Enter drug's generic or brand name below. Results will appear here. Note: all drug related information obtained on this page is provided by RX List.
Using the RX LIST database:
(1) Enter the drug name in the search box below and hit ENTER
(2) The rx list web site will open here with the drug search completed. Next, scroll down the page to locate the link to the drug you are searching for and then click on the link.
ANJESO™
(meloxicam) Injection, for Intravenous Use
WARNING
RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS
ANJESO (meloxicam) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is a sterile opaque, pale-yellow, aqueous dispersion containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient meloxicam for intravenous administration. Each mL of aqueous dispersion contains 30 mg of meloxicam, povidone, sodium deoxycholate (deoxycholic acid), sucrose, and water for injection
Meloxicam is designated chemically as 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(5-methyl-2-thiazolyl)-2H-1,2benzothiazine-3-carboxamide-1,1-dioxide. The molecular weight is 351.4. Its molecular formula is C14H13N3O4S2 and the structural formula of meloxicam is:
Figure 1: Structural Formula of Meloxicam
 |
ANJESO is indicated for use in adults for the management of moderate-to-severe pain, alone or in combination with non-NSAID analgesics.
Because of delayed onset of analgesia, ANJESO alone is not recommended for use when rapid onset of analgesia is required.
Use for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
For intravenous administration only.
The recommended dose of ANJESO is 30 mg once daily, administered by intravenous bolus injection over 15 seconds.
When initiating ANJESO, monitor patient analgesic response. Because the median time to meaningful pain relief was 2 and 3 hours after ANJESO administration in two clinical studies, a non-NSAID analgesic with a rapid onset of effect may be needed, for example, upon anesthetic emergence or resolution of local or regional anesthetic blocks [see Clinical Studies].
Some patients may not experience adequate analgesia for the entire 24-hour dosing interval and may require administration of a short-acting, non-NSAID, immediate-release analgesic [see Clinical Studies].
To reduce the risk of renal toxicity, patients must be well hydrated prior to administration of ANJESO.
Visually inspect parenteral drug products for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Should the contents appear discolored or contain particulate matter, discard the vial [see Dosage Forms and Strengths].
ANJESO (meloxicam) injection is a sterile, opaque, pale yellow, non-pyrogenic, aqueous dispersion intended for intravenous use available as a clear, 2 mL, single-dose vial containing 30 mg/mL per vial.
ANJESO (meloxicam) injection, is an opaque, pale-yellow aqueous dispersion intended for intravenous use supplied as a 1 mL fill (30 mg/mL) in a clear 2 mL single-dose vial with a blue tamper-evident top.
NDC 71518-001-01
Store at 15-25°C (59 to 77°F), with excursions permitted between 4-30°C (40 to 86°F)
Do not freeze. Protect from light.
Not made with natural rubber latex.
Manufactured for: Baudax Bio, Inc. Malvern, PA 19355 USA Made in Italy. Revised: Feb 2020
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in the other sections of the labeling:
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
During clinical development, 1426 patients were exposed to ANJESO in controlled and open-label Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials. ANJESO was studied across a range of surgical procedures, including bunionectomy, abdominoplasty, soft tissue surgery, total knee replacement surgery, gynecologic surgery, complex foot surgery and total hip replacement surgery. In these trials, 381 patients received a single dose of ANJESO and 1045 patients received multiple doses of ANJESO daily for up to 7 days. The incidence rates of adverse reactions listed in Table 1 are derived from the three Phase 3 trials comparing ANJESO to placebo in patients who may have also received opioid rescue medication.
Table 1: Proportion of Patients Experiencing Common Adverse Reactions in Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Clinical Trials occurring in greater than or equal to 2% of Patients Treated with ANJESO and at a greater frequency than Placebo
| Adverse Reaction | ANJESO N=748 | Placebo N=393 |
| Constipation | 57 (7.6%) | 24 (6.1%) |
| Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Increased | 21 (2.8%) | 6 (1.5%) |
| Anemia | 18 (2.4%) | 4 (1.0%) |
The following is a list of adverse drug reactions occurring in <2% of patients receiving ANJESO in clinical trials.
