Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (749 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A benzothiazine and thiazole derivative that acts as a nsaid and cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis; and ankylosing spondylitis.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Miloxicam; Movalis; Mobic; Masflex; Movicox; Mobec; Mobicox; Parocin.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Thiazines; Thiazoles
Related concepts
- Nsaid
- Cox-2
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 1,904 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Meloxicam” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 453 of them (23.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 776 records.
Reviews account for 84 records (4.4%) and meta-analyses for 7. Randomized controlled trials number 282 (14.8%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 114 |
| 2000-2009 | 561 |
| 2010-2019 | 776 |
| 2020 onward | 453 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 84 | 4.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 7 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 282 | 14.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Meloxicam"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
HTX-011 reduced pain intensity and opioid consumption versus bupivacaine HCl in herniorrhaphy: results from the phase 3 EPOCH 2 study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeCurrently available local anesthetics have not demonstrated sufficient analgesia beyond 12-24 h postoperatively.
- Closing excerpt
- HTX-011 reduced mean pain intensity by 23% versus placebo (primary endpoint; p ConclusionsHTX-011 demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative pain control and a clinically meaningful reduction in opioid consumption when compared to the most widely used local anesthetic, bupivacaine HCl.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (152 words)
PurposeCurrently available local anesthetics have not demonstrated sufficient analgesia beyond 12-24 h postoperatively. The purpose of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of HTX-011 (bupivacaine and meloxicam in Biochronomer® polymer technology), a long-acting investigational anesthetic, in reducing both postoperative pain over 72 h and postoperative opioid use compared to bupivacaine hydrochloride (HCl).MethodsA phase 3, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled multi-center study (EPOCH 2; NCT03237481) in subjects undergoing unilateral open inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh placement was performed. Subjects randomly received a single intraoperative dose of HTX-011, immediate-release bupivacaine HCl, or saline placebo prior to closure.ResultsThe study evaluated 418 subjects, and the primary and all key secondary efficacy endpoints were in favor of HTX-011. HTX-011 reduced mean pain intensity by 23% versus placebo (primary endpoint; p ConclusionsHTX-011 demonstrated significant improvement in postoperative pain control and a clinically meaningful reduction in opioid consumption when compared to the most widely used local anesthetic, bupivacaine HCl.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 31429023 · DOI · PMC6938470
Effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on systemic inflammation, immune function, and endometrial health in postpartum dairy cows [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Systemic inflammation (SI) is increasingly studied in several species because it may be central in many metabolic disturbances and be a risk factor for clinical disease.
- Closing excerpt
- This improved PMN function at 14 days postpartum, but the endometrial inflammatory status was not affected.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (200 words)
Systemic inflammation (SI) is increasingly studied in several species because it may be central in many metabolic disturbances and be a risk factor for clinical disease. This proof-of-concept study evaluated the effects of the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam on markers of SI and energy metabolism, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function, and endometritis in clinically healthy postpartum dairy cows. Cows received meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg of body weight; n = 20) once daily for 4 days (10-13 days postpartum) or were untreated (n = 22). Blood samples were collected -7, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 28, and 35 days relative to calving to measure serum concentrations of metabolic and inflammatory markers. Function of peripheral blood PMN were evaluated at 5, 10, 14, and 21, and proportion of PMN in endometrial cytology were performed at 5, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days postpartum. Meloxicam decreased serum haptoglobin from the second until the last day of treatment, and improved indicators of energy metabolism (lesser β-hydroxybutyrate and greater insulin-like growth factor-1 during treatment, and greater glucose at the end of treatment than control cows). This improved PMN function at 14 days postpartum, but the endometrial inflammatory status was not affected.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32251312 · DOI · PMC7090035
Evaluating the impact of meloxicam oral suspension administered at parturition on subsequent production, health, and culling in dairy cows: A randomized clinical field trial [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Parturition is a painful event experienced by cows at the onset of lactation.
- Closing excerpt
- Attempts to ameliorate such pain with analgesics is associated with a variety of positive health and production outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (205 words)
Parturition is a painful event experienced by cows at the onset of lactation. This pain could lead to a reduced feed intake, altered metabolic and immunological status, and a host of other diseases that could seriously limit her productive herd lifespan. The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of administration of a single dose of oral meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on the production and health status of cows during their lactation. A total of 2,653 (1,009 meloxicam-treated and 1,644 untreated control) cows were enrolled across 20 herds in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Relative to untreated controls, meloxicam-treated cows produced 0.64 kg/day (SE = 0.29. P = 0.03) more milk over the first 3 test days (90-120 days in lactation), had 0.75 times the odds of subclinical mastitis at first test (SE = 0.08, P = 0.01), and were culled or died at 0.46 times the rate (SE = 0.16, P = 0.03) before 60 days in milk. These results are consistent with previous research and lend support to the hypothesis that parturition is a painful event in cattle. Attempts to ameliorate such pain with analgesics is associated with a variety of positive health and production outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30540846 · DOI · PMC6291144
Biowaiver Monographs for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Meloxicam [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This monograph evaluates the scientific and regulatory underpinnings for bioequivalence (BE) waiver of immediate-release (IR) solid oral meloxicam formulations, as a surrogate for in vivo pharmacokinetic trials.
