Meloxicam and Headaches: What Users Say

• Ree...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "I was started on 15 mg tablets, 1 per day for foot, ankle, and hip osteoarthritis. I had minimal nausea at first, then felt okay for about a week with great pain relief, but then side effects kicked in. I was very nauseous and had headaches 6 out of 8 days. I was exhausted by evening and slept a lot. I took the pill as directed, with food. I just discontinued it. So disappointed, because it really reduced pain."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2012

Meloxicam for Inflammatory Conditions "I have been taking Mobic for 4 years now. Having a herniated bulging disc, it helped me so much. I had an operation (laminectomy) to cut away part of the disc. 2 years later after the op, I have the same problem again along with nerve pain. Without Mobic, I couldn't walk. I also take Oxycontin to relieve all pain. I hear all stories about how Mobic damages your liver, etc. I've tried twice to come off it, but straight away the pain is severe along with headaches."

• Jam...
• August 19, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "I've been on it for three days for pain and inflammation due to osteoarthritis. The side effects are bad, and I cannot wait for it to be out of my system. I have experienced a severe headache, dizziness, back pain, bloating, anxiety, and insomnia."

• jlo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2017

Meloxicam for Osteoarthritis "Mobic seemed to work great to reduce my arthritis pain. However, it gave me a headache, and my other MD said Prozac can't be taken with Mobic because both increase the risk of gastric bleeding, etc. Also, it gave me shortness of breath. I thought it reduced my pain, but my doc says arthritis pain comes and goes, so maybe not. Be careful if you also take an antidepressant - many don't react well with Mobic."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2020

For Inflammatory Conditions "Was prescribed this medication due to a possible spinal injury to help reduce the swelling to keep me comfortable until the official diagnosis. The 7.5 mg helped some; the 15 mg helped so much more. Unfortunately, the side effects are too much, and I’ll be asking my doctor for over-the-counter options. I have been completely spaced out since starting it; feeling like I’m high. I’ve also experienced stomach pains, bad headaches, dizziness, and just all around not normal. I definitely don’t recommend this medication."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was prescribed this by my doctor for my swollen knee after receiving my first cortisone injection. I started noticing I was always dehydrated. I was okay with that because it relieved the swelling in my knee, but then the headaches started. It was dull at first, but always in the bottom right side of my head. They progressively got worse. Within a week of my first dose, I had to stop taking it. It took three days before the headaches stopped. Never will I take that again."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "Used to control inflammation from psoriatic arthritis and spondylitis. Was switched from Celebrex, which was giving me headaches, afternoon severe fatigue, and a brain fog. Mobic/meloxicam does not provide as much pain relief as the Celebrex, but it definitely takes the edge off. It does not zap my energy, and I can get many things done. I am not laying around anymore, I almost seem ADD-like. I have some insomnia, where I wake up after about 5 hours of sleep. Some days I do feel a little edgy and snappish, but overall this med is helping me function."

• Hap...
• March 2, 2010

Meloxicam for Osteoarthritis "I have had awful foot pain for over 10 years and have tried many medicines. My doctor suggested Mobic, and it did wonders for my pain. I have been on it for 5 days now and cannot believe the difference it has made. I can now walk without shuffling around because of pain. Side effects are mild for now. I have a light headache from time to time and ear pressure. Hope that improves. I take 7.5 twice a day since 15 seemed to make side effects worse. A nice surprise every time I get up to walk and feel little or no pain."

• Div...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "Went to the doctor with neck and lower back discomfort, he said something about the sciatica nerve, etc., etc. Said I was fine and was giving me an anti-inflammatory. Asked him to check my blood pressure, which was fine. Later, I filled the prescription at the pharmacy. Came home, there was no pamphlet in the box for the medication at all, just the pills. I took one at around 9 pm, and within an hour, my heart was racing, my left arm felt weird, I had awful gas, was dizzy, and felt totally weird. I started to Google and found out what this medication was and all about the side effects. (I’m not allergic to anything and have never had side effects.) Not that I take much, but on the odd occasion of needing meds, all has been fine. Had the worst night, barely slept, slept a bit in the AM, have an awful headache in the morning. Palpitations and gas subsided somewhat, but I realize this must be a slow-release pill, so effects will last a while. Never, ever again will I take this. Worst experience ever."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2019

For Inflammatory Conditions "I am 28 years old, and I've been suffering from post-chikungunya arthropathy for the past 2 months and been on complete bed rest with pain in my lower back, SI joints, both ankles and knees, and migrating pain in my shoulders and hands depending on how I use them (usually, things like lifting my phone will cause me pain). I've tried HCQ and indomethacin with no significant improvement, so I was started on meloxicam 15mg. I took it only once and developed extreme dizziness, nausea, and a crushing headache within 1 hour. I didn't have any joint pain, but my head felt like it was about to explode, and I had difficulty breathing. This effect lasted for 1 full day, and I will never touch meloxicam again. I will say it was effective at tackling joint pain in a way that no other medicine I'd tried had, but this dizziness was so disorienting and scary that I'd rather take the joint pain any day. If you're starting meloxicam, please be aware of the severe side effects - to be used only as a last resort!"

