Meloxicam Dosage Guidelines for Adults
The recommended dosage of meloxicam for adults is 7.5 mg once daily, which can be increased to a maximum of 15 mg once daily if necessary. 1
Standard Dosing Recommendations
- The initial recommended dose for adults is 7.5 mg once daily 1
- For patients requiring greater pain relief, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 15 mg once daily 1
- Elderly patients should generally remain at the 7.5 mg daily dose 1
- Meloxicam should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible to minimize adverse effects 2
Administration Guidelines
- Meloxicam can be administered as a single daily dose 3
- The medication can be taken with food, at bedtime, or with the main meal of the day to improve gastrointestinal tolerance 2
- There is no evidence supporting intermittent dosing schedules; once-daily dosing is the standard 3
Special Populations and Considerations
- For elderly patients (>59 years), the recommended dose is 7.5 mg daily to reduce risk of adverse effects 1
- Patients with renal impairment may require dose adjustment due to potential accumulation of metabolites 2
- Patients with increased gastrointestinal risk should consider using meloxicam with a gastroprotective agent 2
Safety Profile and Monitoring
- Meloxicam has a better gastrointestinal safety profile compared to some other NSAIDs like naproxen (750-1000 mg) and piroxicam (20 mg) 3, 4
- The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events at 7.5 mg daily has been shown to be comparable to placebo in some studies 5
- Common adverse effects include abdominal pain, dyspepsia, edema, and potential anemia 1
- Patients should be monitored for signs of gastrointestinal complications, cardiovascular effects, and renal function changes 2
Contraindications and Precautions
- Avoid combining meloxicam with other NSAIDs as this increases risk without providing additional benefit 2
- Use with caution in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, renal impairment, or history of gastrointestinal complications 2
- Despite its improved GI safety profile compared to some NSAIDs, meloxicam still carries the risks associated with the NSAID class, including cardiovascular and renal effects 2
Efficacy Considerations
- Meloxicam 7.5 mg daily has shown efficacy comparable to naproxen 750 mg in rheumatoid arthritis 6
- For osteoarthritis, doses of 7.5-15 mg daily have demonstrated significant improvement in pain and function compared to placebo 5
- Efficacy is typically evident after 2 weeks of treatment and is maintained with continued use 5