Mobic

Mobic is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause pain, fever, and inflammation in the body.

Mobic is used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis (arthritis caused by a breakdown of the lining of the joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis caused by swelling of the lining of the joints).

Mobic is also used to relieve the pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (a type of arthritis that affects children) in children 2 years of age and older.

Take Mobic exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the lowest effective dose for your condition.

If you use Mobic long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.

Store Mobic tablets at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Mobic can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term or take high doses, or if you have heart disease. Even people without heart disease or risk factors could have a stroke or heart attack while taking this medicine.

Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.

Mobic may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using this medicine, especially in older adults.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of stomach bleeding such as black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as they also increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Mobic can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Avoid taking Mobic after a recent heart attack, unless your doctor tells you to. You may have an increased risk of another heart attack if you take this medicine after a recent heart attack.

Mobic may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using meloxicam, especially in older adults.

You should not use Mobic if you are allergic to meloxicam, or if you ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.

To make sure Mobic is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke;
• a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
• ulcers or stomach bleeding;
• asthma;
• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
• liver disease; or
• fluid retention.

If you are pregnant, you should not take Mobic unless your doctor tells you to. Taking an NSAID at about 20 weeks of pregnancy or later may harm your unborn baby. If you need to take this medicine for more than 2 days when you are between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may need to monitor the amount of fluid in your womb. You should not take Mobic after about 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Mobic may cause a delay in ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). You should not take Mobic if you are undergoing fertility treatment, or are otherwise trying to get pregnant.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Mobic tablets are not approved for use in children weighing less than 132 lb (60 kg).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Mobic (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, leg swelling, feeling short of breath.

Meloxicam may cause serious side effects. Stop using Mobic and call your doctor at once if you have:

• the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion);
• swelling or rapid weight gain;
• signs of stomach bleeding - bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• low red blood cells (anemia) - pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed, cold hands and feet; or
• kidney problems - little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.

Common Mobic side effects may include:

• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn;
• diarrhea, constipation, gas;
• dizziness; or
• cold symptoms, flu symptoms.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis:

Oral Tablets: -Initial dose: 7.5 mg orally once a day -Maintenance dose: 15 mg orally once a day in patients requiring additional analgesia -Maximum dose: 15 mg orally once a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Oral Tablets: -Initial dose: 7.5 mg orally once a day -Maintenance dose: 15 mg orally once a day in patients requiring additional analgesia -Maximum dose: 15 mg orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: 2 years or older: Oral Tablets: Weight: 60 kg or greater: 7.5 mg orally once a day -No additional benefit has been demonstrated with doses above 7.5 mg/day. Comments: -Oral formulations have not shown equivalent systemic exposure and are not considered interchangeable -The oral tablets should not be used in children who weigh less than 60 kg.

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Drinking alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Avoid taking aspirin while you are taking Mobic, unless your doctor tells you to.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using other medicines for pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu symptoms. They may contain ingredients similar to Mobic (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen).

Ask your doctor before using Mobic if you take an antidepressant. Taking certain antidepressants with an NSAID may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• cyclosporine;
• lithium;
• methotrexate;
• pemetrexed;
• sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate);
• a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
• heart or blood pressure medication, including a diuretic or "water pill"; or
• steroid medicine (such as prednisone).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with meloxicam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.