Can you take gabapentin and meloxicam together?

In this article:

• Can you take gabapentin and meloxicam together?
• Benefits
• Interactions
• How long after taking gabapentin can you take meloxicam?
• What medications should you not take with gabapentin or meloxicam?

In this article

• Can you take gabapentin and meloxicam together?
• Benefits
• Interactions
• How long after taking gabapentin can you take meloxicam?
• What medications should you not take with gabapentin or meloxicam?

Gabapentin, a prescription anticonvulsant often known by the brand name Neurontin or Gralise, is used to treat seizures and relieve nerve pain—often for those with shingles. Meloxicam (brand-name Mobic or Vivlodex) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat moderate to severe pain and inflammation from arthritis. The two drugs are used to treat separate conditions, and there are no known drug interactions between the two. According to medical experts, you can safely take both gabapentin and meloxicam under the supervision of your healthcare provider.

Can you take gabapentin and meloxicam together?

When taking two prescription drugs together, there is always the concern of whether there are possible drug interactions or serious side effects. However, there are no known interactions between gabapentin and meloxicam, so the two drugs can safely be taken together without concern.

Gabapentin is an antiseizure medication that is also approved for treating post-herpetic neuralgia—the nerve pain that persists with shingles. It may also be prescribed for various off-label uses such as restless leg syndrome, fibromyalgia, severe cough, cannabis withdrawal, and several types of neuropathic pain.

Meloxicam, on the other hand, is an NSAID used primarily to treat arthritis pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It may also be used off-label for ankylosing spondylitis, pain from gout flares, and other conditions causing musculoskeletal pain.

While both drugs work for pain relief, Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, a professor and executive director at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland, explains that the two drugs are only taken together if a patient is experiencing a relatively complex pain situation. “Meloxicam will not treat neuropathic pain at all, so these two analgesics would only be used together if a patient had both neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain,” she explains.

Benefits of taking gabapentin and meloxicam at the same time

While gabapentin and meloxicam can safely be taken together, there is typically no reason to do so, as the two drugs target different types of pain. However, for those who experience complex or chronic pain, taking both gabapentin and meloxicam can work to provide more holistic pain relief for both neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain.

For example, older people seeking relief from nerve pain caused by shingles might want to take gabapentin in addition to a current meloxicam prescription for arthritis pain. In this case, taking gabapentin and meloxicam together would target both issues without the risk of adverse effects from the two drugs interacting negatively.

Gabapentin and meloxicam interactions

As mentioned, you can safely take gabapentin and meloxicam together, as there are no known interactions between the two. However, it is important to make sure that each drug is safe to take individually. “Each medication carries its own risks, so it’s important to review the patient’s past medical history prior to prescribing either medication,” Dr. McPherson says.

If you have the medical condition myasthenia gravis, myoclonus, or have a history of substance abuse, you should check with your healthcare provider before using gabapentin, as there’s a known contraindication with these conditions.

Common side effects of gabapentin may include:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Loss of muscle control (ataxia)
• Nausea
• Swelling
• Vision problems
• Tremor
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Feeling overly emotional
• Infections
• Bronchitis
• Constipation
• Weight gain

More serious adverse reactions  of gabapentin include:

• Depression or thoughts of self-harm
• Difficulty breathing
• Dark urine
• Allergic reaction
• Severe skin reaction
• DRESS syndrome (fever, rash, swollen glands, bloody or cloudy urine)

If you’re experiencing serious side effects from taking gabapentin, please seek immediate medical attention from your healthcare provider.

Additionally, Pamela Mehta, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the co-founder of Learn at Pinnacle of San Jose, California, explains that meloxicam should be used with extreme caution by people with a history of bleeding in the stomach or gastrointestinal system. “It’s also best to use caution if you have a history of asthma, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, heart failure, stroke, general gastro-intestinal conditions, peripheral artery disease, previous reaction to NSAIDs, or high blood pressure that’s not under control,” she explains. Given the wide range of side effects, Dr. Mehta recommends that this medication be taken under close supervision of your healthcare provider.

Meloxicam can cause a number of gastrointestinal issues in addition to other unpleasant symptoms. Common side effects of meloxicam may include:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Flu-like symptoms
• Swelling
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sore throat
• Headache

Meloxicam also comes with the risk of more severe adverse reactions, such as:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Stomach ulcer
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• New or worsening high blood pressure
• Liver problems
• Impaired kidney function
• Allergic reaction

If you start experiencing extreme pain or discomfort from taking meloxicam, please seek medical attention immediately.

Also, if you’re taking either gabapentin or meloxicam, you should avoid alcohol as it can worsen side effects.

How long after taking gabapentin can you take meloxicam?

As gabapentin and meloxicam do not have any negative interactions when taken in combination with each other, they can be taken at the same time with no risk.

The dosages for gabapentin and meloxicam vary. Gabapentin dosing is 100 milligrams (mg) up to three times daily. This dosage is gradually increased until the adequate dose is reached, generally 300 mg three times daily, but it can go as high as 1200 mg three times daily.

The recommended starting dose for meloxicam is lower at 7.5 mg daily, which can be increased to 15 mg daily.

Both medications may be taken with or without food, although taking meloxicam with food may reduce gastrointestinal irritation and other GI side effects. It’s also recommended that you take gabapentin before going to bed, as it can cause drowsiness or sleepiness.

What medications should you not take with gabapentin or meloxicam? 

Whether you’re taking both gabapentin and meloxicam at the same time or only one of the two, it’s important to be aware of how your other medications may interact.

That being said, you should avoid taking gabapentin with:

• Antacids
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as antihistamines, benzodiazepines, sedatives, or muscle relaxants
• Opioids, such as hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone
• Other NSAIDs, such as aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen

Potential drug interactions for meloxicam include the following:

• Blood thinners, such as warfarin
• Medications that increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, such as aspirin
• Blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, and diuretics
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine
• Lithium
• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
• Furosemide
• Thiazides
• Methotrexate
• Cyclosporine
• Pemetrexed

If you’re taking any of these medications, please notify your healthcare provider before starting a treatment of meloxicam and gabapentin.