Table 2: Additional Adverse Reactions for ANJESO
| Body as a Whole | asthenia, back pain, edema, fatigue, hyperthermia, infusion site reactions (including pain, pruritus, phlebitis and thrombosis), muscle spasms, non-cardiac chest pain, pyrexia, vaginal discharge, weight decrease |
| Central and Peripheral Nervous System | disturbance in attention, migraine, presyncope, somnolence, syncope |
| Gastrointestinal | abdominal discomfort, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, epigastric discomfort, flatulence, frequent bowel movements, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux, gastrointestinal pain, rectal hemorrhage |
| Heart Rate and Rhythm | tachycardia |
| Hematologic | increased bleeding time, neutropenia, thrombocytosis |
| Infections and Infestations | cellulitis, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, vulval abscess |
| Liver and Biliary System | liver function test abnormal |
| Metabolic and Nutritional | hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia |
| Procedural Complications | incision site hemorrhage, incision site rash, wound dehiscence, wound hematoma |
| Psychiatric | confusion, hallucination, insomnia |
| Respiratory | dyspnea, epistaxis, hypoxia, oropharyngeal pain |
| Skin and Appendages | contact dermatitis, ecchymosis, rash |
| Urinary System | pollakiuria, urinary retention |
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of meloxicam. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Adverse reactions reported in worldwide post marketing experience or the literature include: acute urinary retention; agranulocytosis; alterations in mood (such as mood elevation); anaphylactoid reactions including shock; erythema multiforme; exfoliative dermatitis; interstitial nephritis; jaundice; liver failure; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; toxic epidermal necrolysis, and infertility female.
See Table 3 for clinically significant drug interactions with meloxicam.
Table 3: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Meloxicam
| Drugs That Interfere with Hemostasis | |
| Clinical Impact: |
|
| Intervention: | Monitor patients with concomitant use of ANJESO with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) for signs of bleeding [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. |
| Aspirin | |
| Clinical Impact: | Controlled clinical studies showed that the concomitant use of NSAIDs and analgesic doses of aspirin does not produce any greater therapeutic effect than the use of NSAIDs alone. In a clinical study, the concomitant use of an NSAID and aspirin was associated with a significantly increased incidence of GI adverse reactions as compared to use of the NSAID alone [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. |
| Intervention: | Concomitant use of ANJESO and analgesic doses of aspirin is not generally recommended because of the increased risk of bleeding [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. |
| In the setting of concomitant use of low-dose aspirin for cardiac prophylaxis, monitor patients more closely for evidence of GI bleeding [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. | |
| ANJESO is not a substitute for low dose aspirin for cardiovascular protection. | |
| ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, and Beta-Blockers | |
| Clinical Impact: |
|
| Intervention: |
|
| Diuretics | |
| Clinical Impact: | Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients. This effect has been attributed to the NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. However, studies with furosemide agents and meloxicam have not demonstrated a reduction in natriuretic effect. Furosemide single and multiple dose pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are not affected by multiple doses of meloxicam. |
| Intervention: | During concomitant use of ANJESO with diuretics, observe patients for signs of worsening renal function, in addition to assuring diuretic efficacy including antihypertensive effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. |
| Lithium | |
| Clinical Impact: | NSAIDs have produced elevations in plasma lithium levels and reductions in renal lithium clearance. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15%, and the renal clearance decreased by approximately 20%. This effect has been attributed to NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis. [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. |
| Intervention: | During concomitant use of ANJESO and lithium, monitor patients for signs of lithium toxicity. |
| Methotrexate | |
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). |
| Intervention: | During concomitant use of ANJESO and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity. |
| Cyclosporine | |
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of ANJESO and cyclosporine may increase cyclosporine’s nephrotoxicity. |
| Intervention: | During concomitant use of ANJESO and cyclosporine, monitor patients for signs of worsening renal function. |
| NSAIDs and Salicylates | |
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. |
| Intervention: | The concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended. |
| Pemetrexed | |
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of ANJESO and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity (see the pemetrexed prescribing information). |
