What side effects can I expect while taking Mobic?

The most common side effects of Mobic are gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Mobic and other NSAIDs work by decreasing the body’s production of prostaglandins. This is likely related to meloxicam’s anti-inflammatory activity.

How does Mobic differ from other NSAIDs?

Mobic is a long-acting NSAID, which means it can be taken once daily. Other shorter-acting NSAIDs need to be taken more frequently, up to four times per day.

Mobic (Meloxicam) Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages

What Is Mobic?

Mobic (meloxicam) is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve the symptoms of pain and swelling (inflammation) that occur with inflammatory conditions. It is used in osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Mobic is available as a tablet, capsule, and liquid suspension.

Drug Facts

Generic Name: Meloxicam

Brand Name(s): Mobic

Drug Availability: Prescription

Therapeutic Classification: Analgesic

Available Generically: Yes

Controlled Substance: N/A

Administration Route: Oral

Active Ingredient: Ibuprofen

Dosage Form(s): Tablet, capsule, suspension

What Is Mobic Used For?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Mobic to treat symptoms associated with:

Osteoarthritis (OA): A common type of arthritis in which cartilage, the flexible tissue that allows bones in a joint to glide over each other, breaks down
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in patients 2 years of age and older

Verywell / Zoe Hansen

How to Take Meloxicam

Take meloxicam with food or milk to decrease the chance of stomach upset. You can take meloxicam at any time of day.

Storage

Store meloxicam tablets, capsules, and oral suspension (liquid) at room temperature, and keep tablets in a dry place.

Off-Label Uses

Healthcare providers sometimes prescribe Mobic off-label for non-FDA-approved conditions that it has shown to be effective in treating.

Off-label uses of Mobic include:

Cancer pain
Gout
Pain associated with sickle cell anemia

How Long Does Mobic Take to Work?

It can take up to two weeks before you feel the full effects from taking Mobic.

What Are the Side Effects of Mobic?

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects associated with Mobic include:

Gastrointestinal (GI) upset, including diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence
Upper respiratory tract infection
Dizziness

Severe Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

GI bleeding, ulcer, or perforation
Cardiovascular complications such as heart attack or stroke
Body fluid retention and edema
Allergic skin reactions
Liver toxicity, including symptoms such as:
Nausea
Fatigue
Lethargy
Pruritus (itchy skin)
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Right upper abdomen pain
“Flu-like” symptoms

Boxed Warning

Mobic's prescribing information contains a boxed warning (the FDA’s most stringent warning for drugs on the market) for both serious cardiovascular and gastrointestinal (GI) events. These risks are higher in people who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease and in adults aged 65 years or older.

Long-Term Side Effects

Prolonged use of NSAIDs, including meloxicam, may cause elevated blood pressure (hypertension) and reduce the effectiveness of some medications used to treat high blood pressure. NSAIDs also may increase the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, such as cardiovascular thrombotic (clotting) events, heart attacks, and strokes. The risk is greater with prolonged use and for those with existing heart disease.

Report Side Effects

Mobic may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your provider may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).

(800) 332-1088

Dosage: How Much Mobic Should I Take?

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (capsules):
- For osteoarthritis:
  - Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 10 mg per day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For oral dosage form (disintegrating tablets):
- For juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:
  - Children 2 years of age and older and weighing 60 kilograms (kg) or more—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 7.5 milligrams (mg) once a day.
  - Children younger than 2 years of age and weighing less than 60 kg—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:
  - Adults—At first, 7.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 mg once a day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For oral dosage forms (suspension or tablets):
- For juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:
  - Children 2 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 0.125 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight once a day. Your doctor may increase the dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 7.5 mg once a day.
  - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis:
  - Adults—At first, 7.5 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 mg once a day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Modifications

You should limit the use of NSAIDs, including Mobic, between about 20 to 30 weeks of pregnancy due to the risk of oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid) and fetal kidney dysfunction.

You should also avoid taking meloxicam at 30 weeks of pregnancy and beyond because it can cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus (a normal fetal artery that closes shortly after birth) in the fetus.

It is not known if Meloxicam can be passed through human breast milk. Because of the lack of information, another NSAID may be preferred for a breastfeeding person. Ibuprofen is a suitable alternative NSAID that is considered compatible with breastfeeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Mobic, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose regularly. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Mobic?

Severe toxicity and death after overdosing on meloxicam and other NSAIDs is rare. After an NSAID overdose, most people do not have any symptoms or have only mild GI upset (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain). Large overdoses can be treated with activated charcoal at the hospital.

What Happens If I Overdose on Mobic?

If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Mobic, call your healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).

If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking Mobic, call 911.

