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Mobic is a prescription-only medication used to treat pain and inflammation. It is a branded version of meloxicam.
It belongs to a class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
It works by inhibiting the formation of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation — prostaglandins.
Mobic is available as an oral tablet, disintegrating tablet, or liquid suspension.
Mobic is a pain medication that can help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis (joint deterioration caused by wear and tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (swelling in the lining of the joint).
Mobic is sometimes used to treat ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis that mainly affects the spine).
The medication may also be prescribed for children over the age of two with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (a form of arthritis that affects young people).
Read the manufacturer’s printed information booklet inside the carton before taking Mobic. The booklet will tell you more about the medication and detail any possible adverse effects.
Mobic tablets come in the following strengths: 7.5mg and 15mg.
Your doctor will usually tell you to take a Mobic tablet once per day¹. Take the tablet whole with a glass of water and don’t lie down for 10 minutes. You can take your dose with a snack or meal to avoid an upset stomach.
If you are taking the liquid suspension, shake the bottle well and measure your dose using a special medical measuring device — not a household spoon.
If your doctor prescribed disintegrating Mobic tablets, first moisten your mouth with water, then remove the tablet from the box without wetting it. Let the pill melt slowly on your tongue for a maximum of five minutes before swallowing it with a glass of water. Do not chew or swallow the pill until it dissolves.
Take Mobic at the same time every day to help yourself remember to take your dose.
It may take up to two weeks² for you to experience Mobic’s full effects.
To get the most out of this drug, use it on a regular basis. Keep in mind that you should take it at the same time each day. If your condition gets worse, tell your doctor immediately.
Mobic can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Mobic.
The more common side effects that can occur with Mobic include:
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Indigestion or heartburn
Nausea
Dizziness
Itching or rash
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Mobic can also cause serious side effects. Seek urgent medical care if you develop any of the symptoms described below.
Symptoms include:
Chest pain or discomfort
Trouble breathing
Cold sweats
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or the area above your belly button
Symptoms can include:
Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg on one side of your body
Sudden confusion
Trouble speaking or understanding speech
Vision problems in one or both eyes
Trouble walking or loss of balance or coordination
Dizziness
Severe headache with no other cause
Symptoms can include:
Severe stomach pain
Vomiting blood
Bloody stools
Black, sticky stools
Symptoms can include:
Dark urine or pale stools
Nausea
Vomiting
Not wanting to eat
Pain in your stomach area
Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms unless it’s extremely high. Symptoms of extremely high blood pressure can include:
Dull headache
Dizzy spells
Nosebleeds
Symptoms can include:
Rapid weight gain
Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
Skin problems, such as blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
Symptoms can include:
Changes in how much or how often you urinate
Pain with urination
Fatigue
Blood in your urine
Long-term use of this drug may increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. Be especially careful if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.
Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Mobic before you start taking it regularly for a long period of time.
Take a missed dose of Mobic as soon as you remember. If your next dose is approaching, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule.
Don’t take two doses at once or too close together because this may lead to an overdose and unpleasant or serious side effects.
Potential side effects of Mobic overdose include:
Drowsiness
Nausea
Lethargy
Vomiting
Stomach ache
Bloody or tarry stools
Shortness of breath
Seizures
Coma
If you think you or someone else has taken too much Mobic, seek urgent medical care.
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Mobic (meloxicam) or any of its ingredients.
You should also make your doctor aware if you are allergic to any other drugs, including:
Sorbitol
Aspirin
Other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, or others)
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the following health conditions:
Asthma, especially if you have a stuffy or runny nose or nasal polyps (swelling of the nose lining)
Heart failure
Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Kidney disease
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, want to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding a child.
Tell your doctor that you are taking meloxicam if you are about to have surgery, including dental surgery.
If you have fructose intolerance (a genetic disorder in which the body lacks the protein required to break down fructose, a fruit sugar present in some sweeteners such as sorbitol), you should be aware that the oral Mobic solution contains sorbitol. If you have fructose intolerance, tell your doctor.
Talk to your doctor about the best way to stop taking Mobic.
