Care should be taken when using the drug in patients who have a history of esophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer, as well as patients who are on anticoagulant therapy. In such patients, the risk of ulcerative-erosive gastrointestinal diseases is increased. Gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcerative-erosive disease of the gastrointestinal tract or its perforation due to the use of NSAIDs can be absolutely sudden, without anamnestic prerequisites, and be fatal to the patient. The risk of such events increases with an increase in the dose of NSAIDs; it is also higher in patients with history of a history of ulcerative erosion, especially with bleeding or perforation, as well as in elderly patients. Such patients should begin treatment with the lowest therapeutic doses. Consideration should be given to assigning patients to the risk group, as well as patients taking low dosages of acetylsalicylic acid, combined therapy with misoprostol or proton pump inhibitors. Care should be taken to monitor any unusual reactions from the gastrointestinal tract in these patients, especially at the beginning of treatment, so as not to miss serious side effects (especially bleeding).Care must be taken in patients taking medications that increase the risk of erosive ulcerative lesions and bleeding:
- heparin;
- anticoagulants (eg, warfarin);
- other NSAIDs (including acetylsalicylic acid in doses of at least 1 g at a time or at least 3 grams per day.
If, during treatment with meloxicam, the patient has bleeding from the digestive tract, immediately discontinue the drug.
Caution should be used to prescribe NSAIDs for patients with gastrointestinal ailments in history (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).
Care should be taken to monitor patients with a history of high blood pressure and / or congestive heart failure of mild and moderate severity, as there are reports of fluid retention and swelling in the use of NSAIDs. It is necessary to control blood pressure in such patients before treatment, and also at the beginning of therapy with meloxicam. There is evidence that the use of NSAIDs, especially in high doses and for a long time, may be associated with a slight increase in the risk of developing arterial thrombosis (for example, in the form of myocardial infarction or stroke).All risks should be weighed carefully before starting treatment with meloxicam in patients with uncompensated hypertension, congestive heart failure. Particular caution should be exercised in the appointment of meloxicam in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, confirmed by coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and disorders of cerebral circulation. It is also necessary to evaluate the risks associated with the appointment of a long course of treatment for patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking).
Very rare cases of serious (including fatal) adverse reactions on the part of the skin when applying NSAIDs, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis. Most of these reactions occur within the first month after the start of treatment. It should immediately stop the use of meloxicam at the first signs of skin rashes, damage to the mucous membranes or any manifestations of hypersensitivity.If a patient develops Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis with meloxicam, treatment with this drug should be immediately discontinued and should not be resumed under any circumstances.
In the application of meloxicam, as well as other NSAIDs, there have been isolated cases of increased serum transaminase activity, bilirubin concentration and changes in other parameters of liver function, as well as an increase in the concentration of creatinine, urea nitrogen in the blood, and other laboratory indicators. Most of these changes are mild and transient. If the laboratory deviations are significant and long-lasting, then meloxicam should be discontinued and the patient should be examined.
In connection with the inhibition of vasodilation caused by prostaglandin of the kidneys, NSAIDs can cause functional renal failure due to a decrease in glomerular filtration. This effect of NSAIDs is dose-dependent. Should carefully monitor diuresis and renal function at the beginning of treatment with NSAIDs and after increasing the dose in patients with the following risk factors:
- elderly age;
- combined therapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II, derivatives of sartan, diuretics;
- hypovolemia; - chronic heart failure;
- kidney failure;
- nephrotic syndrome;
- lupus nephropathy;
- serious impairment of liver function (serum albumin <25 g / l or expression ≥ 10 on the Child-Pugh scale).
In rare cases, NSAIDs cause interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis, renal medullary necrosis or nephrotic syndrome. In patients with end-stage renal failure or hemodialysis, the dose of meloxicam should not exceed 7.5 mg.
Patients with impaired renal function of mild and moderate severity (creatinine clearance 30-60 ml / min) dose adjustment of meloxicam is not required.
Taking NSAIDs can cause sodium, potassium and water retention in the body and weakening of the natriuretic effect of diuretics. There may also be a decrease in the antihypertensive effect of drugs used to treat hypertension. In this regard, some patients may develop or develop edema, heart failure and hypertension.It is necessary to ensure thorough medical supervision of patients at risk.
Hyperkalemia can worsen in diabetes mellitus, as well as in the appointment of combination therapy with drugs that increase the concentration of potassium in the blood. In such cases, the concentration of potassium in the blood should be monitored regularly.
Adverse reactions are often worse tolerated by elderly or weakened patients, so they need special attention. As with other NSAIDs, elderly patients are more likely to have liver, kidney and heart failure, so they need special control. In addition, this age group of patients increased the incidence of such adverse reactions with NSAIDs, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation of ulcers that can lead to death.
Meloksikam, as well as other NSAIDs, can mask the symptoms of infectious diseases.
The use of meloxicam, as well as other drugs blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins, can affect fertility, so it is not recommended for women who want to become pregnant.