Meloxicam (Mobic, Anjeso) is a generic prescription medication. Meloxicam comes as an oral tablet and oral capsule. Both forms of meloxicam are used to treat osteoarthritis. In addition, meloxicam oral tablet is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile RA.
Meloxicam may be used as a short-term or long-term treatment. As with other drugs, meloxicam can cause side effects.
This article focuses on just the oral tablet form of meloxicam, which is available as the brand-name drug Mobic. Read on to learn about its potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of meloxicam, including details about its uses, refer to this article. Your doctor can also tell you more about meloxicam.
Meloxicam can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took meloxicam in clinical trials:
- upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
- flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, or sore throat
- digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea
- headache*
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with meloxicam use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to meloxicam’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with meloxicam include:
- mild infections, including urinary tract infection (UTI) and upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
- flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, or sore throat
- dizziness
- back pain
- insomnia
- rash or itchiness
- sleepiness or drowsiness
- digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea
- weight gain or weight loss*
- headache*
- joint pain*
- mild allergic reaction*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking meloxicam and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Meloxicam may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to meloxicam’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking meloxicam, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:
- Anemia (low level of red blood cells). Symptoms can include:
- lightheadedness
- pale-looking skin
- shortness of breath
- High blood potassium level. Symptoms can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- shortness of breath
- muscle cramps
- Severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Symptoms can include:
- fever
- painful rash
- blisters or peeling skin around the eyes, mouth, or throat
- Fluid buildup, which may occur in the face, arms, or legs. Symptoms can include:
- weight gain
- shiny, stretched, or swollen skin around the affected area
- pain or stiffness around the affected area
- Kidney damage. Symptoms can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- muscle cramps
- Liver damage. Symptoms can include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- pain in the upper right abdomen
- High blood pressure, which doesn’t typically cause symptoms.
- Heart problems.*
- Digestive system problems.*
- Severe allergic reaction.
* Meloxicam has a
Meloxicam is approved to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children weighing at least 60 kilograms (kg), which is about 132 pounds (lb). (1 kg is about 2.2 lb.)
Most side effects of meloxicam in children are expected to be the same as those in adults. For details, see the “Meloxicam: Mild side effects” and “Meloxicam: Serious side effects” sections above.
However, the following side effects may be more common in children than in adults:
- certain digestive problems, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- fever
- headache
If you have questions about how meloxicam may affect your child, talk with their doctor.
Learn more about some of the side effects that meloxicam may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for meloxicam.
Heart problems
Meloxicam has a
Taking meloxicam can increase the risk of certain heart problems, including heart attack and stroke. Heart attack was a rare side effect in clinical trials of meloxicam, and stroke was not reported as a side effect in the clinical trials. However, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam can increase this risk.
Symptoms of a heart attack can include tightness, pressure, or pain in your chest that spreads to your jaw, neck, back, or arms. Symptoms of a stroke may include headache, weakness on one side of your body, and trouble walking, seeing, or speaking.
Several factors can increase your risk of heart problems with meloxicam. These include:
- taking high doses of the drug
- having heart problems or risk factors for heart problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking
- having had a recent heart attack or a certain heart surgery
- being an older adult (age 65 years and over)
Due to the risk of heart problems, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of meloxicam that’s effective for treating your condition. And they’ll prescribe this dosage for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your condition.
What you can do
Before taking meloxicam, be sure your doctor knows if you have heart problems or risk factors for heart problems. Also, tell them if you have a history of heart failure or if you’ve recently had a heart attack or heart surgery. They’ll likely prescribe a drug other than meloxicam to treat your condition.
If you have symptoms of heart attack or stroke while taking meloxicam, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Digestive system problems
Meloxicam has a
Taking meloxicam can increase the risk of inflammation, bleeding, ulcers (sores), or perforations (tears) in your digestive system. (The digestive system includes your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.) These side effects were rare in clinical trials of meloxicam. However, they can be fatal.
