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Is meloxicam helpful in gout treatment?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 27, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Meloxicam is effective in relieving pain and inflammation caused by gout.

Meloxicam belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). NSAIDs are frequently used to quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout episode and can shorten the attack, especially if taken in the first 24 hours.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood. The acid can form needle-like crystals in a joint and cause sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling.

The most common place for gout to develop is the ball of the big toe but other joints can be affected. It is unusual for gout to affect more than one or two joints at a time.

Meloxicam is a prescription medicine and should only be taken by the person for whom it is prescribed.

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Meloxicam is a once-daily non-steroid antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) that you can take by mouth at any time of the day. Try to take your medicine at the same time each day with food or a meal to help prevent an upset stomach. The manufacturer states you can take it with or without meals, but if it causes you stomach upset, you should take it with a meal. Take this medicine exactly as prescribed, at the lowest dose possible for your treatment, and for the shortest time period needed.
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At lower doses, meloxicam is more similar to Celebrex (celecoxib) than it is to other NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen, because it is relatively selective for the COX-2 enzyme. But at higher doses, even within the prescribed range, meloxicam can inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which may lead to side effects like stomach ulcers or bleeding. COX-2 selectivity is a dose-related effect. Continue reading

Many people find Voltaren Gel an effective way to relieve symptoms of gout, such as pain and swelling, and it is very fast acting. However, topical preparations such as Voltaren gel may not last as long as oral anti-inflammatories, such as diclofenac or ibuprofen. They will also not treat the underlying cause of gout, which is high uric acid levels. Not everybody has experienced relief with topical Voltaren gel, and if your pain persists, you should talk to your doctor or a pharmacist about alternative treatments. Continue reading

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