Meloxicam, sold under the brand name Mobic among others, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis.

[11] Common side effects include abdominal pain, dizziness, swelling, headache, and a rash.

[11] Serious side effects may include heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and stomach ulcers.

[23][24] A pooled analysis of randomized, controlled studies of meloxicam therapy of up to 60 days duration found that meloxicam was associated with a statistically significantly lower number of thromboembolic complications than the NSAID diclofenac (0.2% versus 0.8% respectively) but a similar incidence of thromboembolic events to naproxen and piroxicam.

[26][27] NSAIDs cause an increase in the risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

The significance of this penetration is unknown,[28] but it may account for the fact that it performs exceptionally well in treatment of arthritis in animal models.

[29] The bioavailability of meloxicam is decreased when administered orally compared to an equivalent IV bolus dose.

[11] Use of oral meloxicam following a high-fat breakfast increases the mean peak drug levels by about 22%; however, the manufacturer does not make any specific meal recommendations.

[4] With chronic dosing, the time to maximum plasma concentration following oral administration is approximately 5–6 hours.

[37] It has also been investigated as an alternative to diclofenac by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to prevent deaths of vultures.

[40] The issue of using meloxicam in cats involves conflicting guidelines, differing legislation, and a narrow therapeutic safety margin that can easily turn the drug from cure to poison.

[44][45] The product instruction leaflet for meloxicam for cats in the form of oral suspension 0.5 mg/ml states that: "Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, apathy, and renal failure have occasionally been reported.

"[46] Some additional information about giving meloxicam to cats from researchers is as follows: A peer-reviewed journal article cites NSAIDs, including meloxicam, as causing gastrointestinal upset and, at high doses, acute kidney injury and CNS signs such as seizures and comas in cats.

[50] In the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), very little meloxicam is absorbed into the blood after oral administration (that is, it has poor bioavailability).

[12][58] In the European Union, meloxicam is licensed for other anti-inflammatory benefits including relief from both acute and chronic pain in dogs.

[60] 2024 (January): EMA issued an 'Opinion'[61] on a change to this medicine's authorisation concerning the follow-up oral treatment after initial injectable administration in cats.