| Intervention: | During concomitant use of ANJESO and pemetrexed, in patients with renal impairment whose creatinine clearance ranges from 45 to 79 mL/min, monitor for myelosuppression, renal and GI toxicity. |
| Patients taking meloxicam should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration. | |
| In patients with creatinine clearance below 45 mL/min, the concomitant administration of meloxicam with pemetrexed is not recommended. | |
| CYP2C9 Inhibitors | |
| Clinical Impact: | In vitro studies indicate that CYP2C9 (cytochrome P450 metabolizing enzyme) plays an important role in this metabolic pathway with a minor contribution of the CYP3A4 isozyme. Thus concomitant usage of CYP2C9 inhibitors (such as amiodarone, fluconazole, and sulphaphenazole) may lead to abnormally high plasma levels of meloxicam due to reduced metabolic clearance [see Use In Specific Populations; and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. |
| Intervention: | Consider dose reduction in patients undergoing treatment with CYP2C9 inhibitors, and monitor patients for adverse effects. |
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Clinical trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to three years duration have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, which can be fatal. Based on available data, it is unclear that the risk for CV thrombotic events is similar for all NSAIDs. The relative increase in serious CV thrombotic events over baseline conferred by NSAID use appears to be similar in those with and without known CV disease or risk factors for CV disease. However, patients with known CV disease or risk factors had a higher absolute incidence of excess serious CV thrombotic events, due to their increased baseline rate. Some observational studies found that this increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events began as early as the first weeks of treatment. The increase in CV thrombotic risk has been observed most consistently at higher doses.
To minimize the potential risk for an adverse CV event in NSAID-treated patients, use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible. Physicians and patients should remain alert for the development of such events, throughout the entire treatment course, even in the absence of previous CV symptoms. Patients should be informed about the symptoms of serious CV events and the steps to take if they occur.
There is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates the increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events associated with NSAID use. The concurrent use of aspirin and an NSAID, such as meloxicam, increases the risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) events [see Gastrointestinal Effects- Risk Of Ulceration, Bleeding, And Perforation].
Two large, controlled clinical trials of a COX-2 selective NSAID for the treatment of pain in the first 10-14 days following CABG surgery found an increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. NSAIDs are contraindicated in the setting of CABG [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
Observational studies conducted in the Danish National Registry have demonstrated that patients treated with NSAIDs in the post-MI period were at increased risk of reinfarction, CV-related death, and all-cause mortality beginning in the first week of treatment. In this same cohort, the incidence of death in the first year post-MI was 20 per 100 person years in NSAID-treated patients compared to 12 per 100 person years in non-NSAID exposed patients. Although the absolute rate of death declined somewhat after the first year post-MI, the increased relative risk of death in NSAID users persisted over at least the next four years of follow-up.
Avoid the use of ANJESO in patients with a recent MI unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of recurrent CV thrombotic events. If ANJESO is used in patients with a recent MI, monitor patients for signs of cardiac ischemia.
NSAIDs, including meloxicam, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, which can be fatal. These serious adverse events can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms, in patients treated with ANJESO. Only one in five patients who develop a serious upper GI adverse event on NSAID therapy is symptomatic. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation caused by NSAIDs occurred in approximately 1% of patients treated for 3-6 months, and in about 2-4% of patients treated for one year. However, even short-term NSAID therapy is not without risk.
Patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding who used NSAIDs had a greater than 10-fold increased risk for developing a GI bleed compared to patients without these risk factors. Other factors that increase the risk of GI bleeding in patients treated with NSAIDs include longer duration of NSAID therapy; concomitant use of oral corticosteroids, aspirin, anticoagulants, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); smoking; use of alcohol; older age; and poor general health status. Most postmarketing reports of fatal GI events occurred in elderly or debilitated patients. Additionally, patients with advanced liver disease and/or coagulopathy are at increased risk for GI bleeding.
