Meloxicam and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2018

Meloxicam for Osteoarthritis "Was prescribed 15mg once a day. It helped to reduce pain a bit so now I can walk but still can't walk for a prolonged time (i.e. 15 mins or so). Unfortunately after 8 days of having it, my stomach can't tolerate it anymore..."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2011

Meloxicam for Osteoarthritis "Pain in neck, shoulders, hips, hands, and knees gone within a day! I can ride in a car, and I'm sleeping without waking every hour. It's been a miracle for me. No side effects. I'm terrified I may have to give this up due to stomach issues. I can't go back to the pain. I feel fabulous after years of misery."

• mon...
• July 13, 2009

Meloxicam for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Mobic has been a good drug for all the basic inconveniences of arthritis. I was this close to going in for a knee replacement when my Geriatric Specialist offered Mobic. I take Pepcid with it as it is very hard on the stomach, but it has increased my mobility and reduced the pain by 90%. I am very pleased with this drug. Hooray!"

• tel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "Very effective in masking pain from my osteoarthritis. Felt mild stomach discomfort during initial use (first 3 days) but effective almost immediately (within first 30 minutes!) for pain relief. Stomach discomfort is not recurrent. The most effective medication I've ever used for any pain-specific rx."

• Gar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago. I have taken several different medicines over the years. I was taking Cymbalta and loved it. But it was killing my liver. So I had to stop! I was given meloxicam and have really liked the way it has helped my pains! I am concerned about my stomach and liver effects, so I don't take meloxicam every day. I take 15mg at a time about 2-3 times a week. This helps me. Hopefully it will help you too."

• Wyl...
• September 30, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "Took meloxicam for 2 weeks. Helped with the pain, but I noticed stomach swelling. Woke up one night with severe stomach cramps. I passed out in the bathroom. I had to be taken to the hospital. I had stomach bleeding. I lost 2 pints of blood and had a stomach ulcer. This drug is dangerous."

• JBe...
• October 22, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "I am so glad to see these reviews. I thought I was going nuts with some of the side effects of Mobic. I have been taking it for about a month now. I was given this med for inflammation due to severe plantar fasciitis. It has done nothing for my pain. I have to take it at night because it literally makes me feel high for some reason. I get vision issues from it and the weight gain, about 10/12 pounds since I started taking it. I have always held my weight well, and then suddenly gaining, that's what I'm linking it to. I just haven't felt 100% since I have been on this. I don't think this is going to be for me. I know my doctor wanted to use this instead of taking Advil, but way too many side effects for my liking. I have had stomach issues and urinary issues as well. I tried it, and I don't recommend it, especially if you are sensitive to medicine anyway. I had to stop Lyrica for the same reason, too many side effects. I was using that for fibromyalgia."

• Run...
• October 2, 2013

For Tendonitis "Benefits did not outweigh the side effects experienced. I am a runner with tendonitis in my left foot. My doctor prescribed meloxicam, 15 mg, to reduce inflammation and manage pain. I took it for a month, and I experienced side effects like dizziness, stomach problems, and inexplicable weight gain (despite the fact that I was swimming, biking, and slowly starting to run again). The small reduction in pain was not worth the side effects, so I am back to about 800 mg of ibuprofen a day."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "My husband had been taking this for inflammation for a few months. Meloxicam caused a large bleeding ulcer in his intestine that developed over the few months that he had been taking it. He ended up in the emergency room after he collapsed and lost a lot of blood from internal bleeding. It also gave him a lot of gas and stomach upset. I would not recommend for anyone to take it. It did not do much to relieve his inflammation pain in his shoulder. Please read all side effects that this medication might cause before you start taking it."

• PLB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was amazed how fast this worked. I was having sciatic back pain, and nothing was helping. It took away almost all my pain. Meds usually upset my stomach, but this did not, as long as I ate a small snack with it."

• Lyr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I tried this (7.5 mg once a day) in hopes of reducing the pain in my hip that is limiting my activity, productivity, and quality of life. The first dose left me feeling slightly drunk or high. The following days brought abdominal pain, gas, and more frequent bathroom trips. These symptoms continued in addition to feeling tired, short of breath, and lightheaded. On day 8, I started experiencing several episodes of extreme shortness of breath, lightheadedness, warm/cold chills, and tingling, in addition to stomach distress. I realized all of these symptoms couldn't be a coincidence and decided to discontinue before ever realizing any relief. I'm glad it works for many people, but for me, the side effects and health risks are worse than the pain."

• bag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2015

For Inflammatory Conditions "Had basal thumb joint tendon replacement and carpal tunnel release 11-13. Still experiencing significant swelling interfering with occupational therapy end of December. Dr. prescribed this med 2 days ago, and the pain is almost totally gone, as well as the swelling! I had been icing and Epsom salt baths, no improvement until this medication. I have experienced acid reflux and a bit of tummy ache. Adjusted sleeping position and avoiding foods before sleeping. I'll keep you posted."

• Jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "At first, it made me incredibly drowsy but took the 'edge' off my knee and chronic lower back pain where I had a discectomy and spinal fusion. It's been about a week, and my stomach hurts pretty bad... I mean like a really sharp pain. Not only that-I think my body has gotten used to the dose, and my pain level is back to a 7 on top of my stomach. I'm afraid of getting addicted to pain meds because so many of my friends have ruined their lives with them, but I cannot live like this. Wondering if I should stop taking this and get the painkillers that actually work... if the doctor sees fit."

• Sto...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "The drug certainly helped numb my knee pain from my meniscus tear removal surgery. But it came with an additional pain - severe upset stomach. For 6 or 7 hours, I have had to make numerous trips to the bathroom, maybe 30 in total? Only 3 of those trips I lost stools, the other times were not productive at all. Every time I went back to lay down, the pain would instantly return and urge to use the bathroom. I don't really know if that is a good trade for the pain. Tomorrow, I will just try ibuprofen instead. This is insane."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2012

For Osteoarthritis "I have had severe osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia pain for the past 5 years. I have been receiving steroid and Synvisc shots for several years. I had been taking up to 1600 mg of ibuprofen a day, even Vicodin did not help my pain. My new doctor gave me a trial sample of meloxicam 7.5 mg. After taking 1 dose, my pain and mobility improved dramatically. I have not been able to walk up the stairs without using both handrails in years. I cannot believe the results. It does bother my stomach a bit, but I take Protonix and take meloxicam only after eating. This medication has changed my life!"

• Raw...
• March 26, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "I've done two seven-day courses of this medicine in 2016 for neck pain and stiffness, once in winter and once in autumn. Works great for the pain, although the complete symptoms would diminish only after I was into its third or fourth day. It did have some side effects though: hot flushes, weakness, shaky feeling, minor anxiety, heart palpitations, and stomach cramps. Although, I must add a note here that all this could be more down to myself than the medicine."

• Wee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2016

For Inflammatory Conditions "This tackled the back pain without making me drowsy, a major bonus with two kids around. It is hard on the stomach though, so I have to take it with omeprazole, but that's no big deal. All my other pain meds make me feel so tired all the time, I'm just relieved to find something powerful that doesn't."

• 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."

• BLE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 12, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "Was prescribed meloxicam for sciatica and other back issues, stayed on it as prescribed and followed all instructions as described. After about 2 years of taking it, I had a bad stomach ache and had to hold off from going to the ball game. Went to the restroom prior to going, and there was a minor amount of blood in my stool. At the hospital, I started getting worse quickly, they gave me a small bowl and I said this isn't going to do it, they gave me a larger one, and I said I'm going to get sick now, and off we went... flying towards a room, but didn't make it. I threw up blood and my bowels let go with nothing but blood. I was bleeding out, I lost 28 units that night. Good thing I was close to the hospital and or in it. Doc says I had 1 minute to live..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 19, 2012

For Osteoarthritis "I have been taking meloxicam since I had total knee replacement 6 yrs ago - works great for stiffness and pain. Originally, the doctor wanted me to take it for 6 months or so after surgery, but it helped so much with arthritis in hands, feet, shoulders, etc. He advised to keep taking it. Usually, I have a pretty sensitive stomach, but no bothers with meloxicam."

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "So far, so good. No bleeding, pains are lower, I can move so much better. Doctor paired this with prednisone and seems to be working. Don't take without food. I take it first thing in the morning with my other meds, especially prednisone, which won't let me sleep. I have been feeling better. Still nap in the afternoon. So glad it's helping. I'll keep posting as needed. No side effects except a bit of stomach upset when I first started, after the first week, that disappeared."

• Pep...
• April 21, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I took it for several days, expecting pain relief, but it didn't do anything. My doctor told me I have osteoarthritis. My pain is so bad that I literally cannot do anything except lying down on my belly. I stopped taking meloxicam because it was useless for my pain and it makes my stomach upset. I did better with Tylenol and homeopathic pills."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

For Inflammatory Conditions "Was put on this med for inflammation in my leg and arm. Took one 15mg pill on a Friday night, got up on Saturday and had no pain whatsoever. I had been suffering with excruciating pain for about 4 to 5 months. I took another pill on Saturday mid-morning. Around 5 pm, I started feeling nauseated and my mouth started filling with saliva. Each time I swallowed or spit, it would fill up rapidly again and again. Then I started getting bad stomach cramps. This all lasted about 5 to 6 minutes. Debating if I want to take another one tomorrow or not. I long to wake up pain-free but am so scared of the side effects of this med."

• Pat...
• May 10, 2017

For Inflammatory Conditions "Took this for 5 days for inflammation following knee surgery. Did nothing for pain, and I had some stomach issues. The morning after my 5th dose, I woke up, and the room was spinning. Vertigo was so bad I could barely walk. Going back to ibuprofen. I'll never take this again."

• suz...
• May 28, 2009

For Osteoarthritis "My insurance company would not provide me with two Celebrex a day. After consulting my pharmacist, I tried the meloxicam (15 mg), and it works better than Celebrex for me - inflammation is my major problem, and I'm pleased. Also, meloxicam is much cheaper. IMPORTANT - Take with meals to avoid stomach problems."