Melcam

Introduction
Melcam 15 is a pain relieving medicine. It is used for treatment of pain and inflammation in conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It provides relief from pain, swelling, and redness. Melcam 15 can be taken with or without food. The dose and duration will depend on what you are taking it for and how well it helps your symptoms. You should keep taking the medicine even if you feel better until the doctor says it is alright to stop using it. The most common side effects of this medicine include mild headache and dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. If any of these side effects persist or get worse, you should let your doctor know. Your doctor may be able to suggest ways of preventing or reducing the symptoms. Before using it, you should let your doctor know if you have a history of stomach ulcers, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and liver or kidney disease. Let your doctor also know about all the other medicines you are taking because they may affect, or be affected by, this medicine. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctors before using the medicine.

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Uses of Melcam 15
Pain relief
Side effects of Melcam 15
Common
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Nausea
Indigestion
Diarrhea
How to use Melcam 15
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Melcam 15 may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Melcam 15 works
Melcam 15 is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking the release of certain chemical messengers that are responsible for inflammation (pain and swelling).
What if you forget to take Melcam 15?
If you miss a dose of Melcam 15, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Quick Tips
Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems.
It can cause serious complications like stomach bleeding and kidney problems if taken for a long time.
Melcam 15 can raise your risk of blood clots, heart attack, or a stroke.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
Brief Description
Indication
Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis
Administration
May be taken with or without food. May be taken w/ meals if GI discomfort occurs.
Adult Dose
Oral Rheumatoid arthritis; Ankylosing spondylitis Adult: 15 mg daily as a single dose. Patients w/ increased risk of adverse effects: Initially, 7.5 mg daily. Acute exacerbations of osteoarthritis Adult: 7.5 mg daily up to max 15 mg daily as a single dose. Elderly: 7.5 mg daily for long-term treatment.

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Child Dose
Oral Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis Child: >2 yr 0.125 mg/kg once daily. Max: 7.5 mg daily.

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Renal Dose
Renal impairment: Mild to moderate: No dosage adjustment needed. Severe: Not recommended. Dialysis patient: 7.5 mg daily.

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Contraindication
Hypersensitivity to meloxicam, aspirin or other NSAIDs; severe hepatic impairment; bleeding disorders; renal failure without dialysis. Rectal admin in patients with proctitis, haemorrhoids or rectal bleeding.
Mode of Action
Meloxicam is an oxicam derivative which exhibits analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions. It reversibly inhibits the cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and -2) enzymes, thus resulting in reduced synthesis of prostaglandin precursors.
Precaution
History of GI disease, asthma, hypertension, CVD or risk factors, fluid retention or heart failure. Monitor patients with advanced renal disease. May impair ability to drive or operate machinery. Elderly. Pregnancy (avoid in the 3rd trimester) and lactation.
Side Effect
1-10% Indigestion (3.8-9.5%),Upper respiratory infection (<8.3%),Headache (2.4-8.3%),Diarrhea (1.9-7.8%),Nausea (2.4-7.2%),Abdominal pain (1.9-4.7%),Edema (0.6-4.5%),Anemia (<4.1%),Dizziness (1.1-3.8%),Constipation (0.8-2.6%),Angina (<2%),Congestive heart failure (<2%),Decreased platelet aggregation, purpuric disorder (<2%),Gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage (<2%),GI perforation, GI ulcer (<2%),Hepatitis (<2%),Hypertension (<2%),Inflammatory disorder of digestive tract (<2%),Myocardial infarction (<2%),Vomiting (<3%) <1% Anaphylactoid reaction,Angioedema,Fever,Asthma, bronchospasm,Cerebrovascular accident,Erythema multiforme, erythroderma,Immune hypersensitivity reaction,Interstitial nephritis, renal failure,Jaundice, liver failure,Stevens-Johnson syndrome,Tinnitus, hearing loss,Toxic epidermal necrolysis Potentially Fatal: Stevens Johnson syndrome, thrombocytopenia, interstitial nephritis and idiosyncratic liver abnormality. _ Pregnancy Category Note Pregnancy category: C; D in third trimester of pregnancy; drug should be avoided in late pregnancy Interaction Increased risk of severe GI effects w/ aspirin or warfarin. May antagonise antihypertensive effects of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. May reduce natriuretic effects of furosemide and thiazides. Enhanced toxicity of methotrexate. May increase plasma lithium concentration.