MELOCOX-15
- Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) , of the Oxicam family ,with
anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties
- Meloxicam As other NSAIDS, its precise mechanism of action remains unknown , however, there is
at least one common mode of action shared by all NSAIDS, including Meloxicam, inhibition of
biosynthesis of prostaglandin, known inflammation mediators.
- Meloxicam is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract ,which is reflected by a high absolute
bioaviabiality of 89% following oral administration .
-Following single dose administration of meloxicam, mean maximum plasma concentrations are
achieved within 5- 6 hours with solid oral dosage forms .with multiple dosing , steady state
conditions were reached within 3 to 5 days .
-Extent of absorbtion for meloxicam following oral administration is not altered by concomitant food
intake.
-Meloxicam is 99.4 % bound to human plasma protien ( specialiy albumin ) within the theraputic
range, and penetrates into synovial fluid to give concentrations approximately half of those in
plasma.
-Meloxicam undergoes extensive hepatic biotranformation .four different metabolites of meloxicam
were identified in urine, which are all pharmcodynamically inactive.the major metabolite,
5-carboxymeloxicam (60 %of dose )is formed by oxidation of an intermediate metabolite
5-hydroxymethyl meloxicam , which is also excreted to a lesser extent (9% of dose).
- Meloxicam is excreted predominately in the form of metabolites and occur to equal extent in
urine and faces . less than 5% of the daily dose is excreted unchanged in the faces , which only traces
of the parent compound are excreted in urine. The mean elimination half –life is about 20 hours .
Total plasma clearance amounts on average 8 ml/min.