Meloxicam

Meloxicam, sold under the brand name Mobic among others, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis.^[10][11] It is taken by mouth or given by injection into a vein.^[11][12] It is recommended that it be used for as short a period as possible and at a low dose.^[11]

Common side effects include abdominal pain, dizziness, swelling, headache, and a rash.^[11] Serious side effects may include heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and stomach ulcers.^[11] Use is not recommended in the third trimester of pregnancy.^[11] It blocks cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) more than it blocks cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1).^[11] It is in the oxicam family of chemicals and is closely related to piroxicam.^[11]

Meloxicam was patented in 1977 and approved for medical use in the United States in 2000.^[11][13] It was developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and is available as a generic medication.^[11] In 2022, it was the 29th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 18 million prescriptions.^[14][15] An intravenous version of meloxicam (Anjeso) was approved for medical use in the United States in February 2020.^[16][12] Meloxicam is available in combination with bupivacaine as bupivacaine/meloxicam and in combination with rizatriptan as meloxicam/rizatriptan.