Medication: Meloxicam

Your cat has been prescribed the active ingredient meloxicam to alleviate pain and inflammation caused by acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders or to alleviate pain associated with orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.

Key points:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
• Do not use in cats less than 6 weeks of age.
• Do not give to pregnant or lactating cats.
• Dosage: oral dosing is preceded by a loading dose.
• The dose should be given with food.
• Particular care should be taken with the accuracy of dosing. 

This information sheet is designed to help answer commonly asked questions and help you give the medication safely and effectively to your pet. It does not contain all available information for this medication. If you have other questions or need more information, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist. 

Always follow the dosing instructions provided by your veterinarian.  

Name

• Meloxicam.

Brand name

• Metacam, Meloxidyl, Loxicom, Inflacam, Rheumocam (Europe & UK).
• <li”>Metacam (US). </li”>

<h4″>Class of drug </h4″>

<h4″>

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Storage

• No special storage conditions are described.
• Shelf life after opening the immediate packaging is 6 months.

</h4″>

Your cat has been prescribed the active ingredient meloxicam to alleviate pain and inflammation caused by acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders or to alleviate pain associated with orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.

Preparations of meloxicam are an oral suspension which should be shaken well before use and particular care should be taken with accuracy of dosing. It can be administered with food or by squirting the medication directly in the mouth using the dosing syringe provided. The dosing syringe gives the volume of meloxicam that must be drawn up according to bodyweight at the 0.05 mg/kg dose. The precision of the syringe does not allow accurate dosing in cats less than 1-2 kg bodyweight. For the METACAM preparation of meloxicam accurate dosing in cats of any size can be achieved by dosing using the number of drops from the bottle. Dose the number of drops that have been prescribed by your veterinary surgeon according to indication. 

Meloxicam, typical of all non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause the following adverse reactions:

• Mild gastrointestinal disorders (vomiting and/or diarrhea)
• On rare occasions, serious gastrointestinal problems such as bleeding and ulcer formation have occurred
• Loss of appetite or lethargy
• Increases in kidney function results (renal biochemistry parameters)
• Other side effects include polydipsia, polyuria and jaundice.

Meloxicam should not be administered with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids. Cats receiving ACE inhibitors and/or diuretics concurrently with meloxicam should be monitored carefully for signs of hypotension that will increase the risk of renal side effects.

Meloxicam should not be given to cats with cardiac, hepatic or renal impairment, or where blood dyscrasias exist. It may also impair healing of any gastric ulcers.

Owners should discontinue meloxicam therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if signs of intolerance are observed.

Meloxicam should be given according to your veterinarian’s instructions.

Dispose of any unused meloxicam safely – don’t flush down the toilet or sink. Ask your veterinary team if they take back medication for disposal. Do not save meloxicam for future use or give to other pets.

If you miss a dose, give the dose as soon as possible but do not double up a dose. Make sure the dose given doesn’t exceed the total recommended amount in any 24-hour period. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you have given an extra dose of meloxicam.

If your pet is unwell, contact your veterinarian for advice and stop the administration of meloxicam.

Meloxicam should only be given to the cat that it has been prescribed for:

• Do not give to other pets in the household.
• Do not use in pregnant or lactating cats.
• Do not use in cats <6 weeks old.
• Do not use in cats with stomach or gastrointestinal disorders.
• Do not use in cats with hepatic disorders.
• Do not use in cats with hypersensitivity to meloxicam.
• Do not use in cats with low blood proteins, dehydration and cardiac disease.
• Do not use concomitantly with corticosteroids or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Keep out of reach of children – if accidentally eaten, speak to your primary care physician or poison control center.

Laboratory testing to establish hematological and serum baseline data may be recommended by your veterinarian prior to and periodically during medium to long term administration of meloxicam.

Further information

If you have any concerns, further information on metacam can be found on the package insert and the following websites:

Europe & UK

• Boehringer Ingelheim (UK) Metacam®. Website: www.metacam.co.uk
• Boehringer Ingelheim (UK). Website: www.bi-vetmedica.com/species/pet/products/metacam.html
• European Medicines Agency. Metacam®. Website: www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/metacam-epar-product-information_en.pdf
• European Medicines Agency. Loxicom. Website: www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/loxicom-epar-product-information_en.pdf
• NOAH compendium: www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-4943&advancedsearch=true&pageno=1 

USA

• Boehringer Ingelheim (USA) Metacam®. Website: www.metacam.com

Always follow the recommended dosage and contact your veterinary team or pharmacist if you have any questions regarding your cat’s medication.