Meloxicam
Meloxicam, sold under the brand name Mobic among others, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis. It is used by mouth or by injection into a vein. It is recommended that it be used for as short a period as possible and at a low dose.
Common side effects include abdominal pain, dizziness, swelling, headache, and a rash. Serious side effects may include heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and stomach ulcers. Use is not recommended in the third trimester of pregnancy. It blocks cyclooxygenase-2 more than it blocks cyclooxygenase-1. It is in the oxicam family of chemicals and is closely related to piroxicam.
Meloxicam was patented in 1977 and approved for medical use in the United States in 2000. It was developed by Boehringer Ingelheim, however it is also available as a generic medication. In 2017, it was the 38th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 19million prescriptions.
Adverse effects
Meloxicam use can result in gastrointestinal toxicity and bleeding, headaches, rash, and very dark or black stool. Like other NSAIDs, its use is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. It has fewer gastrointestinal side effects than diclofenac, piroxicam, naproxen, and perhaps all other NSAIDs which are not COX-2 selective. Although meloxicam inhibits formation of thromboxane A, it does not appear to do so at levels that would interfere with platelet function.A pooled analysis of randomized, controlled studies of meloxicam therapy of up to 60 days duration found that meloxicam was associated with a statistically significantly lower number of thromboembolic complications than the NSAID diclofenac but a similar incidence of thromboembolic events to naproxen and piroxicam.
Cardiovascular
Persons with hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes are at risk for cardiovascular side effects. Persons with family history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke must tell their treating physician as the potential for serious cardiovascular side effects is significant.Gastrointestinal
cause and increase the risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events.Mouth
It is recommended to withhold meloxicam use for at least four to six half-lives prior to surgical or dental procedures due to increased risk for taste perversion, ulcerative stomatitis and dry mouth.Mechanism of action
Meloxicam blocks cyclooxygenase, the enzyme responsible for converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandin H2—the first step in the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are mediators of inflammation.Meloxicam has been shown, especially at its low therapeutic doses, selectively to inhibit COX-2 over COX-1.
Meloxicam concentrations in synovial fluid range from 40% to 50% of those in plasma. The free fraction in synovial fluid is 2.5 times higher than in plasma, due to the lower albumin content in synovial fluid as compared to plasma. The significance of this penetration is unknown, but it may account for the fact that it performs exceptionally well in treatment of arthritis in animal models.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
The bioavailability of meloxicam is decreased when administered orally compared to an equivalent IV bolus dose. Use of oral meloxicam following a high-fat breakfast increases the mean peak drug levels by about 22%; however, the manufacturer does not make any specific meal recommendations. In addition, the use of antacids does not show pharmacokinetic interactions.Distribution
The mean volume of distribution of meloxicam is approximately 10L. It is highly protein-bound, mainly to albumin.Metabolism
Meloxicam is extensively metabolized in the liver by the enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 onto four inactive metabolites. Peroxidase activity is thought to be responsible for the other two remaining metabolites.Excretion
Meloxicam is predominantly excreted in the form of metabolites and occurs to equal extents in the urine and feces. Traces of unchanged parent drug are found in urine and feces. The mean elimination half-life ranges from 15 to 20 hours.Specific populations
Geriatrics
Use of meloxicam is not recommended in people with peptic ulcer disease or increased gastrointestinal bleed risk, including those over 75 years of age or those taking medications associated with bleeding risk. Adverse events have been found to be dose-dependent and associated with length of treatment.Veterinary use
Meloxicam is used in veterinary medicine, most commonly in dogs and cats, but also sees off-label use in other animals such as cattle and exotics.Side effects in animals are similar to those found in humans; the principal side effect is gastrointestinal irritation. Rarer but important side effects include liver and kidney toxicity.
In healthy dogs given meloxicam, no perioperative adverse effects on the cardiovascular system have been reported at recommended dosages. Perioperative administration of meloxicam to cats did not affect postoperative respiratory rate nor heart rate.
A peer-reviewed journal article cites NSAIDs, including meloxicam, as causing gastrointestinal upset and, at high doses, acute kidney injury and CNS signs such as seizures and comas in cats. It adds that cats have a low tolerance for NSAIDs.
No decline in renal excretory function was observed when meloxicam was administered to cats with chronic kidney disease. Cats that received meloxicam had greater proteinuria at 6 months than cats that received placebo. It was concluded that meloxicam should be used with caution in cats with chronic kidney disease.
Meloxicam has been investigated as an alternative to diclofenac by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to prevent deaths of vultures.
Pharmacokinetics
In dogs, the absorption of meloxicam from the stomach is not affected by the presence of food, with the peak concentration of meloxicam occurring in the blood 7–8 hours after administration. The half-life of meloxicam is approximately 24 hours in dogs.In the koala, very little meloxicam is absorbed into the blood after oral administration.
Legal status
United States
In 2003, meloxicam was approved in the U.S. for use in dogs for the management of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, as an oral formulation of meloxicam. In January 2005, the product insert added a warning in bold-face type: "Do not use in cats." An injectable formulation for use in dogs was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2003.In October 2004, a formulation for use in cats was approved for use prior to surgery only. This is an injectable meloxicam, indicated for as a single, one-time dose only, with specific and repeated warnings not to administer a second dose.
In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a Notice of Violation to the manufacturer for its promotional materials which included promotion of the drug for off-label use.
In February 2020, meloxicam injection was approved for use in the United States. The FDA granted the approval of Anjeso to Baudax Bio.
European Union
In Europe, where the product has been available since the early 1990s, it is licensed for other anti-inflammatory benefits including relief from both acute and chronic pain in dogs. In June 2007, an oral version of meloxicam was licensed for the long-term relief of pain in cats.Meloxicam is also licensed for use in horses, to relieve the pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders.
Meloxicam was authorised for use in cattle throughout the European Union in January 1998, via a centralised marketing authorisation. The first generic meloxicam product was approved in 2006.