Should I Take Meloxicam At Night Or In The Morning

Should I take Meloxicam at night or in the morning?

For every medication, there is a particular prescription, the right dosage, how to take them, and the time it should be taken. These are key directions your doctor or pharmacist will give you when you’re starting a new medication. This is because the dosage and timing contribute to how efficient the prescription would be. For instance, research found that taking blood strain medicine at night as an alternative to taking it in the morning can minimize the chances of stroke or coronary heart failure in half.

This is because hypertension throughout sleeping period pose much threat to life as hypertension in the daytime. Therefore, taking the medication before bedtime will help present higher blood strain management throughout sleep. On the other hand, some medications should be taken only during the day, such as Dayquil, as they may interrupt your sleep pattern being taken at night time.

“What about Meloxicam? Should I take Meloxicam at night or in the morning?” You may be wondering. Well, keep reading to find out.

WHAT IS MELOXICAM?

Meloxicam belongs to a class of medication called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is a prescription medicine that comes in 3 forms: Oral pill, Injection, and Oral capsule. Meloxicam is a strong painkiller that can only be used on a doctor’s prescription. You may recognize the drug by any of its brand names: Mobic, Vivlodex, Qmiiz ODT, or Comfort PacMeloxicam.

WHAT IS MELOXICAM USED FOR?

Meloxicam is approved to be used to treat pain and inflammation linked with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children who are at least 2 years old and weigh at least 60kg. Mainly, Meloxicam is used to treat pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness of the joints, however, it could also be used as an off-label medication. That is, it may be prescribed for other uses such as to treat a condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine.

HOW IT WORKS

Meloxicam helps to treat pain and inflammation by stopping the body from releasing chemicals that cause pain and swelling. Blocking these chemicals can help treat pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints.

SIDE EFFECTS

Meloxicam can cause side effects that may be mild or severe. However, these are common mild side effects and are likely to go away on their own, but when they don’t and get worse instead, call your doctor.

Let your doctor know immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

Diarrhea
Headache
Constipation
Sore throat
Dizziness
Nausea
Heartburn or indigestion
Stomach pain
Upper respiratory tract infections
Influenza-like symptoms

There are other side effects of Meloxicam that may be severe and require urgent medical attention.

Stop taking the medication and call your doctor immediately if you experience these side effects:

Fever
Hives
Blisters or peeling of skin
Sudden weight gain
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Pale skin
Selling in the abdomen, ankles, feet, toes, or legs
Back pain
Difficulty urinating
Excessive fatigue
Hoarseness
Skin or eyes yellowing
Difficulty breathing
Itching
Cloudy or discolored urine
Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
Bleeding or ulcers in the stomach, esophagus, or intestines
High blood pressure

SHOULD I TAKE MELOXICAM AT NIGHT OR IN THE MORNING?

Meloxicam is a once-daily NSAID medication, that is to say, you only need to take it once a day as the drug works for 24 hours in the body. So it doesn’t matter much at what time it is taken. Although some patients have claimed that they get the best results after taking the drug in the morning, at the same time, some think it works better when taken at night.

“So what should I do? Should I take Meloxicam at night or in the morning?” you’re probably wondering now. Well, according to some research, although patients report seeing benefits of the drug after taking it at night, Meloxicam should be taken in the morning. Why?

Drugs show better results when synced with our circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is the body’s sleep-wake pattern, which can influence drugs such as NSAIDs to perform better and quicker at the time you’re most active and awake. It encourages your body to absorb the drug more rapidly than it would if taken at night.

When you take Meloxicam after breakfast, as you’re about to goal about your daily routine, you’ll barely suffer pain from your arthritis, because the drug has already begun working, and also, you’re less likely to suffer the side effects of the drug, but should you have any side effects when taking the drug in the morning, it allows you to actively observe them and deal with them immediately if they persist or get worse.

Whereas, if you take Meloxicam at night time after a busy day, and your muscles are relaxed, all the toxins in your bloodstream will pile up, making it difficult for you to experience much relief after taking a dose of the drug, and so you may end up taking an extra dose which will only pile up the problem and lead to an overdose.

Plus, meloxicam is prone to cause gastric problems, so when you lie down after taking it, it is likely to cause irritation in your esophagus and cause gastroesophageal reflux. It may also result in intestinal bleeding. Once you begin to take Meloxicam at the same time of the day, preferably in the morning, you will get a more efficient result.

HOW TO TAKE MELOXICAM

Meloxicam can be taken with or without food, but if you suffer a stomach upset after taking it, the manufacturers recommend that you take the drug with food or milk to prevent this side effect. You should take Meloxicam exactly as your doctor prescribes, at the lowest possible dose and for the short period needed.

For adults, the recommended maximum dose is 15mg per day, regardless of what form of Meloxicam you’re taking. While for children who weigh at least 60kg, the recommended maximum dose is 7.5mg per day.

INTERACTIONS

When combined with Meloxicam, some medications may lead to an increase in side effects. Let your doctor know of any medication you may be using, including OTC medicines, supplements, and herbal products, because Meloxicam may react negatively when taken with certain medications such as:

Blood pressure medicines e.g beta-blockers and diuretics
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) e.g venlafaxine
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g fluoxetine
Anticoagulants e.g warfarin
Antiplatelet agents e.g aspirin
Cyclosporine
Methotrexate
Pemetrexed
Other NSAIDs

ALTERNATIVES

Several alternative drugs could be used in place of Meloxicam, and often, Celebrex is recommended. Celebrex is an approved medication used for treating pain and inflammation from arthritis and also for menstrual cramps.

However, any NSAID would also make a good alternative for Meloxicam. Certain OTC medicine may also be used instead of Meloxicam, but speak with your doctor first to help determine the best medication for treating your arthritis pain.

Your doctor may recommend any of these medications in place of Meloxicam:

Aleve
Prednisone
Zorvolex
Celebrex
Tylenol
Ibuprofen
Relafen
Loading
Voltaren
Feldene

WARNINGS

You shouldn’t use Meloxicam if you have had an allergy to the drug or experienced signs of allergy such as itching, hives, and rash when taking aspirin or any other NSAID. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use this medication unless it has been approved by their doctor. Meloxicam may affect your baby, and although it is unclear how it can affect your baby, consult your doctor before taking the drug or any pain reliever at that.

Meloxicam can reduce sperm count in men and delay ovulation in women, making it difficult for couples to conceive. If you plan on getting pregnant, before using the medication, let your doctor know. Meloxicam can cause gastrointestinal problems, so it is best to take it with food or milk to prevent this. Before going in for any surgery, let your doctor know if you’re using the medication as Meloxicam should not be used when going in for some surgeries such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

If you have a prior history of peptic ulcer disease or digestive tract bleeding, it is advised that you don’t use this drug as you could be at greater risk of serious gastrointestinal problems. Meloxicam should not be used in children who weigh less than 60kg. If you miss a dose of the drug, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is about time to when you should take your next dose, skip the missed one and don’t try to make up for it by double dosing, this could result in overdosing.

Serious Meloxicam overdose could cause:

Rashes
Blurred vision
Shortness of breath
Ringing in the ears
Hot flush
Sudden high blood pressure
Profuse vomiting
Weakness

Seek medical help as soon as you notice these symptoms.

CONCLUSION