- Closing excerpt
- Non-adherence mandates a mandatory in vivo BE assessment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
This monograph evaluates the scientific and regulatory underpinnings for bioequivalence (BE) waiver of immediate-release (IR) solid oral meloxicam formulations, as a surrogate for in vivo pharmacokinetic trials. In compliance with ICH (The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency) bioequivalence guidelines, a systematic characterization was performed on meloxicam's critical attributes, encompassing solubility, permeability, dissolution behavior, pharmacokinetic profiles, therapeutic index, and drug-excipient compatibility. Classified as BCS Class II (low solubility, high permeability), meloxicam nonetheless exhibits a broad therapeutic window and pharmacokinetic characteristics aligning with BE Category I, thus enabling generic product approval via BE waiver with negligible risks of systemic exposure inequivalence. It is noteworthy that current in vitro methodologies are not consistently capable of capturing Cmax disparities of BCS Class II weak acids. BE waiver eligibility for meloxicam IR formulations necessitates three prerequisites: (a) excipient composition identical to the reference listed drug and validated by regulatory authorities; (b) ≥85% dissolution within 30 min at pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8; (c) comparable dissolution profiles across these pH conditions. Non-adherence mandates a mandatory in vivo BE assessment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41900118 · DOI · PMC13028660
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Safety of Oral Non-Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Osteoarthritis: What Does the Literature Say? [5]
- Research article Bupivacaine/Meloxicam Prolonged Release: A Review in Postoperative Pain [6]
- Research article A novel long-acting local anesthetic - HTX-011 (ZYNRELEF™) for postoperative pain control [7]
- Research article The Role of Exparel Plus Meloxicam for Postoperative Pain Management [8]
- Research article Neuroinflammatory crosstalk in migraine: consolidated activity of rizatriptan and meloxicam in suppressing CGRP-induced nociception and COX-mediated inflammation [9]
- Research article Efficacy of meloxicam compared with carprofen for treating canine osteoarthritis [10]
References
- Viscusi E, Minkowitz H, Winkle P, Ramamoorthy S, Hu J, Singla N. HTX-011 reduced pain intensity and opioid consumption versus bupivacaine HCl in herniorrhaphy: results from the phase 3 EPOCH 2 study. . 2019. PMID 31429023 · DOI · PMC6938470
- Pascottini OB, Van Schyndel SJ, Spricigo JFW, Carvalho MR, Mion B, Ribeiro ES, et al.. Effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on systemic inflammation, immune function, and endometrial health in postpartum dairy cows. . 2020. PMID 32251312 · DOI · PMC7090035
- Shock DA, Renaud DL, Roche SM, Poliquin R, Thomson R, Olson ME. Evaluating the impact of meloxicam oral suspension administered at parturition on subsequent production, health, and culling in dairy cows: A randomized clinical field trial. . 2018. PMID 30540846 · DOI · PMC6291144
- Guan A, Bei X, Jin C, Xie J, Guo J, Li X. Biowaiver Monographs for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Meloxicam. . 2026. PMID 41900118 · DOI · PMC13028660
- Cooper C, Chapurlat R, Al-Daghri N, Herrero-Beaumont G, Bruyère O, Rannou F, et al.. Safety of Oral Non-Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Osteoarthritis: What Does the Literature Say?. Drugs Aging. 2019. PMID 31073921 · DOI · PMC6509083
- Blair HA. Bupivacaine/Meloxicam Prolonged Release: A Review in Postoperative Pain. Drugs. 2021. PMID 34228280 · DOI
- Kang RS, Jin Z, Gan TJ. A novel long-acting local anesthetic - HTX-011 (ZYNRELEF™) for postoperative pain control. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2022. PMID 36199229 · DOI
- Kaye AD, Novitch MB, Carlson SF, Fuller MC, White SW, Haroldson AR, et al.. The Role of Exparel Plus Meloxicam for Postoperative Pain Management. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2020. PMID 32002676 · DOI
- Bhatia V, Vikram V, Rattan A, Chandel A, Ashawat MS. Neuroinflammatory crosstalk in migraine: consolidated activity of rizatriptan and meloxicam in suppressing CGRP-induced nociception and COX-mediated inflammation. Inflammopharmacology. 2025. PMID 40668531 · DOI
- White C, Morrow L. Efficacy of meloxicam compared with carprofen for treating canine osteoarthritis. Vet Rec. 2020. PMID 31974182 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.