Some recent studies show that taking meloxicam in the morning or early afternoon has the potential of working to its best with reduced side effects compared to taking it at night. This has something to do with our circadian rhythm, which peaks during the day (active time), so meloxicam has better chances of working well. In the evening, you might be at risk of adverse effects. Meloxicam is a strong NSAID that a doctor should administer. If you see any allergic reaction or severe side effects, immediately see your healthcare provider.
Meloxicam is a very well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Usually recommended to patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children ages 2 years and older. As an NSAID, it helps the patients reduce their pain, inflammation, joint pain, and fever and is prescribed by the doctors.
This drug is available in various forms for patients and is prescribed by the doctor as you should be consuming it. Although the dosage and form are prescribed, sometimes certain patients feel that this drug works better when taken during the day instead of at night.
Meloxicam has side effects if not taken by prescription. But if there were to be a choice between day and night, this NSAID works better when taken in the morning. Let’s see how.
Correct way to take meloxicam
We know meloxicam is an NSAID prescription drug. Before we jump into the different ways, you can take it and the correct way to take it, you should be aware of the different forms of this drug.
Meloxicam drug comes in three forms: oral tablet, injection, and oral capsule. Now, various factors will decide your doctor’s prescription of a particular form of meloxicam.
These include:
- The type and severity of the condition you’re using meloxicam to treat
- Your age
- The form of meloxicam you take
- Other medical conditions you may have
The meloxicam oral tablet is available as the brand name drug Mobic and is also available as a generic drug. Usually, generic drug costs less than the brand-name drug. Usually, they’re prescribed with others or alone to treat mild to moderate pain.
Depends on your condition and the dosage your doctor needs to prescribe to you if it’s available in a generic drug; otherwise, you’ll have to depend on the brand drug.
Dosage
Dosage is an essential factor that needs to be considered and paid particular attention to before wondering when’s the right time to take meloxicam. Dosage also is critical in determining when to take this drug.
Since meloxicam has many adverse effects and several warnings, your doctor will start you off with a small effective dose, and it’ll then be adjusted to reach the desired dosage, and by then, your body will be slowly used to this drug.
| Form | Strength | |
| Meloxicam (generic) | Oral tablet | 7.5 mg, 15 mg |
| Mobic (brand) | Oral tablet | 7.5 mg, 15 mg |
Both generic and brand-name drugs are similar in form and strength. Usually, one oral tablet is suggested, but the prescription will differ depending on the aforementioned factors.
Benefits of taking meloxicam during the day
Sometimes the doctor prescribes taking a dosage of meloxicam once a day. You can choose to take it in the morning or at night. But people have reported that taking meloxicam at night doesn’t work as effectively for them as it does during the day.
In fact, a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports says that taking Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAID) during the daytime might be preferable as it works better in reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling.
An NSAID like meloxicam might work better when taken during the day rather than at night because of our body clock and circadian rhythm. This clock affects pain, with sensitivity peaking during the active phase during the day.
So, maximum absorption and effectiveness are achieved when the drug is administered during the active phase when we are awake.
Other clinical studies have shown that choosing the time of the day to administer an NSAID can utilize its potential to the fullest while reducing its side effects.
When taken in the morning or early afternoon, these drugs exert a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but not in the evening. In the evening, you might be at risk of witnessing adverse effects such as indigestion, stomach ulcers, and acute kidney problems.
Considerations when taking meloxicam
Meloxicam tablets or capsules will be prescribed by your doctor based on what you’re suffering from. The dosage will also be recommended based on how high the pain level is.
The issue with meloxicam is that some of this drug should always be present in your body to work the right way. This is one particular drug that has received a lot of precautions and warnings. You can’t overdose or underdose it because repercussions will be extreme.
You have to stick to the dosage recommended by your doctor and take it when it’s recommended. Also, let your doctor know of your medical history and any other medical condition you’re suffering from.
This will help make your doctor a better decision about the correct dosage. Meloxicam can also interact with various other drugs and lead to many side effects such as severe stomach pain, vomiting, and others.
If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as possible. If you’re closer to the next dosage, don’t take it. Just take the next one on time.
If you take two dosages at a time to catch up with the prescription, then you might face a serious adverse effect or allergic reaction.
This also makes us wonder when is the right time to take meloxicam. As we have seen, it’s better to take this NSAID like any other in the morning as it works better this way and also has lesser adverse effects on our health.
FAQs
How long does it take meloxicam to work for arthritis?
In the beginning, your doctor will start you off with a small dosage and increase it gradually so your body can adapt to this NSAID. A small amount of meloxicam is supposed to be present in your body, and that’s why it takes about two weeks for this medication to start working correctly.
In the beginning, you might be able to notice small changes in your swelling, pain, and inflammation, but it usually takes a bit longer to notice a bigger change in these symptoms.
Is weight gain a side effect of meloxicam?
Weight gain and loss are uncommon symptoms of taking meloxicam. But fluid retention is, in fact, a common side effect, reported in 0.6% to 4.5% of people taking it. Fluid retention is not treated can lead to cardiovascular problems and further lead to congestive heart failure.
One thing that happens with fluid retention is an involuntary rise in body weight. So, if you see some weight gain, it could affect fluid retention. Visit your doctor immediately.
Can I drink coffee while taking meloxicam?
Avoid taking coffee with meloxicam as it can lead to some adverse effects. Coffee, tea, energy drinks, or soft drinks contains caffeine which can react with the medication.
Coffee also contains chemicals called tannins. Tannins can bind to many medications and decrease how much medicine your body can absorb.
What are the worst side effects of meloxicam?
Some severe side effects include heart attack, chest pain, stroke, stomach, and intestinal problems, liver damage, increased blood pressure, water retention, skin problems, or kidney damage like dark urine.
It’s essential to be aware of any symptoms which might indicate you’re suffering from severe side effects by taking this medication. Immediately refer to your healthcare provider to get your condition treated right away.
What should you not take with meloxicam?
Meloxicam can have drug interactions with several medications you might be on currently. Some of the drugs it can interact with include antidepressants or anxiety pills, corticosteroids, cancer drugs, transplant drugs, bipolar disorder pills, blood pressure pills, etc.
Being an NSAID, it can interact with other NSAIDs, including aspirin, ibuprofen, or any blood thinners. So, let your doctor know about your medical history and any medications you’re currently on for a better prescription.
Which is safer meloxicam or ibuprofen?
Meloxicam is a strong painkiller and shouldn’t be taken without consulting a doctor. But there have been studies showing that acute kidney injury is higher in patients treated with ibuprofen than in meloxicam.
Meloxicam might be safer on kidneys, with fewer effects on blood flow to the kidneys.
To summarize
Meloxicam is a strong NSAID that works well for patients who have arthritis (osteoarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis). It helps in reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling but at the same time has the potential of adverse effects on patients on this drug.
But one thing is for sure: there have been studies showing how it’s better to take meloxicam during the day or early afternoon. It shows a lot of potential in working to its fullest when taken in the morning compared to night with reduced adverse effects.
The critical thing to remember is to take the correct dosage prescribed by your doctor. Never take it without a prescription, and make sure you don’t overdose on it just because you missed taking it one time. If you see any side effects and the potential of having serious adverse effects, then immediately see your healthcare provider.
