Meloxicam dosage, forms, and strengths

Meloxicam is a generic prescription drug that relieves pain and swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Meloxicam can also be used in teens and children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. As a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), meloxicam is related to common over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen. However, it’s a stronger pain reliever with potentially more severe side effects, so it can only be dispensed with a prescription. Unlike its over-the-counter cousins, meloxicam is a long-acting NSAID and is prescribed to be taken once daily. 

Meloxicam forms and strengths

Meloxicam is taken by mouth as a tablet or capsule, but capsules are only FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis. The capsules and tablets are FDA-approved for rheumatoid arthritis. Meloxicam capsules and tablets are not interchangeable. Meloxicam can also be administered as an injection using brand-name Anjeso.

• Tablet: 7.5 milligrams (mg), 15 mg

• Capsule: 5 mg, 10 mg

• Injection: 30 mg/mL

Meloxicam orally disintegrating tablets used to be available in the U.S. under the brand name Qmiiz ODT. That brand has been discontinued, and there are no generic versions. 

Meloxicam dosage for adults

Meloxicam is FDA approved to treat pain and swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Adults with aspirin hypersensitivity or allergies to meloxicam or other NSAIDs should not take meloxicam. When dosing an NSAID, healthcare providers prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time to reduce the risk of serious side effects. 

Source: Epocrates

Meloxicam dosage for children

Meloxicam tablets are FDA-approved to treat children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who weigh more than 132 pounds (60 kg). Healthcare professionals do not prescribe meloxicam to children who weigh less than 132 pounds.

• Standard meloxicam dosage for children weighing 60 kg or more: 7.5 mg tablet once per day

• Maximum meloxicam dosage for children weighing 60 kg or more: 7.5 mg tablet once per day

Source: FDA prescribing information (capsules and tablets), Epocrates

Meloxicam dosage restrictions

There are no dosage adjustments for people with mild to moderate kidney disease, but the FDA advises that meloxicam not be used in people with severe kidney disease. Individuals with any type of kidney or liver problems should consult their healthcare provider for medical advice. 

• Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min): Avoid use

• Hemodialysis: Avoid meloxicam, or if prescribed, use a lower dose, with a maximum dosage of 7.5 mg capsule once per day or 5 mg tablet once per day

• Hepatic impairment: not defined; consult a healthcare provider

Meloxicam dosage for pets 

Meloxicam is commonly prescribed for dogs and cats to treat pain and swelling due to osteoarthritis. It’s sold as a generic or can be purchased under a variety of brand names, including Metacam, Rheumacam, or OroCAM. Veterinarians typically prescribe easily-dispensed formats such as meloxicam oral suspension, oral spray, or chewable tablets. 

The dose will depend on the animal’s weight. The initial dose on day one is usually about 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight. Maintenance doses (day two and after) are typically 0.1 mg/kg.

When giving a pet meloxicam, do it after the pet has eaten to help prevent gastrointestinal side effects.

Source: FDA prescribing information 

How to take meloxicam

Meloxicam is taken as a tablet or capsule. For people who cannot swallow a tablet or capsule, a compounding pharmacy can prepare meloxicam oral suspension for easier administration.

• Take this medicine as instructed.

• Do not take more than the prescribed dose.

• If you switch from tablets to capsules or capsules to tablets, the dose will change. Understand the difference and make sure to take the correct dose.

• Try to take the day’s dose at about the same time every day.

• To reduce gastrointestinal problems, take meloxicam with a meal or snack.

• Swallow the capsule or tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

• Oral liquid: Shake the bottle gently before use. Measure the liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup (not a kitchen measuring device).

• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one. Read it carefully and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of reach and out of sight of children and pets.

Meloxicam dosage FAQs

Meloxicam capsules vs. meloxicam tablets: What’s the difference in doses?

Meloxicam capsules are available as 5 and 10 mg, and the tablets are available as 7.5 and 15 mg. The two formats are not interchangeable. The maximum dose of meloxicam tablets is 15 mg. The maximum dose of meloxicam capsules is 10 mg. Dosage strengths have been adjusted so the pharmacology of each format produces the same maximum concentration in the blood. 

How long does it take meloxicam to work?

Meloxicam capsules reach their maximum effect faster than meloxicam tablets. The maximum effects occur about 2 hours after taking a meloxicam capsule and about 4–5 hours after taking a tablet. It may take up to a few weeks to notice the full benefit of this medicine.

How long does meloxicam stay in your system?

The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for half of the drug to be cleared from the body. Meloxicam is a long-acting analgesic with a long half-life. The body clears half a dose of meloxicam in 15 to 22 hours. It takes about 5 half-lives after the last dose to completely eliminate a drug from the body. So, it may take 3 to 5 days (after the last dose taken) to eliminate meloxicam from the body completely. After 3 to 5 days of taking daily meloxicam, the levels of meloxicam reach a steady state. This is the point at which meloxicam concentrations in the body are high enough to provide continuous benefits such as pain relief and joint mobility.

