Meloxicam

Do not take Meloxicam if you are allergic to Meloxicam or any of its ingredients. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided during the treatment with Meloxicam as it may lead to increased risk of liver damage. Patients with stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, severe heart failure, high blood pressure, and liver or kidney disease should not take Meloxicam. Besides this, it should be avoided during the last trimester of pregnancy unless the doctor has prescribed you. If you have a severe allergy to painkillers and have conditions like asthma, rhinitis, angioedema (swelling under the skin), or skin rashes, immediately stop taking Meloxicam.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Meloxicam is known to interact with ACE inhibitors (captopril, enalapril, losartan), antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, vancomycin), anticoagulants (apixaban, dabigatran, heparin, warfarin), antidepressants (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine), antifungals, (voriconazole), beta-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol), diuretics (chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide), HIV medications (tenofovir), other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) (diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, naproxen).

Drug-Food Interaction: Alcohol should not be consumed while being treated with Meloxicam.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Meloxicam is known to interact in people with asthma, liver/kidney problem, peptic ulcer, gastric bleeding, severe heart failure, anaemia, and high blood pressure.

• Include more glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin D, calcium-enriched supplements. Besides this, turmeric and fish oils can help in reducing inflammation in the tissue.
• Do not go for heavy exercise as it may increase your joint pain in arthritis. Instead, you can do stretching, low impact aerobic exercises like walking on a treadmill, bike riding, and swimming. You can also strengthen your muscle strength by lifting light weights.
• In the chronic conditions of arthritis or joint pain, try to include fish like salmon, trout, tuna, and sardines. These fishes are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids that minimize the level of a chemical called cytokines, which ramp up inflammation.
• Your sitting posture is important, especially when you have pain and inflammation conditions. Try to sit little as possible, and only for a short time (10-15 min). Use back support like a rolled-up towel at the back of your curve to minimize pain. Keep your knees and hips at a right angle. Besides this, you can use a footrest if required.

• Meloxicam has the tendency of causing stomach upset. Thus, it is recommended to consume Meloxicam with meals to minimize gastric side effects. If you have a diagnosis of peptic ulcer, Meloxicam is best avoided unless prescribed by your doctor.
• Meloxicam can cause liver injury when taken in large doses. Concomitant use of alcohol is best avoided as it aggravates liver toxicity.
• In case you develop diarrhoea or vomiting when taking Meloxicam, consult your doctor about the continuation of Meloxicam as it can increase dehydration and can lead to kidney damage.
• Although Meloxicam provides symptomatic relief in conditions like arthritis and may reduce the inflammation caused by these conditions, to achieve the best results, it is strongly recommended to remain physically active as much as your condition allows. Adopting a healthy lifestyle coupled with a healthy diet containing high proteins is the mainstay of managing arthritic conditions.