Meloxicam Risks

Meloxicam is a type of generic prescription medication known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. The drug works by interfering with the production of chemicals known as prostaglandins, which contribute to inflammation. Despite its effectiveness at relieving paid associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children, meloxicam poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Cardiovascular Events

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like meloxicam pose a risk for potentially fatal cardiovascular complications, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. These include the formation of blood clots, stroke, heart attack and the onset of heart disease. The risk of having a serious cardiovascular problem increases with long-term use of meloxicam or taking the drug at high doses. Because of this, your doctor is likely to only prescribe the drug as long as your symptoms persist; meloxicam is rarely used to prevent pain from returning.

Hypertension

• Some patients develop hypertension or high blood pressure while taking meloxicam, cautions the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Additionally, the use of meloxicam often makes diuretic medications used to treat high blood pressure like furosemide less effective, resulting in high blood pressure levels in patients with the condition. Left untreated, hypertension has the potential to cause serious health complications, including damage to your blood vessels, decreased kidney functioning, aneurysms and memory loss, reports the Mayo Clinic. Due to these risks, your doctor is likely to check your blood pressure levels regularly throughout your treatment with meloxicam regardless of whether you have a history of hypertension or not.

Gastrointestinal

• Meloxicam poses a risk for severe gastrointestinal irritation, which can result in the formation of ulcers in your stomach or intestines, sudden intestinal bleeding or a perforation or hole in your intestines. These effects occur in 1 percent of patients who take the meloxicam for three to six months and in 2 to 4 percent of patients who take the drug for more than one year, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Renal

• Long-term use of meloxicam has the potential to cause adverse effects on your kidneys, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Possible complications include decreased urine production and kidney failure. Patients at the highest risk for developing renal side effects from meloxicam are those with a history of kidney or liver dysfunction or heart disease, or patients taking medications for hypertension. In most cases, kidney dysfunction returns to normal with discontinuation of the drug.

Anaphylaxis

• Infrequently, patients develop anaphylactic reactions due to a hypersensitivity to the ingredients in meloxicam. Signs of this potentially life-threatening allergy include anxiety, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, hives, sneezing, a runny nose, skin redness or heart palpitations. Patient with asthma or a history of allergic reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are at the greatest risk for these reactions, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Dermatological

• Although rare, meloxicam has the potential to cause severe skin reactions in some patients, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. As these conditions are sometimes fatal, stop taking meloxicam and seek medical attention if you develop any type of rash.