Symptoms of digestive system problems can include bloody stool, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal or stomach pain.
Several factors can increase your risk of digestive system problems with meloxicam. These include:
- taking meloxicam long term
- having had ulcers or bleeding in your digestive system in the past
- having conditions that increase your risk of bleeding, such as hemophilia
- having severe liver problems, such as liver failure
- drinking alcohol or smoking
- being an older adult (age 65 years and over) or having other health conditions
- taking other medications that increase the risk of digestive system problems, including:
- corticosteroids such as prednisone (Rayos)
- blood thinners such as warfarin (Jantoven)
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline (Zoloft) or citalopram (Celexa)
- other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
What you can do
Before taking meloxicam, tell your doctor if you have any of the factors listed above that may increase your risk of digestive system problems. They’ll recommend whether it’s safe for you to take meloxicam.
If you have symptoms of digestive system problems while taking meloxicam, contact your doctor right away. However, if your symptoms feel severe or life threatening, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Weight gain or weight loss
Weight gain or weight loss can occur with meloxicam. However, weight changes were rare in clinical trials of the drug.
Keep in mind that meloxicam may cause fluid buildup in the face, arms, or legs. And fluid buildup may cause weight gain for some people.
What you can do
If you’re concerned about weight changes while taking meloxicam, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on your risk of weight gain or weight loss. Your doctor can also recommend ways to maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
Headache
Meloxicam may cause headache. This was one of the most common side effects in clinical trials of the drug.
With headache, you may have pain on one or both sides of your head. This pain may come on suddenly or gradually, and it may last for several hours.
It’s important to remember that headache can be a symptom of stroke. Meloxicam has a
What you can do
If you have a headache with meloxicam that’s bothersome or long lasting, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to ease this side effect.
Keep in mind that meloxicam belongs to a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Certain NSAIDs are available without a prescription and may be used to relieve pain, including headache pain. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
However, your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid taking other NSAIDs with meloxicam. This is because taking meloxicam with other NSAIDs can increase your risk of digestive system problems. Meloxicam has a
Joint pain
Joint pain may occur with meloxicam. This was a less common side effect in clinical trials of the drug.
With joint pain, you may have swelling, stiffness, or tenderness in the affected joint.
Remember that meloxicam is used to treat conditions that cause joint pain. These include osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). So it’s possible that joint pain with meloxicam may be related to OA or RA rather than the drug itself.
What you can do
If you have joint pain with meloxicam, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine whether the joint pain may be related to meloxicam or the condition the drug is treating. Your doctor can recommend ways to manage this side effect.
It’s important to remember that meloxicam should not be taken with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). (NSAID is the drug class that meloxicam belongs to.) Certain NSAIDs are available without a prescription and may be used to relieve pain, including joint pain. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
However, your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid taking other NSAIDs with meloxicam. This is because taking meloxicam with other NSAIDs can increase your risk of digestive system problems. Meloxicam has a
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, meloxicam can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect was rare in clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
- skin rash
- itching
- flushing
- swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking meloxicam. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Meloxicam may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
Are side effects of meloxicam the same with 7.5-mg and the 15-mg tablets?
Yes, the side effects of meloxicam are expected to be the same regardless of the strength you take. In clinical trials, similar side effects were reported for the 7.5-milligram (mg) and 15-mg strengths.
However, your risk of certain side effects may be greater at higher doses of meloxicam. For example, taking higher doses of meloxicam may increase your risk of heart problems* as a side effect.
To learn more about what to expect with the 7.5-mg and 15-mg tablets of meloxicam, talk with your doctor.
* Meloxicam has a
Do meloxicam’s side effects vary between adults and children?
Not necessarily. The side effects of meloxicam are expected to be the same in adults and children. For details about specific side effects that may occur, see the “Meloxicam: Mild side effects” and “Meloxicam: Serious side effects” sections above.
However, certain side effects may be more common in children than in adults. To learn more about meloxicam’s side effects in children, see the “Meloxicam: Side effects in children” section above.