Elevations of ALT or AST (three or more times the upper limit of normal [ULN]) have been reported in approximately 1% of NSAID-treated patients in clinical trials. In addition, rare, sometimes fatal, cases of severe hepatic injury, including fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis, and hepatic failure have been reported.
Elevations of ALT or AST (less than three times ULN) may occur in up to 15% of patients treated with NSAIDs including meloxicam.
Inform patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea, fatigue, lethargy, diarrhea, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness, and "flu-like" symptoms). If clinical signs and symptoms consistent with liver disease develop, or if systemic manifestations occur (e.g., eosinophilia, rash, etc.), discontinue ANJESO immediately, and perform a clinical evaluation of the patient [see Use In Specific Populations and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
NSAIDs, including ANJESO, can lead to new onset of hypertension or worsening of pre-existing hypertension, either of which may contribute to the increased incidence of CV events. Patients taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, thiazides or loop diuretics may have impaired response to these therapies when taking NSAIDs [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Monitor blood pressure (BP) during the initiation of NSAID treatment and throughout the course of therapy.
The Coxib and traditional NSAID Trialists’ Collaboration meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrated an approximately two-fold increase in hospitalizations for heart failure in COX-2 selective-treated patients and nonselective NSAID-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients. In a Danish National Registry study of patients with heart failure, NSAID use increased the risk of MI, hospitalization for heart failure, and death.
Additionally, fluid retention and edema have been observed in some patients treated with NSAIDs. Use of meloxicam may blunt the CV effects of several therapeutic agents used to treat these medical conditions (e.g., diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]) [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Avoid the use of ANJESO in patients with severe heart failure unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of worsening heart failure. If ANJESO is used in patients with severe heart failure, monitor patients for signs of worsening heart failure.
Long-term administration of NSAIDs has resulted in renal papillary necrosis, renal insufficiency, acute renal failure, and other renal injury.
Renal toxicity has also been seen in patients in whom renal prostaglandins have a compensatory role in the maintenance of renal perfusion. In these patients, administration of an NSAID may cause a dose-dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and, secondarily, in renal blood flow, which may precipitate overt renal decompensation. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, dehydration, hypovolemia, heart failure, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and the elderly. Discontinuation of NSAID therapy is usually followed by recovery to the pretreatment state.
ANJESO is not recommended in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency and is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency who are at risk for renal failure due to volume depletion.
No information is available from controlled clinical studies regarding the use of ANJESO in patients with advanced renal disease. The renal effects of ANJESO may hasten the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with pre-existing renal disease.
Correct volume status in dehydrated or hypovolemic patients prior to initiating ANJESO. Monitor renal function in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, heart failure, dehydration, or hypovolemia during use of ANJESO [see DRUG INTERACTIONS]. Avoid the use of ANJESO in patients with advanced renal disease unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of worsening renal function. If ANJESO is used in patients with advanced renal disease, monitor patients for signs of worsening renal function [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Increases in serum potassium concentration, including hyperkalemia, have been reported with use of NSAIDs, even in some patients without renal impairment. In patients with normal renal function, these effects have been attributed to a hyporeninemic-hypoaldosteronism state.
Meloxicam has been associated with anaphylactic reactions in patients with and without known hypersensitivity to meloxicam and in patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and Exacerbation Of Asthma Related To Aspirin Sensitivity].
Seek emergency help if an anaphylactic reaction occurs.
A subpopulation of patients with asthma may have aspirin-sensitive asthma which may include chronic rhinosinusitis complicated by nasal polyps; severe, potentially fatal bronchospasm; and/or intolerance to aspirin and other NSAIDs. Because cross-reactivity between aspirin and other NSAIDs has been reported in such aspirin-sensitive patients, ANJESO is contraindicated in patients with this form of aspirin sensitivity [see CONTRAINDICATIONS]. When ANJESO is used in patients with preexisting asthma (without known aspirin sensitivity), monitor patients for changes in the signs and symptoms of asthma.
