Meloxicam Side Effects

Meloxicam is categorized within a group of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are instrumental in alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and lowering fever.

Here the diverse spectrum of side effects that Meloxicam is covered. This will encompass an in-depth exploration of the common and serious side effects frequently encountered by users, including adverse allergic reactions, the occurrence of rare side effects and the potential symptoms and management of overdose, along with an exploration of the long-term impacts of this medication.

Further, side effects observed in distinct age groups such as pregnant women, breastfeeding individuals, pediatric patients, and the elderly are covered. 

Moreover, detail side effects based on various bodily systems, providing a comprehensive understanding of the potential impact of Meloxicam across different physiological functions. This holistic exploration aims to empower individuals with crucial knowledge to make informed decisions and ensure safe and informed medication use.

Common Side Effects

Meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is known for its efficacy in reducing pain and inflammation, but like many medications, it also presents various common side effects. These side effects may include :

• Stomach Pain
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
•  Heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Constipation 
• Gas
• Dizziness
• Cold Symptoms
• Flu Symptoms

Serious Side Effects

Less Common

• Bleeding gums
• Bloating
• Blood in the urine
• Blurred vision
• Burning upper abdominal or stomach pain
• Canker sores
• Chest tightness or heaviness
• Chills
• Cloudy urine
• Cough
• Cramping
• Dark urine
• Decreased frequency or amount of urine
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Dilated neck veins
• Dizziness
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• General feeling of tiredness and weakness
• Deadache
• Hives or welts
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• Increased thirst
• Irregular breathing
• Itching, soreness, or redness other discoloration of the skin
• Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
• Light-colored stools
• Loss of appetite
• Lower side or back pain
• Noisy breathing
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• Pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
• Pounding in the ears
• Seizures
• Severe and continuing nausea
• Severe sunburn
• Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• Skin blisters
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
• Stomach bloating, burning, cramping, tenderness, or pain
• Sweating
• Swelling or puffiness of the face
• Swollen glands
• Trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• Watery or bloody diarrhea
• Weight gain or loss
• Yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

• Difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• Difficulty with speaking
• Double vision
• Inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• Inability to speak
• Pains in the chest, groin or legs, especially the calves
• Severe headache of sudden onset
• Slow speech
• Stomach pain, continuing
• Sudden loss of coordination
• Sudden onset of slurred speech
• Sudden vision changes
• Swelling of the feet or lower legs

Allergic Reactions

Seek immediate medical assistance if you experience symptoms indicating an allergic reaction to meloxicam, such as hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling in your face or throat. Also, seek urgent medical attention if you observe signs of a severe skin reaction, including fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, and the presence of a red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling.

Rare Side Effects

• Area rash
• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• Bloody or black, tarry stools
• Clay-colored stools
• Cold, clammy skin
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Cracks in the skin
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Fast, weak pulse
• Fever with or without chills
• Greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• Hoarseness
• Joint or muscle pain
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of heat from the body
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Red, irritated eyes
• Scaly skin
• Severe stomach pain
• Tightness in the chest
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Other Side Effects of Meloxicam

More Common

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Indigestion

Less Common

• Abnormal dreaming
• Anxiety
• Appetite increased
• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant after taste
• Belching
• Bloated or full feeling
• Burning feeling in the chest or stomach
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
• Burning, dry, or itching eyes
• Change in taste
• Changes in vision
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• Decreased urination
• Discharge
• Discouragement
• Dry mouth
• Excess air or gas in the stomach
• Excessive tearing
• Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• Feeling sad or empty
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Hair loss
• Hearing loss
• Hot flushes
• Irritability
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Nervousness
• Pain or burning in the throat
• Rapid breathing
• Redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
• Sensation of spinning
• Sleepiness
• Sunken eyes
• Thinning of the hair
• Thirst
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Wrinkled skin

Incidence Not Known

• Mood changes
• Trouble getting pregnant

Symptoms of Meloxicam Overdose

• Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• Pain in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
• Rapid weight gain
• Severe stomach pain
• Seizures
• Slow or fast heartbeat
• Swelling around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

Categorize the Side Effects of Meloxicam Based on Various Body Systems

General

• Diarrhea
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Dyspepsia
• Nausea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Influenza-like symptoms

Gastrointestinal

• Dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea (10% or more)
• Abdominal discomfort, gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, aggravated dyspepsia, eructation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, upper abdominal pain (1% to 10%)
• Occult or macroscopic GI hemorrhage, gastritis, stomatitis (0.1% to 1%) 
• Colitis, gastroduodenal ulcer, esophagitis (0.01% to 0.1%)
• GI perforation (less than 0.01%)

Cardiovascular

• Hypertension (1% to 10%)
• Flushing (0.1% to 1%)
• Palpitations (less than 0.1%)
• Angina pectoris
•  Cardiac failure
• Hypotension
•  Myocardial infarction
•  Vasculitis
•  Arrhythmia
•  Palpitation
•  Tachycardia Shock
•  Cardiac failure

