Meloxicam for pain and inflammation

What is meloxicam?

Anti-inflammatory painkillers like meloxicam are also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or sometimes just 'anti-inflammatories'. Meloxicam eases pain and swelling (inflammation) in long-term conditions like דלקת מפרקים שגרונית ו ankylosing spondylitis, but it may also be used for a shorter period of time in אוסטיאוארתריטיס.

Meloxicam works by blocking the effect of natural chemicals called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. These enzymes help to make other chemicals in the body, called prostaglandins. Some prostaglandins are produced at sites of injury or damage, and cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the effect of COX enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are produced, which means pain and inflammation are eased.

Some medicines such as meloxicam are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking meloxicam, it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• אם יש לך אסתמה או כל הפרעה אלרגית אחרת.

• אם אי פעם היה לך כיב קיבה או כיב בתריסריון, או אם יש לך מחלת מעי דלקתית כמו מחלת קרוהן או קוליטיס כיבית.

• אם את בהריון, מנסה להיכנס להריון או מניקה.

• אם יש לך בעיות בכבד או בכליות.

• אם יש לך מצב לב או בעיה בכלי הדם או במחזור הדם.

• אם יש לך לחץ דם גבוה.

• אם יש לך רמות סוכר בדם או כולסטרול גבוהות.

• If you are a smoker.

• אם אי פעם היו לך בעיות בקרישת דם.

• If you have systemic lupus erythematosus. This is an inflammatory condition which is also called lupus or SLE.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as as herbal and complementary medicines.

• אם אי פעם הייתה לך תגובה אלרגית לכל NSAID אחר (כגון אספירין, איבופרופן, דיקלופנק ואינדומטצין), או לכל תרופה אחרת.

• Before you start taking meloxicam, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about the tablets and provide a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking them.

• Take meloxicam exactly as your doctor has told you to. The usual dose is one tablet a day. You will be prescribed either 7.5 mg tablets or 15 mg tablets.

• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

• Take each dose with a snack or just after eating a meal and drink plenty of water whilst on meloxicam.

• If your doctor has prescribed melt-in-the-mouth (orodispersible) tablets:

  • Moisten your mouth first, taking a sip of water if needed.

  • Remove the tablet from the packaging, taking care not to moisten it.

  • Place the tablet on your tongue and allow it to dissolve slowly. This should take about five minutes.

  • After five minutes drink a large glass of water and swallow the dissolved tablet.

  • Do not chew the tablet or swallow it before it has dissolved.

• Try to take your doses at the same time each day, as this will help you to remember to take them.

• If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember along with something to eat. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Your doctor will try to prescribe you the lowest dose for the shortest time to reduce the risk of side-effects. Your doctor may also want to prescribe another medicine for you to take along with meloxicam to protect your stomach from irritation.

• נסה לשמור על הפגישות הקבועות שלך עם הרופא. זה כדי שהרופא יוכל לבדוק את ההתקדמות שלך.

• If you have asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness can be made worse by anti-inflammatories like meloxicam. If this happens to you, you should stop taking the tablets and see your doctor as soon as possible.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with an anti-inflammatory like meloxicam.

• אם אתה עובר ניתוח או טיפול שיניים, אמור לאדם שמבצע את הטיפול אילו תרופות אתה נוטל.

Along with their useful effects, meloxicam alongisde most 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.

חשוב: if you experience any of the following uncommon but possibly serious symptoms, stop taking meloxicam and contact your doctor for advice straightaway:

• אם יש לך קשיי נשימה כמו צפצופים או קוצר נשימה.

• אם יש לך סימנים כלשהם לתגובה אלרגית כמו נפיחות סביב הפה או הפנים, או פריחה מגרדת בעור.

• If you pass blood or black stools, vomit blood, or have tummy (abdominal) pains.

אם אתה חווה תסמינים נוספים שלדעתך עשויים להיות כתוצאה מתרופה זו, פנה לרופא או לרוקח שלך.

• שמור את כל התרופות מחוץ להישג ידם וראייתם של ילדים.

• יש לאחסן במקום קריר ויבש, הרחק מחום ואור ישיר.

• Keep the tablets in their original packaging.