Contains the active ingredient, meloxicam
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine
This leaflet answers some common questions about meloxicam. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the last page. More recent information on this medicine may be available.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Pharmaceutical companies cannot give you medical advice or an individual diagnosis.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is APO- Meloxicam. It contains the active ingredient meloxicam.
It is used to treat the symptoms of:
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis.
Both diseases mainly affect the joints, causing pain and swelling.
Although meloxicam can relieve symptoms such as pain and inflammation, it will not cure your condition.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
How it works
Meloxicam belongs to a family of medicines called Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines work by relieving pain and inflammation.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Use in children
Do not give meloxicam to children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if:
You are about to undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery
You have a disease of the heart with shortness of breath, and swelling of the feet or lips due to fluid build-up
You experience bleeding from the stomach, gut or any other bleeding
You have had a stroke resulting from a bleed in the brain or have a bleeding disorder
You currently have a peptic (stomach) ulcer
You have Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis
You have severe liver or kidney problems
You are currently taking other medicines known as: sulfinpyrazone (used to treat gout), fluconazole (used to treat fungal infections) or certain sulfur antibiotics (eg. sulfaphenazole or sulfamethoxazole)
You are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed
Meloxicam may pass into breast milk and affect your baby.
You have had any of the following symptoms after taking aspirin or other NSAIDS: asthma, nasal polyps, swollen face or urticaria
You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to, meloxicam, aspirin or any other NSAID, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. This includes rare inherited conditions of galactose intolerance. These tablets contain lactose
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body, itching or hives on the skin.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
Other serious allergic reactions include Erythema Multiforme (red patches on the arms, legs and face with blisters on the lips and lining of the mouth), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rash with blisters) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (blisters covering large areas of the body, with peeling or burning of large amounts of skin).
Make especially sure that you tell your doctor if you have had these or any type of skin reaction before.
It has passed the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
1. You have allergies to:
any other medicines including aspirin or other NSAID medicines
lactose - this medicine contains lactose
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
high blood pressure or fluid retention
diabetes
high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease
heartburn, indigestion, ulcers or other stomach problems such as bleeding from the digestive tract
kidney or liver disease
asthma or any other breathing problems
3. You are using an IUD (Intra-Uterine Device) for birth control.
4. You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5. You are planning to have surgery.
6. You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.
7. You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with meloxicam. These include:
any other medicines used to treat high blood pressure and some other heart problems- such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists and diuretics (also called fluid or water tablets). When taken together these medicines can cause kidney problems.
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines
medicines used to thin your blood (such as warfarin, heparin and ticlopidine)
lithium, a medicine used to treat some types of mood disorders
antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and some types of cancer
cyclosporin, a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain problems with the immune system
pemetrexed, used to treat lung cancer
diuretics, also called fluid or water tablets (e.g. frusemide)
medicines used to treat high blood pressure
medicines used to treat heart problems (such as amiodarone or quinidine)
medicines used to treat diabetes
cholestyramine, a medicine used to treat high cholesterol levels in the blood
corticosteroids (drugs usually used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as skin rash and asthma)
some medicines used to treat fungal infections (such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole)
some sulfur antibiotics (such as sulfaphenazole and sulfamethoxazole)
some antihistamines (medicines used for allergy, hay fever or insect stings), e.g. terfenadine.
If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with meloxicam.
How to take this medicine
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
How much to take
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.
For the treatment of osteoarthritis:
The usual dose is 7.5 mg, taken as a single dose each day. Your doctor may increase this to 15 mg once each day if necessary.
For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:
The usual dose of meloxicam is 15 mg taken as a single dose each day.
Depending on your response, your doctor may reduce this dose to 7.5 mg taken as a single dose each day.
The maximum recommended daily dose of meloxicam is 15 mg.
For patients with kidney problems undergoing dialysis, the maximum recommended daily dose is 7.5 mg.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets with some fluid.
When to take it
Take this medicine immediately after food to avoid the chance of an upset stomach.
Take this medicine at the same time each day, either morning or evening. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect and will also help you remember when to take it.
How long to take it for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much meloxicam, you may experience any or all of the following:
nausea and/or vomiting
headache
drowsiness
blurred vision
dizziness
fits or seizures
low blood pressure
difficulty in breathing
impaired consciousness, or coma
kidney failure
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:
you are about to be started on any new medicine
you get an infection.
Meloxicam may hide some of the signs of an infection (e.g. pain, fever, redness and swelling). You may think, mistakenly, that you are better or that the infection is not serious.
you are about to have any blood tests
you are going to have surgery (including dental surgery). Meloxicam can affect blood clotting.
Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects. Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not:
Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours
Take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to
Stop taking your medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you
As with other NSAID medicines, meloxicam may cause dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision in some people.
Make sure you know how you react to meloxicam before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Possible side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking meloxicam or if you have any questions or concerns.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following:
stomach upset including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, burping. wind, cramps or pain
headache
sore throat or discomfort when swallowing
'flu'-like symptoms, including
coughing and/or fever or chills
constipation or diarrhoea
dizziness or light-headedness
skin rashes which may be caused by exposure to sunlight, can blister and may take on the appearance of a severe burn
increase in blood pressure
tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following.
These may be serious side effects and you may need medical attention
blurred vision
any change in the amount or colour of your urine (red or brown) or any pain or difficulty experienced when urinating
collapse or fainting, shortness of breath or tiredness, fast or irregular heartbeat (also called palpitations), chest pain, swollen or sore leg veins
severe pain or tenderness in the stomach
yellowing of the skin and eyes (known as jaundice)
severe dizziness
swelling of your ankles, legs or other parts of your body
signs of anaemia (such as tiredness, being short of breath and looking pale).
If you experience any of the following, stop taking your medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
bleeding from your back passage (rectum), black sticky motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
weakness in one part or side of your body, slurred speech or visual disturbances
unable to pass urine
collapse or fainting, shortness of breath or tiredness and/or chest pain
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Allergic reactions
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to meloxicam, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing and/or stuffy nose and/or nasal polyps
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
sudden or severe rash, itching or hives on the skin
fainting
hay fever-like symptoms
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Product description
What APO-Meloxicam looks like
APO-Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablets
Pastel yellow, round, biconvex tablets. Engraved "APO" on one side and "7.5" on the other side.
Blister packs of 30 tablets
APO-Meloxicam 15 mg tablets
Pastel yellow, round, flat-faced, bevelled-edge tablets. Scored and engraved "MEL" over "15" on one side, "APO" on the other side.
Blister packs of 30 tablets
Ingredients
Each tablet contains 7.5 or 15 mg of meloxicam as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
lactose
microcrystalline cellulose
sodium bicarbonate
croscarmellose sodium
magnesium stearate
colloidal anhydrous silica.
