Hi. I just took my first pill today. I was on arthrotec for 3 years but new rheumy has changed me to meloxicam. I also take sulfasalazine. New rheumy is adding Arava which I start in a couple of days.

I take it. It works in an hour. I could not get thru the day -- especially the morning, if I didn't take it. Life-saver.

WeeWers

I have taken it for several months and it works very well. I had a recent eye surgery and have not been able to take it since 4/15 and can't take it till the retinologist clears me in a couple of weeks ; meanwhile I have started a flare! Started back on prednisone today. So I would say meloxicam works very well. Good luck. Trish Corsi

I am horribly ??allergic?? to this drug. I feel extremely high/out of body from it. Very bizarre reaction to an anti-infl. I know, but that is one I cannot/will not take. Makes me feel like I am dying.

I have used it and it really helped, but I couldn't keep taking it because it interfered with other meds I'm on. Wish I could take it again

For me, it was better than OTC NSAIDs, but I have since switched to Celebrex. Which works better for me, but I mainly switched because of ankle swelling. Which was better on the Celebrex and am now on Metoprolol for blood pressure.
I noticed a difference with the first dose.
I took it at night to help with pain associated with morning stiffness.

I have heard that Meloxicam works very well. Will need to ask my Rheumatologist about this since stiffness is a problem during the day. It may help.

Is this for severe RA? My rheumy has never mentioned it but he has said plaquenil or celebrex would not be enough for me, so I'm wondering if the meloxicam falls in this category otherwise I'm going to ask him about it at my next visit?
Also, is this just for the pain or is it suppose to help stop damage?
Thanks,
Sue

as far as I know it is a prescription-strength nsaid so would be for pain, possibly swelling. it will not stop damage. also thanks for the replies may need to look at something additional or switch to another med as does not seem to be helping with swelling or may currently be in a flare? Does it seem that a first-line med to start is prednisone or plaquenil?

Well if you have immediate swelling or fluid in a joint Prednisone would be the way to go. Prednisone should be used for an as needed drug. Plaquenil is a DMArd like Arava and should be used to reduce the deformities of joints. These are used as standing dose drugs. You should be on a DMard and if needed a biologic. If things gets rough you may need Prednisone added in. Hope that helps.

@suera - Yes it can be used for severe RA, but don't expect much pain relief if you're severe. For me, it is the equivalent of giving me a baby aspirin, which would be no help. It's more for swelling in severe cases. I can't say that it's helped because I haven't stopped taking it, but I know it helped when it was milder. I take morphine & Norco (hydrocodone10/apap) for the pain. Hopefully, not for much longer, but I've been saying that for a long time now...

Many of the doctors I work with say that 600mg of Motrin is just as effective as 800mg and not as toxic on the liver. Also have you been on Lyrica?

i take meloxicam. i take 15mg a day, but split it up into 2 7.5mg pills, 1 in the morning and 1 at night. taking 1 15mg pill made my stomach upset, but i don't get that when i split it up. i don't obviously notice it helping, but there was one time when i forgot my pills when i was away, and i really noticed the lack of it, so it does help. i'm a lot less stiff when i take it.

thanks episteme, my doctor did say plaquenal or celebrex would be the equivalent of a baby aspirin too. I was just wondering if this one falls into that category and you answered that, thanks.

thanks for reply- Yes I actually take Lyrica for fibro pain currently on it 1x/day just noted increased swelling off Ibuprofen so don't if flare or ibuprofen was helping better with swelling