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking this for about three weeks. To begin with, the pain seemed reduced, and I noticed a larger range of movement with hands and knees. However, the side effects by the third week were ringing in my ears, nausea, and sometimes headaches upon waking, gastrointestinal pains, diarrhea, and even weird bladder (similar to UTI). Discontinuing use and letting my Dr. know."

• Jar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "This drug did nothing to stop the pain in my back or peripheral joints from ankylosing spondylitis. I had bad headaches with confusion when taking this, which is why I stopped taking it and now take Naprosyn, and it works way better."

• Kat...
• August 17, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "Doctor prescribed this medication due to inflammation from plantar fasciitis. 15 mg once a day. Read all the literature about this drug. It was great at relieving the pain in my heel. However, after only one dose, I had dizziness and a pounding headache. Also got heartburn even though I took it on a full stomach. I also felt my heart racing and got pressure in my ears, most likely due to it raising my blood pressure. Definitely not worth all that as I had a TIA 8 years ago. The instructions to doctors say to use the lowest dose for the shortest period of time. Should have been given 7.5 and not for 2 months."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "My doctor prescribed for back/shoulder/neck pain. 7.5 mg. It helped tremendously with the pain, but the headaches were horrible and my 5 ft frame that weighed 115 ballooned to 127 lbs. I tossed it after that."

• Joh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2025

For Inflammatory Conditions "Meloxicam was prescribed to me 15 years ago for a very rare and short-lived inflammatory condition. I noticed while on it that all of my other pains disappeared. I now keep a supply around at all times but only take it occasionally and when needed. If, for example, my lower back acts up and sciatica kicks in, or I strain my shoulder and get an impingement, or my osteoarthritic fingers stiffen up badly, or my left knee does that thing it does sometimes... (yes, I'm 58!), then I take a 15 mg dosage once a day for two or three days. By the third day, I feel half my age! While I'm on it, however, I have constant ringing in the ears and a mild but annoying headache. When I stop taking it after two to three days, usually whatever problem I was having has now become much more manageable, and the headache disappears soon enough. In order to curb the stomach upset, I always take it with a small dose of omeprazole."

• Eli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

For Pain "I was having knee pain and some swelling in my knee. My orthopedic prescribed meloxicam. I took only 1 pill, 15 mg, and not only did it keep me up all night, I had horrible nightmares and woke up with my head feeling heavy. This is the worst medication I have ever taken. He prescribed 30 pills, well, the rest of the 29 are in the garbage."

• ohr...
• April 11, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "I take this for neck, shoulder pain, and pinched nerve. Great med when taking regularly, but my doctor won't refill again until I go see him for a checkup. I started trying to not take as much, or sometimes none. Having pain in my teeth and head. Have no idea what is going on, but wonder if this med makes you worse when getting off of it. Does it make your nerves more sensitive? I will go for that checkup soon."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2022

For Pain "I was prescribed meloxicam for shoulder pain. It worked okay, but I started getting a mild headache. I continued to take it until day 7. I woke up extremely dizzy, as if the room was moving. After a few minutes, I was able to stabilize myself. I stood up and felt unbalanced and just felt different, similar to having a head cold but with a certain uneasiness. It is 12 hours later, and I still feel a bit out of sorts and tossed the meloxicam."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "I am a 31-year-old female with rheumatic valvular disease. I recently had my joints become achy and inflamed to the point where I'd spend most days in pain and was unable to go back to work for the last few months. Was only suggested krill oil (which I still have not tried yet) and Panadol initially. My GP then suggested Mobic. I am on the generic version Moxicam, and it took about a week to come right, but most of my aches in my joints are gone. Still a little rusty now and then, but overall really happy with the outcome. I take one 15 mg tablet every night after dinner and have been on it for almost a month. Side effects not applicable as my weight fluctuates and I get cramps and headaches regardless of meds."

• Ker...
• January 16, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "Was put on Meloxicam on Friday (1/12/18) after receiving a diagnosis of lipedema. Due to having bipolar and anxiety, I am VERY careful about going on new meds that could potentially affect my mental health negatively. I ask my doctor, pharmacist, and check Drugs.com and my app for any possibility of it causing problems. Well, both my doctor and my pharmacist said, “no problem.” My app said, “no problem.” But I did NOT read everything Drugs.com had to say, and now here I am, 3 doses later, 2 horribly traumatic nightmares stuck in my head, I’ve been feeling a bit depressed (on and off) the last day or 2, and a severe headache!! Guess who is NOT taking tonight’s dose or any others, ever again?"

• Pie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "I had it for tendinitis. It just made it worse. Even six doctors only described more and more of it. After 4 months of using, I put it away. I still have headaches, and my veins can be seen all over my body. This is poison. Never use it."

• RZa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I took one 7.5 mg pill at 8 a.m., and at 4 p.m. I started getting a headache, felt nauseous, and had serious stomach problems. The side effects really scared me."

• Mel...
• January 11, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "Didn't help with the inflamed situation it was prescribed for. Nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, insomnia, restlessness, headaches. ITCHY! So very itchy. Make it stop. I haven't slept in days."