Meloxicam is a painkiller that belongs to the class of medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This medication works to reduce pain by inhibiting the formation of certain proteins that lead to inflammation and pain. It also works to reduce fevers through the same mechanism.
Originally developed to help treat arthritis, studies have shown that taking meloxicam for pain related to this medical condition is generally quite effective. It is more specific in which enzymes it inhibits than some other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. This means that using meloxicam to relieve pain can give equal or superior effects when compared to other NSAIDs, along with fewer side effects. Individuals can take less of this medication to achieve a pain-relieving effect equal to larger doses of similar drugs. In many cases, it does not upset patients’ stomachs as much as other NSAIDs.
One of the reasons taking meloxicam for pain is often recommended may be due to the way it concentrates in different bodily fluids. Like many drugs, this medication collects readily in blood plasma and circulates throughout the body. It also is able to concentrate in the synovial fluid that surrounds joints, however, which many painkillers do not do. This is thought to be one reason why it is more effective than other NSAIDs for reducing arthritis pain.
Acute coronary syndrome can cause pain and life-threatening complications, and inflammation is one way that it persists. Some doctors use meloxicam for pain as well as to reduce inflammation associated with this condition. Studies have shown that combining meloxicam with other medications like heparin and aspirin is far more effective at reducing pain and swelling from this disorder than simply using heparin and aspirin alone. Additionally, this medication provided substantial benefits for people with acute coronary syndrome, since it reduced the rates of complications, including myocardial infarction, better known as a heart attack, angina, or chest pain, and even death.
Those using meloxicam for pain should be aware that there are some side effects that can result from taking this medication. The chances of stomach and intestinal distress from using this drug are somewhat lower than with other NSAIDs, given that it effects enzymes in the stomach differently. In large doses, however, it can still cause ulcers and stomach bleeding, as well as headaches. Patients that have black stool after taking meloxicam should contact their doctor immediately, since this can be a sign of intestinal bleeding.