Meloxicam oral suspension: a treatment alternative to solid meloxicam formulations

This paper reviews recent studies that have aimed to establish the relative bioavailability of a new oral formulation of meloxicam, and to evaluate its safety and efficacy in a clinical setting. For the bioavailability study, 16 healthy volunteers were randomised to receive either an oral or a solid formulation of meloxicam 15 mg. The performance of the oral suspension was tested in 286 patients with osteoarthritis who were randomised to receive either formulation at 7.5 mg daily. It was found that the new oral suspension was bioequivalent to the capsules formulation, and was more rapidly absorbed after a single dose. No clinical differences were observed in both efficacy and tolerability parameters with either type of formulation in patients with osteoarthritis. The oral suspension was well accepted by the patients. Hence, the oral suspension provides a useful alternative to solid formulations in the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases and painful musculoskeletal disorders.