Meloxicam Leads to Few GI Complications

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Meloxicam Leads to Few GI Complications

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 04 - The use of the non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam is associated with a low incidence

of upper gastrointestinal complications, according to pooled data from more

than 24,000 patients.

" Our study showed that meloxicam 7.5 mg per day had a better GI safety

profile than diclofenac, piroxicam and naproxen, " lead investigator Dr.

Gurkipal Singh told Reuters Health. " At a 15-mg per day dose, it was

statistically better than piroxicam. "

Dr. Singh of Stanford University School of Medicine, California and

colleagues came to this conclusion after performing a meta-analysis of 28

NSAID studies involving 24,196 patients. Most were followed for up to 60

days. The findings appear in the July 15th issue of the American Journal of

Medicine.

In total 10,158 patients received a daily dose of meloxicam 7.5 mg, 2960

received 15 mg, 5283 were given diclofenac 100 mg, 181 received diclofenac

150 mg, 5371 got piroxicam 20 mg, and 243 received naproxen 500 mg twice

daily.

Patients given meloxicam 7.5 mg had a 0.03% risk of serious upper

gastrointestinal events. This was significantly lower than the risk with any

of the other agents (p < 0.02). However, at 15-mg per day, meloxicam was

only significantly safer than piroxicam.

The risk of thromboembolic complications in patients given either dose of

meloxicam was lower than that with diclofenac, but similar to the risk with

piroxicam and naproxen.

The researchers conclude that meloxicam appears to have a favorable GI

safety profile. However, they also point out that " only a small number of

patients were followed for more than 60 days. "

Meloxicam is sold under the brand name Mobic by Boehringer-Ingelheim

Pharmaceuticals Inc., which sponsored the study.

Am J Med 2004;117:100-106.