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Piroxicam Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 24, 2024.

Applies to piroxicam: oral capsule.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (capsule)

NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal.

This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use.

Piroxicam is contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms.

Elderly patients and patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease. People who use this medicine for a long time might also have a higher risk. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, slurred speech, or weakness.

This medicine may cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. These problems can happen without warning signs. This is more likely if you have had a stomach ulcer in the past, if you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, are over 60 years of age, are in poor health, or using certain other medicines (eg, steroid medicine, blood thinner).

Check with your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of liver problems including dark-colored urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, or yellow skin or eyes.

Some possible warning signs of serious side effects that can occur during treatment with this medicine may include black, tarry stools, decreased urination, severe stomach pain, skin rash, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual weight gain, vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or yellow skin or eyes. Also, signs of serious heart problems could occur such as chest pain or tightness, fast or irregular heartbeat, unusual flushing or warmth of the skin, weakness, or slurring of speech. Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of these warning signs.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have stomach pain, confusion, difficulty with breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, or weakness or heaviness of the legs.

This medicine may also cause serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires medical attention. Although this is rare, it may occur more often in patients who are allergic to aspirin or to any of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Using this medicine during the later part of a pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause a delay in ovulation for women and may affect their ability to have children. If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after your treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Before having any kind of surgery or medical tests, tell your doctor that you are using this medicine. It may be necessary for you to stop treatment for a while, or to change to a different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug before your procedure.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of piroxicam

Along with its needed effects, piroxicam may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking piroxicam:

More common side effects

  • bloating
  • bloody or black, tarry stools
  • burning upper stomach pain
  • cloudy urine
  • constipation
  • decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
  • headache
  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • itching skin or rash
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea or vomiting
  • pale skin
  • severe stomach pain, cramping, or burning
  • severe and continuing nausea
  • swelling
  • swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  • trouble breathing
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
  • weight changes

Less common side effects

  • bleeding gums
  • blood in the urine
  • bloody nose
  • blurred vision
  • burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  • chest pain or tightness
  • clay-colored stools
  • confusion
  • cough or hoarseness
  • dark urine
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • difficult, burning, or painful urination
  • difficulty with swallowing
  • dilated neck veins
  • dizziness
  • fainting
  • fever or chills
  • flushing or redness of the skin
  • frequent urge to urinate
  • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • increased thirst
  • increased volume of pale, dilute urine
  • large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
  • lightheadedness
  • lower back or side pain
  • nervousness
  • noisy breathing
  • numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  • pain or burning in the throat
  • peeling of the skin
  • pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
  • pounding in the ears
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • redness or other discoloration of the skin
  • redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
  • severe sunburn
  • slow, fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • sore throat
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
  • stomach upset
  • swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  • swollen glands
  • tenderness in the stomach area
  • unpleasant breath odor
  • unusually warm skin
  • weakness or heaviness of the legs
  • yellow eyes or skin

Rare side effects

  • anxiety
  • back or leg pains
  • burning, dry, or itching eyes
  • cold sweats
  • coma
  • cracks in the skin
  • diarrhea
  • discharge or excessive tearing
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
  • dry mouth
  • flushed, dry skin
  • fruit-like breath odor
  • general body swelling
  • general feeling of discomfort or illness
  • high fever
  • increased hunger
  • increased urination
  • inflammation of the joints
  • irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
  • joint pain
  • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • light-colored stools
  • loss of heat from the body
  • muscle aches and pains
  • nightmares
  • no blood pressure
  • no breathing
  • no pulse
  • pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
  • pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  • pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  • red, irritated eyes
  • redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
  • runny nose
  • scaly skin
  • seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  • seizures
  • severe headache
  • shakiness
  • shivering
  • sleepiness
  • slurred speech
  • sneezing
  • sores, welting, or blisters
  • stiff neck or back
  • stomach pain, continuing
  • suddenly sweating
  • swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
  • trouble sleeping

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking piroxicam:

Symptoms of overdose

Other side effects of piroxicam

Some side effects of piroxicam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

  • acid or sour stomach
  • belching
  • continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  • excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  • hearing loss
  • passing gas
  • stomach discomfort or upset

Less common side effects

  • feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  • hair loss or thinning of the hair
  • lack or loss of strength
  • sensation of spinning
  • shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  • trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

Rare side effects

  • change in hearing
  • changes in appetite
  • inability to sit still
  • mood alterations
  • need to keep moving
  • restlessness

For healthcare professionals

Applies to piroxicam: compounding powder, oral capsule.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reactions were nausea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, edema, and rash.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Dermatologic

SCARs included Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Gastrointestinal

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including this drug, have caused serious GI adverse events (including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine); such events were sometimes fatal. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation caused by NSAIDs occurred in about 1% of patients treated for 3 to 6 months, and in about 2% to 4% of patients treated for 1 year.

Most postmarketing reports of fatal GI events occurred in older adult or debilitated patients.

Genitourinary

Hematologic

Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, not associated with obvious GI bleeding, have occurred.

Hepatic

Elevated ALT or AST (less than 3 times the upper limit of normal [3 x ULN]) has been reported in up to 15% of patients treated with NSAIDs, including this drug. Elevated ALT or AST (at least 3 x ULN) has been reported in about 1% of NSAID-treated patients. Rare, sometimes fatal, cases of severe hepatic injury (including fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis, and hepatic failure) have been reported.

Hypersensitivity

Immunologic

Metabolic

Nervous system

Ocular

Other

Edema (mainly ankle edema) has been reported.

Psychiatric

Renal

Respiratory

See also:

References

1. (2024) "Product Information. Feldene (piroxicam)." Pfizer Ltd

2. (2024) "Product Information. Feldene (piroxicam)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, SUPPL-53

3. (2024) "Product Information. moBILis (piroxicam)." Alphapharm Pty Ltd

Further information

Piroxicam side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.