Melorex (Meloxicam 15mg)

Melorex general information

What is Melorex used for?

Melorex tablets 15mg are used for short-term treatment of osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative joint disease, where the cartilage around the bone is worn away, most commonly in the hands, feet, hips and spine.  Melorex tablets 15mg are also used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory joint disease (where the immune system attacks self), where the lining of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed and the bone becomes eroded; also ankylosing spondylitis, which affects the spine and causes certain vertebrae to become fused.  Melorex tablets 15mg help relieve symptoms of arthritic joint disease including, pain, inflammation, stiffness and swelling of the affected joints, resulting in reduced or lost mobility, but Melorex tablets 15mg will not cure the disease.  Melorex tablets 15mg should only be used when other medications have not provided sufficient pain relief or are unacceptable due to side effects.  

How does Melorex work?

Melorex tablets 15mg contain meloxicam which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the enolic acid group and is a powerful anti-inflammatory with analgesic (pain relief) and antipyretic (fever reducing) properties.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg works by blocking the production of specific chemicals called prostaglandins (PG) that mediate inflammation.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg is a specific inhibitor of the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) that is induced during the inflammation process and is responsible for the synthesis of inflammatory prostaglandins like PGE2, which causes pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg has no effect on the cyclooxygenase 1 enzyme (COX-1) that is needed for normal cellular processes.  Inhibition of COX-1 is responsible for the gastrointestinal side effects of non-selective NSAIDs.  Specific and selective inhibition of COX-2 by meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg reduces inflammation and helps relieve symptoms of chronic inflammatory bone diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, including pain, swelling, and joint stiffness.   

What does Melorex contain?

Melorex tablets 15mg contain the active ingredient meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve symptoms of painful chronic inflammatory bone diseases.  They also contain colloidal anhydrous silica, pregelatinised starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium citrate dehydrate.

Treating arthritis with Melorex

Melorex tablets 15mg contain meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to relieve painful symptoms of inflammatory arthritic joint diseases like osteoarthritis, a degenerative bone disease often associated with wear and tear of the joints due to aging, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory joint disease.  Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are chronic degenerative bone diseases in which the joints become inflamed, swollen and painful.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg is a specific inhibitor of the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) that is induced during the inflammation process and is responsible for the synthesis of inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins (PG), particularly PGE2.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg helps relieve the pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation by inhibiting the action of COX-2, thereby blocking the production of inflammatory prostaglandins.  This action reduces pain and inflammation, and improves the functional use of the arthritic joint.

Melorex for pain and inflammation

Melorex tablets 15mg contain meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat painful symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis that cannot be relieved by other medications.  Meloxicam in Melorex tablets 15mg specifically inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and this action blocks the production of chemicals called prostaglandins (PG), particularly PGE2, which cause pain and inflammation.  Melorex tablets 15mg help reduce symptoms of inflammation, including pain, swelling, and joint stiffness that are associated with arthritic diseases of the joints. 

What are the side effects of Melorex?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Melorex tablets 15mg include, dyspepsia (indigestion), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, diarrhoea, headache.

When should Melorex not be used?

You should not use Melorex tablets 15mg if you:

• are allergic to meloxicam, aspirin or any other NSAID or any ingredients in Melorex
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have or have had an ulcer, gastric bleeding or any other bleeding disorders
• have active inflammatory bowel disease
• have had a heart attack, stroke or have uncontrolled heart failure
• are taking medicines that interact with Melorex including other NSAIDs, aspirin, anticoagulants like warfarin, oral corticosteroids, the antifungal drug fluconazole, diuretics like furosemide, SSRIs and lithium for depression, antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists for high blood pressure, methotrexate for cancer treatment, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, cholestyramine for high cholesterol, antiplatelets medications like ticlopidine, intrauterine devices for contraception

What medications interact with Melorex?

Several medications interact with Melorex tablets 15mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Melorex or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase risk of ulcers and bleeding with Melorex: other NSAIDs, aspirin and oral corticosteroids, antiplatelets medications like ticlopidine, SSRIs for depression
• Drugs that can cause a serious reaction with Melorex: the immunosuppressant cyclosporine
• Drugs that affect Melorex: cholestyramine for high cholesterol
• Drugs that are affected by Melorex: diuretics like furosemide, antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists, lithium for depression, methotrexate for cancer treatment, intrauterine devices for contraception

How should Melorex be taken?

You should take your Melorex tablets 15mg with a glass of water once daily with food, immediately after a meal.  The dose you take and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and as recommended by your doctor, which may be for a few days, several weeks or longer.  Your doctor may increase your dose, depending on your response. 

How long should you take Melorex?

You should continue to take your Melorex tablets 15mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, as it will not cure your condition but will help relieve your symptoms.

Missed dose of Melorex

If you miss a dose of Melorex tablets 15mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Melorex be stored?

You should store your Melorex tablets 15mg below 25°C in a cool dry place and protect from direct sunlight or heat.