What happens if I miss a dose of meloxicam?

If a dose of meloxicam is forgotten, take it as soon as it’s remembered. Remember that only one dose of meloxicam should be taken daily. If it is almost time for the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Take the regular dose as scheduled. Do not take a double or increased amount to compensate for a missed dose. 

How long can you take meloxicam?

Meloxicam and other prescription NSAIDs should only be taken for the shortest possible period. Chronic use of prescription NSAIDs can cause severe side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, blood clots, and heart problems. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long you should take meloxicam. Generally, you can expect to take meloxicam anywhere from a week to a few weeks before therapy ends. However, some people may be given meloxicam for longer periods. Healthcare professionals will routinely monitor and test those patients for side effects. 

How do I stop taking meloxicam?

Stopping meloxicam does not cause withdrawal symptoms. When it’s time to quit, the drug can be discontinued immediately without a tapering dose. 

Meloxicam should be immediately stopped—and you should get emergency medical help— if there are signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, heart problems (chest pain, shortness of breath), skin reactions (blisters, rash), or a severe allergic reaction (hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, rapid drop in blood pressure).

What is the maximum dosage for meloxicam?

The maximum dosage for meloxicam tablets is 15 mg daily and 10 mg daily for meloxicam capsules. 

For children and adolescents, meloxicam tablets may be prescribed to those weighing more than 132 pounds. Meloxicam capsules are not approved for children and adolescents. 

Can you overdose on meloxicam?

A meloxicam overdose can result in drowsiness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and other side effects of meloxicam. Severe problems associated with a meloxicam overdose include gastrointestinal bleeding, high blood pressure, kidney failure, slowed breathing, and coma. If you think you or someone else took too much meloxicam, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or get emergency medical help.

What interacts with meloxicam?

Meloxicam has many serious drug interactions. The list of drugs to avoid when taking meloxicam is quite long. At the top of the list are other NSAIDs, including OTC NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen or a prescription NSAID like diclofenac. When combined, there’s an increased risk of serious side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, perforation, and bleeding problems. 

When taken with meloxicam or other prescription NSAIDs, blood thinners such as warfarin can also cause issues with meloxicam or other prescription NSAIDs. NSAIDs and anticoagulants interfere with blood clotting, so people taking both are at a higher risk of bleeding episodes and gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be life-threatening or cause death.

Some types of blood pressure drugs such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), and beta blockers may not work as well at controlling hypertension when taken with meloxicam, so healthcare professionals may prescribe a different pain reliever (or prescribe meloxicam and monitor blood pressure). Certain types of diuretics, such as furosemide, also don’t work as well at controlling fluid retention when taken with meloxicam.

Other drugs that healthcare professionals avoid combining with meloxicam include lithium, cyclosporine, and methotrexate, an immunosuppressant commonly prescribed to control rheumatoid arthritis.

What happens when you mix meloxicam and alcohol?

Do not drink when taking meloxicam. The combination increases the risk of gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain and bleeding. Even doing it once is risky. Doing it day after day can result in significant digestive system bleeding.

Is it safe to take meloxicam during pregnancy?

Meloxicam is sometimes prescribed cautiously in pregnant women before 20 weeks. The prescribing information advises limiting the use of NSAIDs between 20 and 30 weeks. After 30 weeks, healthcare providers advise pregnant patients not to use meloxicam. Meloxicam can cause kidney problems and other adverse events in a fetus. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Is it safe to take meloxicam while breastfeeding?

We don’t know. No research exists on whether meloxicam is secreted into breast milk or adversely affects a nursing baby. The decision to use or avoid meloxicam is between a mother and her doctor. A shorter-acting NSAID may be preferred. 

When is it not safe to take meloxicam?

Meloxicam should not be taken after a recent heart attack, or before or after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). People who have aspirin hypersensitivity or who have had an allergic reaction to any NSAID should not take meloxicam. Additionally, healthcare professionals generally avoid prescribing meloxicam to people with severe kidney problems or women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. They are also cautious about giving meloxicam to people with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or people with risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure.

How does meloxicam work?

Meloxicam and other NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. Cyclooxygenase helps make prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation. By blocking this enzyme, prostaglandin production is reduced, and symptoms of pain and swelling improve.

Related resources for meloxicam dosages:

• Meloxicam, Epocrates Online

• Meloxicam capsules FDA prescribing information, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Meloxicam drug summary, Prescribers’ Digital Reference (PDR)

• Meloxicam suspension FDA veterinary prescribing information, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Meloxicam tablets FDA prescribing information, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Pain management medications, StatPearls