911

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may increase your risk of having a heart attack, blood clot, or stroke. This is more likely to occur in people who already have heart and blood vessel disease and who are using this medicine for a long time. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, slurred speech, or weakness.

Meloxicam may cause bleeding in your stomach or bowels. This problem can happen without warning signs. This is more likely to occur if you or your child have had a stomach ulcer in the past, if you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, if you are over 60 years of age, are in poor health, or are using certain other medicines (eg, steroids, blood thinner).

Liver problems may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having more than one of these symptoms: abdominal or stomach pain or tenderness, clay-colored stools, dark urine, decreased appetite, fever, headache, itching, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, swelling of the feet or lower legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, troubled breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Serious side effects can occur during treatment with this medicine and can occur without warning. However, possible warning signs often occur, including severe stomach pain, black tarry stools, vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, skin rash, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs. Also, signs of serious heart problems could occur such as chest pain, tightness in the chest, fast or irregular heartbeat, or unusual flushing or warmth of the skin. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child notice any of these warning signs.

Meloxicam may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Although this is rare, it may occur often in patients who are allergic to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. The most serious signs of this reaction are very fast or irregular breathing, gasping for breath, or fainting. Other signs may include changes in skin color of the face, very fast but irregular heartbeat or pulse, hive-like swellings on the skin, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes. If these effects occur, get emergency help at once. Ask someone to drive you to the nearest hospital emergency room. Call an ambulance, lie down, cover yourself to keep warm, and prop your feet higher than your head. Stay in that position until help arrives.

Serious skin reactions can occur during treatment with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you or your child are using this medicine.

Using this medicine during the later part of a pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause a delay in ovulation for women and may decrease sperm count in men, which can affect their ability to have children. If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.

Tell your doctor if you have unexplained weight gain or edema (fluid retention or body swelling) with this medicine.

Mobic® oral liquid contains sorbitol which may cause a very serious bowel problem when taken with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate®). Do not take the oral liquid together with Kayexalate® .

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Mobic?

People who have had asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs should avoid Mobic.

Do not use Meloxicam for pain control following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, as it may increase heart attack and stroke risk.

People with a prior history of GI bleeding or ulcer disease are at increased risk of serious GI complications with meloxicam.

With this medication, people with heart disease or risk factors are at increased risk of serious heart complications. They should weigh risks versus benefits with their healthcare provider.

What Other Medications Interact With Mobic?

Several drugs can interact with Mobic when used together, including:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics: Mobic may reduce the effectiveness of these medications.
Lithium: Meloxicam increases the blood concentration of lithium when taking both medications. Lithium takers should monitor for signs of lithium toxicity when Mobic is started, adjusted, or stopped.
Aspirin: When taken together, aspirin can increase blood levels of meloxicam and increase the risk of GI ulceration. Mobic is not a substitute for low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular prevention.
Methotrexate: Meloxicam can decrease the clearance of methotrexate from the body, increasing the risk of toxicity. Closely monitor for signs of methotrexate toxicity when this combination is used.
Cyclosporine: When taken with cyclosporine, meloxicam and other NSAIDs can increase kidney toxicity.
Warfarin: The combination increases the risk of serious GI bleeding.
Prednisone: The combination increases the risk of GI ulceration.

It is also not recommended to use Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) with Mobic, as it may potentially cause intestinal necrosis, a serious and sometimes fatal condition caused by reduced blood flow to the GI tract.

What Medications Are Similar?

Drugs that are similar to meloxicam and also belong to the NSAID family include:

Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Naproxen
Indomethacin
Diclofenac
Sulindac
Celecoxib

These medications differ in their relative potency, duration of action, and risks of GI toxicity.

In most cases, people should take only one NSAID at a time. Many continue low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular prevention when taking another NSAID, though this increases the risk of GI side effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mobic used for?

Mobic is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug primarily used to relieve symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
What side effects can I expect while taking Mobic?

The most common side effects of Mobic are gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
How does Mobic work?

Mobic and other NSAIDs work by decreasing the body’s production of prostaglandins. This is likely related to meloxicam’s anti-inflammatory activity.
How does Mobic differ from other NSAIDs?

Mobic is a long-acting NSAID, which means it can be taken once daily. Other shorter-acting NSAIDs need to be taken more frequently, up to four times per day.

How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Mobic?

Take the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible to decrease the risk of serious GI complications from meloxicam. Be alert to symptoms that may indicate GI bleeding or ulcers, such as epigastric pain and blood in vomit or stool.

If you need to take meloxicam long-term, speak with your healthcare provider about adding a medication to prevent gastric ulcers.

Medical Disclaimer

Verywell Health's drug information is meant for education purposes only and not intended as a replacement for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare professional. Consult your doctor before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.