NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.
APO-MELOXICAM CAPSULES
Capsules
Meloxicam
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about meloxicam. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking meloxicam against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
Meloxicam is used to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions mainly affect the joints, causing pain and swelling.
How it works
Meloxicam belongs to a group of medicines called non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines work by relieving pain and inflammation.
Although meloxicam can relieve symptoms of pain and inflammation, it will not cure your condition.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for children under the age of 18 years.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if you have an allergy to:
meloxicam
aspirin or any other NSAIDs
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
rash, itching or hives on the skin
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or other parts of the body
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
Do not take this medicine if you have any of the following medical conditions:
coronary artery bypass graft surgery
heart disease with shortness of breath, and swelling of limbs due to fluid build-up
bleeding disorder, including from the stomach or gut
stroke resulting from a bleed in the brain
galactose intolerance
peptic (stomach) ulcer
inflammation of the lining of the stomach or bowel (e.g. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
severe liver or kidney problems
Do not take this medicine if you are taking certain medicines known to inhibit an enzyme in the body called CYP2C9 (e.g. fluconazole or sulfamethoxazole).
Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medicine
Meloxicam may pass into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, food, preservative or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
heart disease
high blood pressure
fluid retention
diabetes
high cholesterol
serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrosis or exfoliative dermatitis
heartburn, indigestion, ulcers or other stomach problems
kidney or liver disease
asthma or any other breathing problems.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are using an IUD (intrauterine device) for birth control.
Meloxicam is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider meloxicam during your pregnancy, your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it.
NSAID medicines, like meloxicam, may also decrease the effectiveness of IUDs.
Tell your doctor if you have an infection.
Meloxicam may hide some of the signs of an infection. This may make you think, mistakenly, that you are better or it is not serious.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking this medicine.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and meloxicam may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAIDs
medicines used to thin your blood (e.g. warfarin, heparin and ticlopidine)
medicines used to treat high blood pressure and other heart problems (e.g. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists and diuretics). When taken together these medicines can cause kidney problems.
lithium, used to treat some types of depression
antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
methotrexate, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some types of cancer
pemetrexed, used to treat some types of lung cancer
cyclosporin, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain immune system problems
terfenadine and astemizole, used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of allergy
type of contraceptive known as an IUD
medicines to treat diabetes
cholestyramine, used to treat high cholesterol levels
corticosteroids, used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as skin rash and asthma
some medicines used to treat infections (e.g. erythromycin, sulfur antibiotics, ketoconazole, itraconazole
some medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats (e.g. amiodarone and quinidine)
These medicines may be affected by meloxicam or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take this medicine
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Osteoarthritis
The usual dose of meloxicam is one 7.5 mg capsule taken once a day.
Your doctor may increase this dose to one 15 mg capsule taken once a day if needed.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The usual dose of meloxicam is one 15 mg capsule taken once a day.
Your doctor may reduce this dose to one 7.5 mg capsule taken once a day.
The maximum recommended daily dose of meloxicam is 15 mg.
For patients with kidney problems undergoing dialysis, the maximum recommended daily dose is 7.5 mg.
How to take it
Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.
When to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
Take your medicine with or after food.
This may help reduce the possibility of stomach upset.
How long to take it for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose (e.g. within 2-3 hours), skip the dose you missed and take the next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much meloxicam. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
nausea and/or vomiting
headache
drowsiness and/or dizziness
blurred vision
fits or seizures
low blood pressure
difficulty in breathing
impaired consciousness
kidney failure
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
If you are about to start any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking this medicine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
Meloxicam can slow down blood clotting.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor if you get an infection while taking this medicine.
Meloxicam may hide some of the signs of an infection, such as pain, fever, redness and swelling. You may think, mistakenly, that you are better or that the infection is not serious.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not take this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking this medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Not all of the following side effects have been reported with meloxicam but have been seen with similar medicines.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
stomach upset including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, belching, cramps or pain
headache
‘flu’-like symptoms, runny or blocked nose, cough, sore mouth or throat, discomfort when swallowing
constipation, diarrhoea or wind
dizziness or light-headedness
skin rashes, which may be caused by exposure to sunlight, can blister and may take on the appearance of a severe burn
increase in blood pressure
tinnitus (ringing of the ear)
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
blurred vision
any change in the amount or colour of your urine (red or brown) or any pain or difficulty experienced when urinating
collapse or fainting, shortness of breath or tiredness, fast or irregular heartbeat (also called palpitations), chest pain, swollen or sore leg veins
severe pain or tenderness in the stomach
severe dizziness
flaking of the skin
yellowing of the skin and eyes (known as jaundice)
swelling of your ankles, legs or other parts of your body
signs of anaemia (such as tiredness, being short of breath and looking pale)
These are rare but serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
If any of the following happen, stop taking your medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
bleeding from your back passage (rectum), black sticky motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may make swallowing or breathing difficult
asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
sudden or severe itching, skin rash or hives
weakness in one part or side of your body, slurred speech, blurred vision or visual disturbances
flu-like symptoms, followed by irritation of your mucous membranes (e.g. lips, mouth, eyes or genitals) and a painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters.
These are rare but very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects, not listed above, may occur in some people.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a windowsill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What APO-Meloxicam looks like
7.5 mg capsule
Light green/Light green, size ‘2’ hard gelatin capsules filled with light yellow coloured granules. AUST R 181191.
15 mg capsule
Light green/Light yellow, size ‘2’ hard gelatin capsules filled with light yellow coloured granules. AUST R 181194.
They are available in blister packs of 10, 20, 30 and 100 capsules.
Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each capsule contains either 7.5 mg or 15 mg of the active ingredient meloxicam.
In addition, each capsule also contains the following inactive ingredients:
lactose monohydrate
maize starch
sodium citrate dihydrate
magnesium stearate
brilliant blue FCF
gelatin
quinoline yellow (15 mg only)
sunset yellow FCF
titanium dioxide
This medicine is gluten-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Apotex Pty Ltd
16 Giffnock Avenue
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
APO and APOTEX are registered trademarks of Apotex Inc.
This leaflet was last updated in May 2020.
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