well. Examples include the treatment of painful conditions such as sprains and gout.

Meloxicam, celexocib, diclofenac, and naproxen come as oral capsules. Meloxicam, diclofenac, and naproxen also come as oral tablets and liquid suspensions (liquid mixtures). In addition, diclofenac comes as products that are applied to the skin, such as patches and gels.

Meloxicam, celecoxib, diclofenac, and naproxen likely have similar side effects. These include boxed warnings about the risks of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive system problems. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details about this, see the “Warnings for meloxicam” section below.

To learn more about how meloxicam compares with similar drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is it safe to take meloxicam with ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)?

No, it may not be safe to take meloxicam with ibuprofen (Advil). But you can take meloxicam with acetaminophen (Tylenol) if your doctor tells you it’s safe to do so.

Meloxicam, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen can be used to treat certain kinds of arthritis. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen have other uses as well, such as treating mild to moderate pain.

But meloxicam and ibuprofen aren’t usually prescribed together. Both medications are NSAIDs. Taking more than one NSAID at the same time can increase your risk of side effects from the drugs. (To learn more, see the “Side effects of meloxicam” section above.)

Acetaminophen isn’t an NSAID. It works differently in your body than meloxicam does. Taking acetaminophen and meloxicam together isn’t likely to increase your risk of side effects from either drug. Your doctor can tell you whether these medications can be taken together for your specific condition.

Can meloxicam be used for back pain or headache?

Yes, meloxicam may be used to treat certain kinds of pain, including back pain or headache. But these are off-label uses of the drug. This means doctors may prescribe the drug for these conditions even though it’s not approved to treat them.

That said, back pain can occur with certain kinds of arthritis. These include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which meloxicam is used to treat. Taking meloxicam for these conditions may help ease back pain as a symptom.

Keep in mind that back pain and headache are possible side effects of meloxicam. If you have new or worsened back pain or headache while taking the drug, talk with your doctor. They can recommend a different treatment for your condition that isn’t known to cause these side effects.

How does meloxicam work? And how long does it take to start working?

Meloxicam is an NSAID. It works by keeping your body from making hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. These substances are thought to affect swelling and pain. By keeping your body from making prostaglandins, meloxicam may help reduce swelling and pain in your body. In doing so, the drug helps treat certain kinds of arthritis.  

Meloxicam starts working right after you take it. But it may take several weeks for the symptoms of your condition to ease after starting treatment with the drug.

The half-life of meloxicam can be used to find out how long the drug will stay in your body. Half-life is the time it takes half of a drug’s dose to leave your system.

Meloxicam’s half-life is about 15 to 20 hours. It usually takes about five half-lives for a drug to leave your body completely. This means it may take about 3 to 4 days for meloxicam to leave your body completely after your last dose.

If you have questions about what to expect while taking meloxicam, talk with your doctor.

Is there a best time of day to take meloxicam? What should I do if I miss a dose of meloxicam?

No, there isn’t a best time of day to take meloxicam. You’ll likely take the drug once a day. You can take it any time of day. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendation.

If you miss a dose of meloxicam, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next
dose, you can skip the missed dose. You’ll take the next dose at your usual time.

You should not take two doses of meloxicam at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing this can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. (To learn more, see the “Side effects of meloxicam” section above.)

If you have other questions about taking meloxicam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can meloxicam tablets be crushed, split, or chewed?

No, meloxicam oral tablets should not be crushed, split, or chewed. You’ll swallow the tablets whole.

If you have trouble swallowing meloxicam oral tablets, you can view this article for tips on how to swallow a tablet. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

For some medications, certain things may affect how the drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take meloxicam, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. They can check for interactions these items may cause with meloxicam. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription drugs
• over-the-counter medications
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for meloxicam” section below.

The dosage of meloxicam oral tablet your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should take.

Taking meloxicam

Meloxicam oral tablet is swallowed. It can be taken with or without food.

Your doctor will talk with you about how to take meloxicam oral tablet. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation. 

See the “Common questions about meloxicam” section for information on missed doses and the best time to take this drug.

Overdose of meloxicam

You should not take more meloxicam than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.

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 concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Meloxicam should be taken cautiously by certain people. Precautions for taking this drug are described below.

Boxed warnings

Meloxicam has boxed warnings about the risk of heart and blood vessel problems and digestive system problems. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

To learn more about these warnings, read below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Risk of heart and blood vessel problems. With heart and blood vessel problems, you may have blood clots that form in your heart or blood vessels. These clots can lead to a heart attack or stroke. This side effect was rarely reported in studies of meloxicam oral tablet.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in your neck, shoulder, chest, or arm. Symptoms of a stroke may include confusion, trouble speaking, and numbness or weakness in one side of your face, arm, or leg.

Due to this risk, doctors will prescribe the lowest dose of meloxicam for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your condition.

Certain factors can increase your risk of heart and blood vessel problems with meloxicam. These include tobacco use or having high blood pressure, heart disease, a recent heart attack, or recent heart bypass surgery. Be sure to tell your doctor if these factors apply to you. They’ll likely prescribe a treatment other than meloxicam for your condition.

If you have symptoms of heart or blood vessel problems, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. They’ll likely perform tests to check for a heart attack and stroke and give you treatments if needed.

Risk of digestive system problems. With digestive problems, you may have bleeding, holes, or tears in your intestines. This side effect was rarely reported in studies of meloxicam oral tablet.

Symptoms may include dizziness, abdominal pain, bloody stool, or bloody vomit.

Certain factors can increase your risk of digestive system problems with meloxicam. These include tobacco and alcohol use, being age 65 years or older, and taking certain other medications. Your doctor can discuss specific factors that may apply to you. They’ll recommend whether meloxicam is a safe treatment option for your condition.

If you have symptoms of digestive system problems, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking meloxicam. Your doctor may also request an in-person appointment with you to decide whether treatment is needed for your symptoms.

If your symptoms seem severe or life threatening, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Other warnings

Meloxicam could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether meloxicam oral tablet is a safe option for you.

Tell your doctor about your overall health and any past health conditions before you take meloxicam oral tablet. Health conditions and other factors you and your doctor should discuss include:

• liver or kidney problems
• asthma
• heart failure
• blood clotting disorders

Allergic reaction

Meloxicam can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to meloxicam or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe meloxicam. Your doctor is also unlikely to prescribe the drug if you’ve had an allergic reaction to any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). (Meloxicam is a kind of NSAID.) They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to meloxicam, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Information about meloxicam and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Meloxicam and pregnancy

Meloxicam oral tablet should not be taken from week 30 of pregnancy to birth. It’s not known whether the drug is safe to take earlier in pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with meloxicam.

Meloxicam and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether meloxicam oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. 

You may be able to save money on your prescription for meloxicam oral tablet by using our Perks discount coupons. These can be found at the end of this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for meloxicam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more about the cost of meloxicam in this article.

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

This article describes meloxicam oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about meloxicam or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• If I’m an older adult, will I experience different side effects of meloxicam?
• Is meloxicam addictive?
• How does meloxicam compare with other treatments for my condition?

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Meloxicam tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/7df126c1-a729-4bfe-9d08-ad359c9ee3bc/spl-doc

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.