There are some pain-treatment drugs that are so effective, some people think they’re opiates. Meloxicam is one such drug. While known by some as a pain-treatment drug, others think meloxicam is an elixir.

Meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug and pain-treatment medication that, since 2000, has been prescribed to patients with mild and severe pain from arthritis.

Meloxicam has also been one of the most misunderstood drugs on the market. It has been sold illegally on the streets by dealers who’ve mistaken meloxicam for an opiate.

How could an FDA-approved paint-treatment medication be the source of so much confusion? Read on for all the facts about meloxicam.

What Class of Drugs is Meloxicam?

Meloxicam is a drug used to treat inflammation and arthritis. It is in the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and celecoxib (Celebrex). Meloxicam was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 13, 2000.

People who take meloxicam do so to treat chronic arthritic pain. As with any painkiller, meloxicam can have side effects. Consult your physician before going on meloxicam or any similar pain-treatment medication.

What is Meloxicam? Is it a Narcotic?

Meloxicam is a prescribed oral medication that your body absorbs for pain relief. It comes in tablet, fluid and sometimes chewable form. As a medicine used for pain treatment, meloxicam is not a sleeping aid or mood-enhancer (narcotic). Meloxicam is formulated to relieve severe pain so that people with arthritis can live happier, more comfortable and productive lives.

If prescribed meloxicam, you should take it once per day with an eight-ounce glass of water. If you take the medicine in liquid form, shake the bottle beforehand to ensure that the formula mixes properly. After each dosage, you should wait at least 10 minutes before you lie down.

Is Meloxicam Considered a Controlled Substance?

As an FDA approved medication, meloxicam is not a controlled substance in the conventional understanding of the term. It is not an illegal Schedule 1 drug like cocaine, heroin, speed and PCP. However, you must have a prescription to use meloxicam, so it is technically a controlled substance.

To get meloxicam, you must see a doctor first. If your treatment needs do meet the criteria and meloxicam doesn’t conflict with any preexisting health conditions or other medications that you might be taking, the doctor will prescribe you the drug.

You cannot legally obtain meloxicam from a street vendor or private dealer. If you do get meloxicam from an unauthorized source, the milligrams could exceed or fall short of your needed daily dosage.

If the milligrams exceed the limit, taking that supply of meloxicam could have dangerous side effects. If it falls short, you might feel no effects and be tempted to take two daily meloxicam doses and exceed the limit.

Is Meloxicam a Strong Painkiller?

As an NSAID medication, meloxicam acts as a pain killer that counterbalances inflammation in the body. Inflammation is caused by prostaglandins, a group of chemicals that cause pain in the joints. Meloxicam counteracts the enzymes (cyclooxygenase 1 and 2) that generate prostaglandins and lowers the number of existing prostaglandins in the affected joints.

Meloxicam is used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Anyone aged two-years-old and up may be prescribed meloxicam if diagnosed with arthritis. The two most common brands under which meloxicam is sold are Mobic and Vivlodex.

If prescribed meloxicam, stick to a daily time of consumption. If you start off taking the medication between noon and 1:00 pm, make that your time of day for meloxicam. As with any medication, meloxicam has its active period in the body and you need to keep your dosages timed and consistent to minimize inflammation and avoid potential overdoses.

Side Effects of Meloxicam and Other Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Some users may experience an upset stomach after taking meloxicam. To remedy this, take the medication on a full stomach or ingest the pill or fluid with a milk or protein shake. Do not exceed the dosage recommended on the label. Check in regularly with your doctor to determine the proper dosage and duration of your prescription.

In some cases, meloxicam and other anti-inflammation medications may increase a user’s risk of stroke or heart attack. This is especially true with older adults or anyone with a preexisting (or family history of) heart disease or other chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension. The chance of these risks is heightened through prolonged use of meloxicam.

You should stop using meloxicam and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects: heavy sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting (coffee-like), nausea, dizziness, pain in the jaws/chest, pain in the left arm, persistent stomach pain, bodily weakness, slurred speech, difficulty seeing, unusual stool (black, tar-like).

Your odds of experiencing the aforementioned side effects will increase exponentially if you abuse meloxicam and exceed the recommended dosage. You could be more prone to meloxicam side effects if you have a history of sinus symptoms, foot and ankle pain, liver or kidney problems, asthma, heart problems and hand swelling.

Another one of the side effects of meloxicam is that it acts as a blood thinner. If you take other blood-thinning medications like warfarin, you should not go on meloxicam. You shouldn’t mix meloxicam with aspirin because doing so could put you more at risk of a gastrointestinal ulcer.

Is Meloxicam Right for Me?

If you suffer from joint pain, speak with your doctor and undergo an examination for signs of arthritis. If your symptoms match the purpose of meloxicam and you don’t have other conditions that would make the drug dangerous, the doctor might write you a prescription. Meloxicam can be an effective anti-inflammatory drug but it’s not the only way to relieve arthritis pain.

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