Is tingling a side effect of taking meloxicam?
It’s possible. Paresthesia was a rare side effect in clinical trials of meloxicam. With paresthesia, you may have tingling, numbness, or burning in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.
If you have bothersome symptoms of paresthesia while taking meloxicam, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect. For example, your doctor may switch you to a treatment other than meloxicam that isn’t known to cause this side effect.
Meloxicam may cause hair loss. This side effect was rare in clinical trials of the drug.
Keep in mind that meloxicam is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which may also cause hair loss. If you’re taking meloxicam to treat RA, you may have hair loss related to your condition.
If you’re concerned about hair loss with meloxicam, talk with your doctor. They can discuss your risk of this side effect. And they can suggest ways to manage hair loss if it happens.
In older adults (ages 65 years and over), the side effects of meloxicam are expected to be the same as for younger adults. For details about specific side effects that may occur, see the “Meloxicam: Mild side effects” and “Meloxicam: Serious side effects” sections above.
However, older adults may have an increased risk of certain side effects when compared with younger adults. Examples of these side effects can include:
- kidney damage
- heart problems*
- digestive system problems*
Due to these risks, doctors may prescribe a lower dosage of meloxicam for older adults. For details about meloxicam’s dosage, see this article.
If you have questions about meloxicam’s side effects in older adults, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* Meloxicam has a
Meloxicam comes with several precautions that may determine whether you can safely take the medication. Keep reading to learn more.
Boxed warnings
This drug has
Other precautions
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take meloxicam. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are known as drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Asthma. Meloxicam may worsen asthma in certain people with this condition. This risk is especially high in people who have asthma that has worsened in the past after taking aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). (NSAID is the drug class meloxicam belongs to.) Your doctor can recommend whether it’s safe for you to take meloxicam.
Heart failure. Meloxicam can worsen heart failure in people who already have this condition. Due to this risk, your doctor may not prescribe meloxicam for you if you have heart failure.
High blood pressure. Meloxicam may cause high blood pressure. Be sure to tell your doctor if you already have high blood pressure or take medications for this condition. Meloxicam could increase your blood pressure further, which could make blood pressure medications less effective. If you take meloxicam, your doctor may watch your blood pressure more closely than is typical during treatment.
Kidney or liver problems. Before taking meloxicam, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems. Examples include kidney or liver failure. Meloxicam may worsen your condition. Your doctor can tell you whether it’s safe to take meloxicam while you have kidney or liver problems. In some cases, they may prescribe meloxicam at a lower dosage. Or they may prescribe a drug other than meloxicam for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to meloxicam or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe meloxicam. Taking meloxicam could cause you to have another allergic reaction. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Alcohol with meloxicam
You should not take meloxicam with alcohol. Doing so could increase your risk of digestive system problems with the drug. Meloxicam has a
If you have questions about alcohol and meloxicam, talk with your doctor.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking meloxicam
Below is important information about taking meloxicam while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
It may not be safe to take meloxicam during pregnancy, especially between week 30 of pregnancy and birth. Doing so may cause certain heart and kidney problems in a fetus.
In certain cases, your doctor may tell you it’s safe to take meloxicam before week 30 of pregnancy. If so, they’ll prescribe meloxicam at the lowest dosage and for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your condition.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking meloxicam.
Breastfeeding
It’s not known whether meloxicam is safe to take while breastfeeding. It’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who is breastfed.
If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking meloxicam. They can talk with you about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking the drug.
Meloxicam may cause mild and serious side effects. If you have bothersome or long lasting side effects with meloxicam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you’d like to learn more about meloxicam, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug. Referring to the following articles about meloxicam can provide you with additional information:
- More information about meloxicam. For details about other aspects of meloxicam, refer to this article. You can also view this article about meloxicam and liver damage.
- A look at your condition. For details about arthritis, see our arthritis hub. To learn about rheumatoid arthritis, view our rheumatoid arthritis hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.