If you accidentally took 30 mg meloxicam, it is considered an overdose. It is possible to overdose on this drug if you take more than the recommended dosage. Meloxicam is a very safe drug that can be used to treat pain and inflammation provided that the patients take them according to their prescription.
Going against the prescription is the same as taking overdose. Most drugs that are pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications including meloxicam are mostly taken overdose because people think that more quantity will help relieve their pain faster. One thing you should understand is that the symptoms of taking more than the prescription required may appear suddenly, so it is best to know these symptoms and what to look out for.
WHAT IS MELOXICAM?
Meloxicam is a prescription drug that is used to relieve pain, fever, swelling and inflammation, it is classified under nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This drug is known as a brand name drug which is mobic. Meloxicam comes in different forms which are oral tablet, oral capsule and injection.
Meloxicam can be used to treat:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children ages 2 years and older.
SIDE EFFECTS OF MELOXICAM
Meloxicam can cause side effects, the common effects can go away on their own after some days or few weeks. If you still notice them after a long time or they become severe, then you should see your doctor. Some of these side effects are:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Itching
Serious side effects may need emergency medical attention, so you should see your doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Stroke ( blurry vision, weakness and numbness of the limbs, speech difficulties)
- Heart attack or heart pain (Symptoms can be cold sweat, difficulty in breathing)
- Intestinal and stomach problems (ulcers, vomiting and stooling blood, severe stomach pain)
- Liver damage (loss of appetite, cloudy urine, yellowing or whitening of the eyes)
- High blood pressure ( bleeding from the nose, dizziness and dullness)
- Peeling and blistering of the skin
- Water retention leading to swelling and fast weight gain
- Kidney damage ( Painful urination, anemia and frequent urination).
RIGHT DOSAGE FOR MELOXICAM
The ailment will determine the dosage that will be prescribed to the patient. The number of dosage to be taken daily, the time interval between these doses and the length of time required to take the medicine depends on the medical problem for which the drug is used.
1. Oral capsule dosage for osteoarthritis is;
- For Adults: 5 mg to be taken once a day at first. This dosage may increased by your doctor if there is any need for that. However, the daily dosage should not be more than 10mg.
- For Children: The doctor determines the right dose and usage.
3. Oral disintegrating tablet dosage for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is;
- For children 2 years and above and have weight up to 60 kg or above: 7.5 mg once a day, the weight determines the dosage. It is the responsibility of the doctor to give the dosage.
- Children under the age of 2 and weighs less than 60 kg: Dose is determined by the doctor including the usage.
3. Oral disintegrating tablet and dosage for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis;
- Adults: 7.5 mg once a day, this dosage can be increased by your doctor but the daily dosage should never be more than 15 mg.
- Children: The doctor determines the dosage and usage.
CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON MELOXICAM?
Meloxicam is a potent pain relieve drug so it is possible for patients to have an overdose if they are not careful while taking it. This is why it is important to know the right dosage and information about symptoms if there is a case of overdose. There may not be enough researches or information on meloxicam overdose but this does not mean that it is impossible to take more than the required prescription or to have symptoms. The National Library of Medicine in 2002 conducted a study in which patients had taken more dosage of meloxicam than they were prescribed.
All of them had side effects that included damage to their gastrointestinal tract, in fact one was in a more severe condition but they all recovered. They were able to recover because the symptoms of overdose were controlled and medical attention was given quickly. This may be different in other people especially if there is not medical attention nearby. Meloxicam may look harmless but it is very dangerous when taken overdose.
IS 30 mg MELOXICAM TOO MUCH OR OVERDOSE?
Meloxicam is mostly prescribed to patients at the lowest dose, the lowest dose will still be efficient and effective enough to relieve pain and inflammation. In most cases, doctors prescribe using 5-7.5 mg dosage of the drug daily. If there is no change or reduction in pain and inflammation, the doctor can increase the dose to 15 mg. 15 mg is the maximum daily dosage for meloxicam.
It is however, possible for patients to notice symptoms of overdose after taking 15 mg of meloxicam. Now, if 15 mg can cause patients to experience overdose symptoms, what do you think will happen if you take 30 mg of this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs? This can cause you to have heart problems even if you have never had a history of any heart condition.
Gastrointestinal tract problems such as ulcers and bleeding can occur even if there is no history of these conditions. These conditions are higher in patients that have had history of them, this is why doctors will always advise patients to stick to their prescription even if it seems like the right dosage is not working.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY TOOK 30 mg MELOXICAM?
Meloxicam already has side effects and taking overdose can spike off these effects rapidly. One of these side effects is increasing blood pressure, so for those with existing high blood pressure taking an overdose like 30 mg of meloxicam, will notice an unhealthy spike in their blood pressure levels
Taking 30 mg or overdose of meloxicam in most cases can cause the following symptoms:
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Lack of energy or inactivity
- Pain in the middle of the upper abdomen, below the ribs.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Poisoning can also occur when there is an overdose of meloxicam, some symptoms that will be experienced are:
- Convulsions
- Coma
- High blood pressure
- Acute kidney failure
- Respiratory depression
- Cardiac arrest
- Liver failure or hepatic dysfunction
- Cardiovascular collapse
You should note that taking alcohol with meloxicam is not advisable as they can interact negatively with each other. Taking 30 mg of meloxicam or overdose with alcohol will increase these side effects and increase the risk of death.
CAN 30 mg MELOXICAM CAUSE DEATH?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added a black box warning to this drug as can cause heart and gastrointestinal tract problems. Even if a patient has no history of these health conditions, there are other fetal side effects that can be experienced including death if there is an overdose. This is why patients are advised to adhere strictly to the dosage.
There is no much studies and researches that study the chances and possibility of death due to meloxicam overdose apart from the research by the National Library of Medicine. However, there has been limited tests done on animals. From the study, it has been discovered that as long as the patient gets medical treatment in case of any overdose, death can be avoided.
CAN OVERDOSE OF MELOXICAM BE TREATED?
The first step to take if there is an accidental intake of 30 mg or overdose of meloxicam is to call for medical attention. If there is no proper treatment, meloxicam overdose can lead to poison which can result to death. It is not advised to take more than the required dose. If the prescribed dose is not effective, you should see your doctor and explain to him or her that the dose does not seem to work on your health, you can also ask for permission to increase the dose and how much quantity it should be.
CAN MELOXICAM OVERDOSE BE MANAGED AT HOME?
There is no home remedy for treating meloxicam overdose, the only thing you can do is to provide supportive care while waiting for medical assistance. You can use gastric lavage or stomach pumping ( a process that requires cleaning out the contents of the stomach). After gastric lavage, you can give the patient activated charcoal ( a medication that is used to treat overdose and poisoning). Make sure to seek for medical assistance.
If the drug has entered the patient’s bloodstream, a dose of Cholestyramine may be advisable. This medication will remove the meloxicam chemical faster than usual. If you notice someone abusing meloxicam, it is best to look for any drug addiction treatment at a rehabilitation center.
CONCLUSION
Meloxicam is a harmless pain relieving drug but it can be dangerous when taken in excess. The maximum daily dose is 15 mg and anything above this is considered overdose. Normally, taking the right dose of meloxicam can cause some side effects, what do you think will happen if you take 30 mg of this drug?
You may end up going through life-threatening conditions and even death if medical attention is not given as soon as the overdose occurred. Always adhere to the right prescription and talk to your doctor if you notice any changes.