Review of clinical trials and benefit/risk ratio of meloxicam

Meloxicam is a new once daily non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Double-blind trials in over 5000 patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have shown that meloxicam 7.5 mg and 15 mg are significantly more effective than placebo and comparable in efficacy to standard NSAIDs such as naproxen 750-1000 mg, piroxicam 20 mg and diclofenac 100 mg slow release. In a global safety analysis, both meloxicam doses produced significantly fewer gastrointestinal (GI) side effects than the comparators (p < 0/05). Severe GI side effects, discontinuations due to GI side effects and less serious events such as dyspepsia and abdominal pain were also significantly less frequent with meloxicam. Perforations, ulcerations and bleedings occurred in 0.1%, 0.2%, 1.2%, 0.6% and 2.1% of meloxicam 7.5 mg, 15 mg, piroxicam, diclofenac and naproxen patients respectively (p < 0.05 for piroxicam and naproxen compared with meloxicam). This improved safety profile is likely to be due to meloxicam's selective inhibition of COX-2 relative to COX-1.