Canadian pharmacy buying guide: drug characteristics, uses and benefits, side effects and interactions, and links for further information about buying discount drugs online from Canada.

Mobic Consumer Information

MOBIC

Generic Name: meloxicam (me LOCK seh cam)

Brand Names: Mobic

What is the most important information I should know about meloxicam?

• Contact your doctor if you experience bloody, black, or tarry stools, blood in your vomit; swelling or rapid weight gain (fluid retention); unusual fatigue or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; excessive itching; flu-like symptoms; or abdominal pain or tenderness. These symptoms could indicate serious side effects.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, meloxicam may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the use of alcohol while taking meloxicam.

What is meloxicam?

• Meloxicam is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Meloxicam works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
• Meloxicam is used to reduce the pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.
• Meloxicam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take meloxicam?

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
• have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
• have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach,
• drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
• have liver disease;
• have kidney disease;
• have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder,
• have congestive heart failure,
• have fluid retention,
• have heart disease, or
• have high blood pressure.
• You may not be able to take meloxicam, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Meloxicam is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means it is not known whether meloxicam will harm an unborn baby. Meloxicam should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take meloxicam without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is not known whether meloxicam passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• The safety and effectiveness of meloxicam have not been established in children younger than 18 years of age.

How should I take meloxicam?

• Take meloxicam exactly as directed. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Meloxicam may be taken with or without food.
• Store meloxicam at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a meloxicam overdose include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of consciousness, drowsiness, headache, cardiac arrest, stomach pain, seizures, little or no urine production, and slow breathing.

What should I avoid while taking meloxicam?

• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, meloxicam may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Discuss with your doctor the use of alcohol during treatment with meloxicam.

What are the possible side effects of meloxicam?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking meloxicam and seek medical treatment or contact your doctor immediately:
• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• rash;
• swelling or rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
• black, bloody or tarry stools;
• blood in your vomit;
• nausea, fatigue or weakness, excessive itching, flu-like symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• abdominal pain or tenderness.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take meloxicam and talk to your doctor if you experience:
• dizziness or headache;
• flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation; or
• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, heartburn, or indigestion.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect meloxicam?

• Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may increase the effects of meloxicam and cause dangerous side effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
• another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin);
• aspirin or another salicylates (forms of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate (watch the aspirin content of other over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergy medicines);
• a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (Midamor);
• an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others).
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with meloxicam. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about meloxicam written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 2.02. Revision Date: 2/14/03.