Some people experience stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea when stopping Mobic treatment too quickly. These problems can be severe.
Your doctor may recommend decreasing the amount of Mobic you take slowly before stopping completely to prevent these adverse effects.
Don’t stop taking Mobic without the guidance of your doctor.
Using Mobic throughout your third trimester of pregnancy doubles your chances of having a negative pregnancy outcome³. Don’t use Mobic after 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Consult your doctor if you are pregnant. Mobic should only be taken during pregnancy if the possible benefit outweighs the potential risk.
If you’re trying to conceive, you should also consult your doctor. Meloxicam can induce a reversible ovulation delay. Don’t use meloxicam if you’re having trouble becoming pregnant or being tested for infertility.
Mobic does transfer into breast milk, so you should use this medication with caution while breastfeeding and only do so under your doctor’s guidance.
Mobic is known to interact with other drugs. This can increase the risk of side effects or make them worse. Some interactions are potentially dangerous.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take before starting Mobic treatment. Drug interactions can occur with both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Some common drug interactions include:
Other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin
Blood thinners, such as warfarin (Jantoven or Coumadin)
Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
Lithium (Lithobid)
Methotrexate (Trexall or Rheumatrex)
Cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins
Certain medications that lower blood pressure
If you are taking any of these medications, be especially careful when starting Mobic treatment. Check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to take the two medications together.
To avoid a severe allergic reaction, Mobic should not be taken if you have itchy skin, asthma symptoms, or an allergy to aspirin or other NSAIDs.
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to Mobic may include:
Trouble breathing
Swelling of your throat or tongue
Hives
Don’t take this drug again if you had an allergic reaction to it in the past. Taking it again could be fatal.
Mobic has been studied in clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy and safety when treating the following conditions:
Mobic was evaluated as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip in a 12-week, double-blind controlled trial. Researchers compared 3.75mg, 7.5mg, and 15mg daily doses of Mobic compared to placebo.
Trial participants taking 7.5mg and 15mg doses of Mobic showed significant improvement in terms of investigator’s global assessment, patient global assessment, patient pain assessment, and total WOMAC score (a self-questionnaire assessing pain, function, and stiffness) compared to those taking a placebo.
A 12-week, double-blind, controlled multinational trial evaluated the effectiveness of Mobic compared to placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Participants were given Mobic in 7.5mg, 15mg, and 22.5mg daily doses.
Those taking Mobic in daily doses of 7.5mg and 15mg showed significant improvement compared to those taking a placebo. The 22.5mg dose was not found to be more effective than the 15mg dose.
Here are some tips for taking Mobic safely and getting the best results:
Always follow your doctor’s advice carefully when taking Mobic. Never take this medication without professional medical guidance.
Drink plenty of fluids while taking Mobic, as dehydration can worsen side effects.
The drug works best when taken with food.
If you are having trouble swallowing Mobic tablets, you can dissolve them in water before drinking.
Tell your doctor about any side effects you experience when taking Mobic. Seek medical help if they continue or worsen, or if you develop any of the serious side effects listed above.
If you become pregnant while taking Mobic, inform your doctor immediately.
Sources
Use of meloxicam in pregnancy | UK Teratology Information Service
Other sources:
Meloxicam tablet | NIH: National Library of Medicine
Mobic - meloxicam tablet | NIH: National Library of Medicine
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Here at HealthMatch, we’ve done our best to ensure that the information provided in this article is helpful, up to date, and, most importantly, accurate.
However, we can’t replace the one-to-one advice of a qualified medical practitioner or outline all of the possible risks associated with this particular drug and your circumstances.
It is therefore important for you to note that the information contained in this article does not constitute professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or recommendation of treatment and is not intended to, nor should be used to, replace professional medical advice. This article may not always be up to date and is not exhaustive of all of the risks and considerations relevant to this particular drug. In no circumstances should this article be relied upon without independent consideration and confirmation by a qualified medical practitioner.
Your doctor will be able to explain all possible uses, dosages, precautions, interactions with other drugs, and other potential adverse effects, and you should always talk to them about any kind of medication you are taking, thinking about taking or wanting to stop taking.
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