Meloxicam in the management of post-operative pain: Narrative review.

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Bekker A, Kloepping C, Collingwood S

Meloxicam in the management of post-operative pain: Narrative review.

J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Oct-Dec;34(4):450-457. doi: 10.4103/joacp.JOACP_133_18.

PubMed ID

30774225 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Oral formulations of meloxicam, a preferential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, have long been used to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as various pain syndromes of skeletomuscular origin (e.g., low back pain). However, these preparations are rarely indicated for the treatment of acute pain due to a poor dissolution rate and consequently a slow onset of action. The recent introduction of an intravenous (IV) NanoCrystal Colloidal Dispersion formulation opens up the possibility of using this drug during the perioperative period. The present review summarizes the pharmacologic properties of meloxicam, including its pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and tolerability. In addition, we critically examined a number of recently completed clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of meloxicam IV in the treatment of post-operative pain. Literature retrieval was performed through PubMed and Medline (through March 2018) using combinations of the terms meloxicam, acute pain, and pharmacology. In addition, bibliographical information, including contributory unpublished data, was requested from the company developing the drug. Clinical trials suggest that single IV doses of 30 mg meloxicam significantly reduce post-operative pain as well as opioid requirements. We conclude that meloxicam IV is an effective and well-tolerated analgesic agent for the management of moderate to severe post-operative pain.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Meloxicam

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Meloxicam	Prostaglandin G/H synthase 1	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Inhibitor	Details
Meloxicam	Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Meloxicam	Cytochrome P450 2C9	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate	Details

Drug Carriers

Drug	Carrier	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Meloxicam	Serum albumin	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Not Available	Details