MOVEN 15/MG CAP 30/CAP

Indications

Approved Uses

Symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults.

Dosage & Administration

Initial Dose

7.5 mg once daily

Maximum Dose

15 mg per day

How to Take

Swallow the capsule whole with a full glass of water; may be taken with or without food, but taking with food or milk can reduce gastrointestinal upset; take once daily at the same time each day.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, peripheral edema, rash.

Side Effect Frequency

Common (≥1%): dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness; Uncommon (<1%): vomiting, constipation, flatulence, rash/pruritus, edema, elevated liver enzymes; Rare/very rare: GI ulcer/bleeding/perforation, severe cutaneous reactions (e.g., SJS/TEN), anaphylaxis, renal impairment, serious CV events.

Safety & Warnings

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to meloxicam/other NSAIDs (including aspirin/NSAID-induced asthma/urticaria/anaphylactoid reactions); active GI bleeding or active peptic ulcer; peri-operative pain in CABG surgery; severe renal impairment (avoid/not recommended, especially if not on dialysis); severe hepatic impairment; third trimester of pregnancy.

Warnings & Precautions

Use lowest effective dose for shortest duration; monitor/avoid in patients with cardiovascular disease/risk (thrombotic risk), history of GI ulcer/bleed (consider gastroprotection), renal impairment/heart failure/dehydration (AKI risk), hypertension/edema (fluid retention), and discontinue at first sign of serious skin reaction or hypersensitivity; avoid in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Age Restriction

Not recommended/approved for <18 years for this 15 mg oral capsule; adult use (≥18 years) unless a specific pediatric meloxicam formulation/labeling is available.

Driving Warning

Safe

Drug Interactions

Interaction Severity

MAJOR/clinically significant: anticoagulants/antiplatelets (e.g., warfarin), other NSAIDs (including high-dose aspirin), SSRIs/SNRIs (bleeding risk), methotrexate (toxicity), lithium (toxicity). MODERATE: ACE inhibitors/ARBs and diuretics (renal risk/attenuated BP control), cyclosporine/tacrolimus (nephrotoxicity).

Food Interaction

No clinically significant food restriction; may be taken with food or milk to reduce stomach upset.

Alcohol Interaction

Avoid

Special Populations

Breastfeeding

Consult Doctor

Elderly

Start at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration. Monitor closely for GI bleeding and renal impairment.

Kidney Impairment

Mild-to-moderate renal impairment: usually no adjustment, but use lowest effective dose and monitor renal function; severe renal impairment: not recommended/avoid; hemodialysis: maximum 7.5 mg/day.

Storage & Patient Advice

Storage Conditions

Store below 25°C. Keep in original packaging. Keep out of reach of children.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as remembered; if it is close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule; do not double doses.

Stopping the Medicine

Can be stopped without tapering; advise patients to stop and seek care if serious adverse effects occur, and for chronic inflammatory conditions symptoms may recur when discontinued.

Overdose

Symptoms: nausea/vomiting, epigastric pain, GI bleeding, drowsiness/lethargy; severe cases may include hypertension, acute kidney injury, respiratory depression, coma. Management: urgent medical evaluation, supportive care, consider activated charcoal if early; no specific antidote; cholestyramine can enhance elimination.

Patient Counseling

Take once daily with food/milk; do not exceed 15 mg/day; avoid combining with other NSAIDs; limit/avoid alcohol; seek urgent care for GI bleeding (black stools/vomiting blood) or CV symptoms (chest pain/SOB/one-sided weakness); inform prescriber about anticoagulants/antiplatelets, SSRIs/SNRIs, steroids, ACEI/ARB/diuretics, lithium, methotrexate; avoid in 3rd-trimester pregnancy and use lowest effective dose for shortest duration.

Monitoring Requirements

If used long term: monitor blood pressure, renal function (SCr/eGFR), liver enzymes, and CBC periodically; assess for GI bleeding and edema.

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis; shows preferential COX-2 inhibition over COX-1 at therapeutic doses.

Duration of Effect

Approximately 24 hours.

Metabolism

Hepatic metabolism mainly via CYP2C9 and to a lesser extent CYP3A4 to inactive metabolites (multiple metabolites described).

Product Information

Available Dosage Forms

For MOVEN specifically: hard oral capsule.

Composition per Dose

Each hard capsule: 15 mg meloxicam

OTC Alternatives

Ibuprofen (OTC) is an alternative; naproxen may be OTC in some countries but is often prescription-only locally-verify local scheduling before recommending.

Pain Type

Joint/Muscular

Nsaid

Yes

Opioid

No

Reviewed by Al Mujtama Pharmacy Medical Review Team. Last reviewed 12-05-2026