Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MELOXICAM versus VOLTAREN XR.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MELOXICAM versus VOLTAREN XR.
MELOXICAM vs VOLTAREN-XR
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis and inflammation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis. This leads to anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects.
7.5-15 mg orally once daily; maximum 15 mg/day. For osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis: 7.5 mg once daily, may increase to 15 mg/day if needed. For juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, weight-based dosing.
100 mg orally once daily, extended-release formulation. Maximum 150 mg/day (divided as 75 mg twice daily or 100 mg once daily).
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateMeloxicam + Gatifloxacin
"Meloxicam may increase the neuroexcitatory activities of Gatifloxacin."
Clinical Note
moderateMeloxicam + Rosoxacin
"Meloxicam may increase the neuroexcitatory activities of Rosoxacin."
Clinical Note
moderateMeloxicam + Levofloxacin
"Meloxicam may increase the neuroexcitatory activities of Levofloxacin."
Clinical Note
moderateMeloxicam + Trovafloxacin
"Meloxicam may increase the neuroexcitatory activities of Trovafloxacin."
Terminal elimination half-life: 15–20 hours. Clinical context: Allows once-daily dosing; steady-state achieved in 3–5 days.
The terminal elimination half-life is approximately 2 hours. The extended-release formulation (XR) does not alter the half-life; it maintains prolonged therapeutic plasma concentrations with twice-daily dosing.
Approximately 50% renal excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites; 50% fecal excretion via bile. Renal elimination accounts for ~5% unchanged meloxicam; the remainder as metabolites (primarily oxidative and glucuronide conjugates).
Approximately 65% of a dose is excreted renally as unchanged drug and metabolites (primarily as glucuronide conjugates); about 35% is eliminated via bile in feces.
Category D/X
Category C
NSAID
NSAID