Arthritis, in what ever form it takes, causes pain in the joints because of inflammation. Medications that fight this inflammation indirectly reduce the pain. Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is one of many forms of inflammation reducing medicines that can help people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and other forms of the disease, MayoClinic.com reports. As a prescription-level medicine, meloxicam can treat other conditions that cause inflammation. It can produce some side effects.
Gastric Problems
The most common and non-serious side effects of taking meloxicam affect the person's digestion. The medicine can produce gas in the stomach and the intestines, which can induce belching and flatulence. It also can cause symptoms of indigestion and heartburn. In the intestines, the medication may cause patients to experience a disruption of normal digestion by creating diarrhea. Cramps may accompany any bout of diarrhea. These kinds of side effects typically end without medical intervention, MayoClinic.com reports. The organization suggest querying the doctor about such side effects occur in the person in a severe form or if they do not stop.
Seizures
One of the worst dangers of taking meloxicam can occur if patients use more than the recommended dose. The medicine can also induce seizures in some patients. Seizures can take a form of phasing out for a time up to convulsions that make patients appear to lose consciousness and writhe on the floor with the body twisting and jerking. This potential danger of meloxicam can occur with an overdose, MayoClinic.com reports. Patients should get to an emergency room for immediate medical help if any form of seizure occurs.
Arrhythmia
Meloxicam can cause changes in the person's heartbeat, another significant danger of the use of the drug. It can induce any of the three major arrhythmias. It can, for example, speed up the person's heartbeat to beyond 100 beats each minute while the person remains inactive, a condition known as tachycardia. Tachycardia can cause high blood pressure and possibly heart attacks. Meloxicam also may slow down the person's heart rate below 60 beats per minute at rest. This condition, called bradycardia, can significantly drop the person's blood pressure and reduce the amount of oxygen reaching all parts of the body through blood flow. The use of meloxicam also can induce an irregular heartbeat. All of these cardiovascular dangers require the person to seek immediate emergency medical aid, Drugs.com indicates.
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