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Before taking meloxicam
Before taking meloxicam make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you suffer from liver, kidney or heart problems.
- If you suffer from indigestion, heartburn or any other digestive or bowel problems.
- If you have ever had blood clotting problems.
- If you suffer from proctitis (an inflamed back passage) or haemorrhoids (piles).
- If you have ever had stomach problems such as stomach ulcers.
- If you have a history of allergic disorders.
- If you suffer from asthma.
- If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic or unusual reaction to this medicine, to any other NSAID (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, indometacin) or to any other medicine.
How to take meloxicam
- Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take meloxicam exactly as directed by your doctor. Take the tablets with or straight after food.
- Meloxicam is taken once each day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses.
- You may mix the tablets into a small glass of water before taking, or else they can be swallowed whole with a drink of water.
- If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is the next day before you remember, take the dose for that day and leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.
Getting the most from your treatment
- If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
- Keep your regular doctor's appointment so your progress can be monitored.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with meloxicam.
Can meloxicam cause problems?
Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this |
| Feeling or being sick, diarrhoea | Stick to simple foods such as dry toast. Drink plenty of liquid to replace any lost fluids |
| Indigestion, stomach discomfort, wind | Eat little and often. If the discomfort continues, speak with your doctor |
| Dizziness | Avoid driving, operating machinery or doing other tasks which require you to be alert |
| Constipation | Try to eat a well balanced diet containing plenty of fibre and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day |
| Headache | Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller. If the headache continues, speak with your doctor |
- any shortness of breath, skin rash or swelling of the mouth or face
- any sign of bleeding from the stomach or intestine, such as blood in vomit or black stools
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store meloxicam
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- Manufacturer's PIL, Mobic® Tablets 7.5 mg, Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated July 2008, accessed April 2010.
- British National Formulary; 59th Edition (March 2010) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.