Can you take 30 mg of meloxicam?

In this article:

• Meloxicam dosing options
• Risks and side effects

In this article

• Meloxicam dosing options
• Risks and side effects

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This prescription medicine is used to reduce pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults, as well as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in patients 2 years and older or >60 kg in weight).

It is not safe to take 30 mg of meloxicam oral tablets, as 15 mg once daily is the maximum recommended dosage, and taking more constitutes an overdose, which increases the risk of possible side effects.

Meloxicam dosing options

Meloxicam (formerly known as brand name Mobic) is available in 7.5 mg and 15 mg tablets. Meloxicam is available in other oral dosage formulations, including 5 mg and 10 mg capsules, and oral suspension (7.5 mg/5 mL). It is also available as an intravenous injection (Xifyrm) (30 mg/mL).

30 mg of meloxicam oral tablet is not safe. The maximum recommended dosage of a meloxicam oral tablet is 15 mg once daily. “A 30 mg daily dose of oral meloxicam is not indicated or supported for any reason,” says Colin Edgerton, MD, board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology with Low Country Rheumatology Articularis Healthcare Group.

“This dose (30 mg) represents twice the maximum allowed daily adult dose of 15 mg and would be dangerous. This dose is likely to increase potential side effects and adverse events such as gastrointestinal side effects to include bleeding, cardiovascular events to include heart attack and stroke, and kidney damage,” Dr. Edgerton says.

However, for the meloxicam injection, known as Xifyrm, the recommended dosage is 30 mg/mL once daily, administered intravenously by your healthcare provider. Xifyrm is used to manage moderate and severe pain, alone or in combination with other NSAIDs.

Generally, the safest way to use meloxicam is to take the lowest effective dose for a short period of time, depending on the treatment goal.

The appropriate dosage depends on various factors. This may include age, for instance, lower doses of meloxicam are recommended in older patients. This is because they have a higher risk of kidney problems and liver disease, which affects how the medication is metabolized. 

Other considerations that affect dosage include the indication (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) and its severity, drug interactions, medical history, and physiological changes (including lactation, pregnancy, or impaired heart, liver, or kidney function). “Individuals with reduced kidney function should receive lower doses, or potentially may not be able to safely take the medication. I advise patients to always receive counseling from their prescribing physician, who knows their individual risks best,” Dr. Edgerton says. 

Meloxicam is not recommended in pregnancy from 30 weeks and later in gestational age. Patients with heart disease may be at greater risk of side effects such as myocardial infarction/heart attack (decrease in blood flow to the heart), and thrombotic events (formation of blood clots in the blood vessels)—with long-term use of meloxicam. Avoid using meloxicam if you have severe heart failure or edema, or aspirin-sensitive asthma or other allergic reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. 

Dosage variations depending on your condition

The dosage of meloxicam varies depending on the severity of the condition being treated, risk factors, and dosage formulation. For tablets, the adult dose is 7.5 mg to 15 mg once daily. For capsules, the adult dose is 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. And for children weighing >60 kg, the typical dose is 7.5 mg once daily.

The standard dosage of meloxicam is displayed in the table below:

Indication	Recommended dosage	Maximum dosage
Osteoarthritis	7.5 mg once daily	15 mg once daily
Rheumatoid arthritis	7.5 mg once daily	15 mg once daily
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (>60 kg)	7.5 mg once daily	7.5 mg once daily

Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the joints, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It often affects the joints of the knees, hips, spine, and hands, and may hinder movement.

The recommended dosage of meloxicam tablets for adults with osteoarthritis is 7.5 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may increase the dosage to 15 mg once daily if they determine that the benefits of higher doses outweigh their risks. Alternatively, a provider may prescribe the capsule form that is typically dosed 5 mg once daily for managing osteoarthritis pain. The meloxicam capsule dose may be increased to 10 mg once daily if greater pain relief is needed.

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning it occurs when your immune system malfunctions and attacks the linings of your joints. It mainly affects the joints in the knees, ankles, and hands. Sometimes, the disease may extend to other parts of the body, such as the eyes, lungs, and circulatory system.

The typical dosage of meloxicam tablets for adults with rheumatoid arthritis is 7.5 mg once daily, but may be increased to 15 mg daily by your healthcare provider depending on the severity of your condition.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis 

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis common in kids and teenagers and affects the joints of the hands, knees, ankles, and elbows.

Here, the meloxicam dose typically depends on the child’s weight. The recommended dose is 7.5 mg for children who weigh 60 kg and above. For children at least 2 years of age who weigh less than 60 kg, more precise weight-based dosing is used. Meloxicam oral suspension is recommended in these children to help with dosing accuracy as the recommended dose is 0.125 mg per kg once daily, up to a maximum of 7.5 mg. Measuring devices like oral syringes or dosing spoons are best to use for accurate measurements of liquid prescription drugs. 

Meloxicam 30 mg risks and side effects

Clinical trials found that increasing the dose of meloxicam to 22.5 mg or higher may be associated with a greater risk of serious GI events. “With 30 mg or more of meloxicam there is a risk of gastrointestinal inflammation, irritation, bleeding, and a negative impact on renal function,” says Norman B. Gaylis, MD, FACP, a rheumatologist based in Miami, Florida.

Other examples of possible side effects from too much meloxicam (overdose) include lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, intestinal perforation (hole in the intestine), stomach ulcer, and epigastric pain (pain in the middle of the upper abdomen, between your ribs and belly button). 

Meloxicam overdose may also be associated with other serious side effects, such as high blood pressure, acute kidney failure (symptoms include swelling in legs or ankles, dehydration, less urine), drug-induced liver damage (symptoms include itching, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea), coma, and shortness of breath. If you experience any such side effects, seek immediate medical attention or call your local emergency number.

Keep in mind that you are at greater risk of side effects if you use meloxicam daily and for a longer time.

Discuss dosage options with your healthcare provider

Before taking meloxicam, it is best to seek medical advice from your doctor. They will recommend the appropriate dose for your condition, monitor you to see if you need to increase or reduce the dose, and manage any adverse effects that occur. 

For example, meloxicam may trigger serious skin reactions such as exfoliative dermatitis (skin peeling), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) (painful blisters and lesions on the skin and mucous membranes), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (severe, life-threatening blistering and peeling of the skin and mucous membranes). If you notice any rash on use, discontinue the medication and contact a healthcare professional immediately, because such skin reactions are life-threatening. To be on the safer side, read the drug information that comes with your medication and talk with your pharmacist to learn all you need to know about meloxicam and reduce your chance of side effects.