Is meloxicam safe to take every day?

Meloxicam reduces pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It works by inhibiting the production of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), which triggers an inflammatory response. Many of these conditions are painful and chronic. So you may be wondering, is meloxicam safe to take every day? While you should always follow your prescribing provider’s instructions, the answer is yes—with a few caveats. Read on to learn when it’s not a good idea.

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What is meloxicam?

Meloxicam (brand name Mobic) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is in the same drug class as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and diclofenac. However, meloxicam is available only with a prescription and is much stronger than over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs, explains Jill Barat, Pharm.D., a compounding pharmacist at Pharmedico in Sarasota, Florida. 

It’s commonly prescribed long-term for arthritis and short-term for acute swelling, inflammation, or joint pain—such as from gout flare, injury, muscle strain, or surgery, says Wendi D Jones, Pharm.D., a pharmacist with AspenRx Health based in Washington, North Carolina.

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Is meloxicam safe to take every day?

For short-term use, it’s perfectly safe to take meloxicam daily—as long as you aren’t allergic and it’s not contraindicated with any of your medical conditions. Meloxicam is typically used for 10 to 14 days to manage pain, but treatment duration can vary depending on the specific medical condition being treated. Your healthcare provider will likely take you off it once your discomfort is under control.

However, meloxicam is not typically considered safe for daily long-term use. Meaning, taking it every day indefinitely is not recommended, says Dr. Barat. However, if a healthcare professional has prescribed meloxicam for a long period, they likely weighed the risks versus benefits before going this route and will be checking in on you regularly. Your provider may lengthen or shorten the duration of your treatment with meloxicam based on how much pain you are in, how well-controlled your condition is, and other health conditions you may have, including pre-existing heart or stomach issues, says Dr. Barat.

The higher the dosage, the greater the risks of complications with daily use. “You always want to use the lowest effective dose of meloxicam for the shortest duration necessary,” says Erika Gray, Pharm.D., chief medical officer and co-founder of Toolbox Genomics, a DNA and epigenetic testing company. Be sure to work with your provider to determine the appropriate therapeutic dose for your condition.

You should always take meloxicam tablets, capsules, or oral suspension exactly as your provider directs. Don’t take more of it, don’t take it more often, and don’t take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much of this medicine may increase the risk of side effects. 

In case of a missed dose,  take it as soon as possible unless it is almost time for your next dose. You can take meloxicam in the morning or night, depending on what works best for your schedule. “The most important thing is to try and take it at about the same time each day,” Dr Barat says. 

What happens if you take meloxicam every day?

Meloxicam is not a controlled substance. It is not considered addictive in the same way as substances like opioids or certain recreational drugs. However, prolonged use of meloxicam can lead to the development of tolerance, where higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect, Dr. Gray explains. Higher doses can increase the risk of side effects.

Some of the most commonly reported side effects of meloxicam are:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Heartburn
• Flu-like symptoms
• Drowsiness

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meloxicam has a black box warning (the most serious warning required by the FDA) because it may put you at risk of serious side effects impacting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including:

• Bleeding
• Ulceration (sores)
• Perforation (holes)

These complications can cause internal bleeding or even death in severe cases. Symptoms to watch for include:

• Throwing up or coughing up blood
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Blood in the urine
• Black, red, or tarry stools
• Bleeding from gums
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Bruising easily
• Bleeding that does not stop readily

While these risks are not guaranteed with daily meloxicam use, their likelihood is greater.

The black box warning also notes that NSAIDs like meloxicam can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular clotting events like heart attack and stroke, which can cause death. Individuals with heart disease (or risk factors for heart disease), as well as those who use the medicine for a longer time, are at higher risk. 

As always, talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using this medication. 

Who should avoid taking meloxicam?

Tell your provider and pharmacist about any medications (including prescription drugs, OTC medicines, vitamins, or dietary supplements) you are taking with meloxicam as there are several potential drug-drug interactions. 

• Blood pressure medications: Meloxicam may reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta blockers, says Dr. Gray. Meloxicam may have a similar impact on diuretics, including loop diuretics like Lasix (furosemide) and thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide, putting you at increased risk of kidney problems or kidney failure if combined. 
• Blood thinners: Taking meloxicam with blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin) may increase your risk of bleeding, so this combination should be avoided. Other medications that are not categorized as blood thinners, but can affect bleeding and may increase the risk of bleeding if taken with meloxicam include SSRI antidepressants like Prozac (fluoxetine) or Lexapro (escitalopram) and SNRI antidepressants like Cymbalta (duloxetine). 
• Lithium: If you are taking the mood stabilizer lithium, meloxicam can increase blood levels of the drug, increasing your risk of adverse effects like slurred speech, vomiting, confusion, and tremors.

Meloxicam is contraindicated or may not be appropriate for the following individuals:

• Patients with a known hypersensitivity to meloxicam, such as severe skin or allergic reactions
• Patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria (hives), or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs
• Individuals experiencing peri-operative pain just before or after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
• Individuals with existing heart, vasculature, or stomach health issues
• Those with a history of heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or stomach ulcers
• People with liver disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or asthma
• Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Because meloxicam (like other NSAIDs) may put extra strain on your stomach, it may be wise to avoid foods and beverages that can irritate the stomach or intestinal lining, such as caffeinated drinks and alcohol, advises Dr. Barat. 

If your provider has decided that you should stay on meloxicam long-term, Dr. Jones urges you to be mindful of your body and your health so that you can alert them to any potential concerns. It’s also important to keep all medical and lab appointments so your healthcare provider can monitor you properly.

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