Nervous System

• Dizziness, headache, carpel tunnel syndrome (1% to 10%)
• Somnolence (0.1% to 1%)
• Syncope, convulsions, paresthesia, tremor, taste perversion

Respiratory

• Pharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, coughing, nasopharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, pleuritic pain, dyspnea, rhinitis (1% to 10%)
• Asthma (less than 0.1%)
• Bronchospasm

Other

• Accident household, edema, fall, influenza-like symptoms, pain, peripheral edema, gravitational edema, fatigue, ear disorder, vertigo, fall (1% to 10%)
• Face edema, fever, malaise, weight decreased, weight increased, tinnitus
• Meningitis

Hematologic

• Anemia (1% to 10%)
• Blood count abnormal, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia (0.01% to 0.1%)
• Agranulocytosis (less than 0.01%)

Dermatologic

• Rash, pruritus, erythematous rash, maculopapular rash, hyperhidrosis, purpura (1% to 10%)
• Angioedema (0.1% to 1%)
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria (0.01% to 0.1%)
• Dermatitis bullous, erythema multiforme (less than 0.01%)
• Alopecia, bullous eruption, exfoliative dermatitis, photosensitivity reaction, sweating increased
• Erythema multiforme

Hypersensitivity

• Hypersensitivity (1% to 10%)
• Allergic reactions (0.1% to 1%)
• Anaphylactoid reaction
• Anaphylactoid reactions including shock

Endocrine

•  Female infertility

Musculoskeletal

• Arthralgia (1% to 10%)
• Aggravated arthralgia (1% to 10%)
•  Joint crepitation (1% to 10%)
•  Joint effusion (1% to 10%)
•  Joint swelling back pain (1% to 10%)
• Osteoarthritis (1% to 10%)
•  Pain in extremity (1% to 10%)
• Arthritis (1% to 10%)
• Bursitis (1% to 10%)
• Muscle spasms (1% to 10%)
• Myalgia (1% to 10%)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (1% to 10%)

Genitourinary

• Micturition frequency
•  Urinary tract infection
•  Hematuria (1% to 10%)
• Acute urinary retention

Hepatic

• Liver function disorder, ALT increased, AST increased, bilirubinemia (0.1% to 1%):
• Hepatitis (less than 0.01%)
• GGT increased, jaundice, liver failure

Psychiatric

• Insomnia (1% to 10%)
• Nightmares, mood alterations (less than 0.1%)
• Abnormal dreaming, anxiety, confusion, depression, nervousness, disorientation
• Alterations in mood such as mood elevation

Renal

• Acute renal failure, papillary necrosis, acute tubular necrosis (less than 0.01%)
• Albuminuria, BUN increased, creatinine increased, interstitial nephritis, renal failure

Metabolic

• Dehydration, appetite increased (1% to 10%)
• Sodium retention, hyperkalemia, water retention (0.1% to 1%)

Ocular

• Cataract (1% to 10%)
• Visual disturbances, conjunctivitis, blurred vision (less than 0.1%)
•  Abnormal vision

Long Term Effects of Meloxicam 

Meloxicam can pose long-term risks. Like all medications, it carries potential side effects. Prolonged use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may heighten the risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding, ulcers, or perforations. Furthermore, this medicine may increase the chances of experiencing a heart attack, blood clot, or stroke. These risks are amplified, especially in individuals with existing heart and blood vessel conditions who are using this medication over an extended period.

Side Effects During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnant women are advised to avoid using meloxicam during the third trimester, as it can heighten the likelihood of adverse effects on the pregnancy. It is not recommended to take meloxicam after reaching 30 weeks of pregnancy. If pregnant, it’s important to consult your doctor before using meloxicam, and its usage during pregnancy should only occur when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Additionally, if you are attempting to conceive, it is recommended to discuss with your doctor. Meloxicam might cause a reversible delay in ovulation. Therefore, if you are facing challenges with conception or undergoing infertility tests, refraining from taking meloxicam is advised.

Regarding breastfeeding women, it is uncertain whether meloxicam transfers into breast milk. If it does, it might result in side effects for the child if the mother breastfeeds while taking meloxicam. The decision to use meloxicam or continue breastfeeding should be made by you and your doctor.

Side Effects in Pediatric (Children)

In the treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), this medication has demonstrated safety and efficacy for children aged 2 years and older. It is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age.

However, for other medical conditions, this medication has not shown to be safe and effective for children of any age. It is advised against its use in individuals younger than 18 years.

Side Effects in Geriatric Age (Elderly individuals)

Individuals aged 65 years or older may be at an increased risk of experiencing side effects from meloxicam.

In case of a medical emergency, please seek immediate medical assistance or contact the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at poisonhelp.org. Nevertheless, if you are experiencing severe symptoms, please do not hesitate to dial 911 (or your Local Emergency Number) immediately or proceed to the nearest emergency room for immediate medical attention. Your safety and well-being are paramount.