NSAIDs, including ANJESO, can cause serious skin adverse events such as exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. These serious events may occur without warning. Patients should be informed about the signs and symptoms of serious skin manifestations and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity. ANJESO is contraindicated in patients with previous serious skin reactions to NSAIDs [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
Meloxicam may cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Avoid use of NSAIDs, including ANJESO, in pregnant women starting at 30 weeks of gestation (third trimester) [see Use In Specific Populations].
Anemia has occurred in NSAID-treated patients. This may be due to occult or gross blood loss, fluid retention, or an incompletely described effect on erythropoiesis. If a patient treated with ANJESO has any signs or symptoms of anemia, monitor hemoglobin or hematocrit.
NSAIDs, including ANJESO, may increase the risk of bleeding events. Co-morbid conditions such as coagulation disorders or concomitant use of warfarin, other anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin), serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may increase this risk. Monitor these patients for signs of bleeding [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
The pharmacological activity of ANJESO in reducing inflammation, and possibly fever, may diminish the utility of diagnostic signs in detecting infections.
Because serious GI bleeding, hepatotoxicity, and renal injury can occur without warning symptoms or signs, consider monitoring patients on long-term NSAID treatment with a CBC and a chemistry profile periodically [see Gastrointestinal Effects- Risk Of Ulceration, Bleeding, And Perforation, Hepatotoxicity, Renal Toxicity And Hyperkalemia]. ANJESO is not indicated for long-term treatment.
There was no increase in tumor incidence in long-term carcinogenicity studies in rats (104 weeks) and mice (99 weeks) administered meloxicam at oral doses up to 0.8 mg/kg/day in rats and up to 8.0 mg/kg/day in mice (up to 0.26 and 1.3 times, respectively, the MRHD of 30 mg/day of ANJESO based on BSA comparison).
ANJESO was not mutagenic in an Ames assay. Meloxicam was not clastogenic in a chromosome aberration assay with human lymphocytes and an in vivo micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow.
Meloxicam did not impair male and female fertility in rats at oral doses up to 9 mg/kg/day in males and 5 mg/kg/day in females (up to 2.9- and 1.6-times greater, respectively, than the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA comparison).
In a published study, oral administration of 1 mg/kg (0.3-times the MRHD based on BSA comparison) meloxicam to male rats for 35 days resulted in decreased sperm count and motility and histopathological evidence of testicular degeneration. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.
Use of NSAIDs, including ANJESO, during the third trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Avoid use of NSAIDs, including ANJESO, in pregnant women starting at 30 weeks of gestation (third trimester) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of meloxicam in pregnant women. Data from observational studies regarding potential embryofetal risks of NSAID use in women in the first or second trimesters of pregnancy are inconclusive. In the general U.S. population, all clinically recognized pregnancies, regardless of drug exposure, have a background rate of 2-4% for major malformations, and 15-20% for pregnancy loss.
In animal reproduction studies, embryofetal death was observed in rats and rabbits treated during the period of organogenesis with meloxicam at oral doses equivalent to 0.32- and 3.24-times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 30 mg of ANJESO, based on body surface area (BSA). Increased incidence of septal heart defects were observed in rabbits treated throughout embryogenesis with meloxicam at an oral dose equivalent to 39-times the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO. In pre- and post-natal reproduction studies, there was an increased incidence of dystocia, delayed parturition, and decreased offspring survival at 0.04-times the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO. No teratogenic effects were observed in rats and rabbits treated with meloxicam during organogenesis at an oral dose equivalent to 1.3 and 13-times the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO [see Data].
Based on animal data, prostaglandins have been shown to have an important role in endometrial vascular permeability, blastocyst implantation, and decidualization. In animal studies, administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, such as meloxicam, resulted in increased pre- and post-implantation loss.
Labor or delivery
There are no studies on the effects of meloxicam during labor or delivery. In animal studies, NSAIDs, including meloxicam, inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, cause delayed parturition, and increase the incidence of stillbirth.
Animal Data
Meloxicam was not teratogenic when administered to pregnant rats during fetal organogenesis at oral doses up to 4 mg/kg/day (1.3-fold greater than the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA comparison). Administration of meloxicam to pregnant rabbits throughout embryogenesis produced an increased incidence of septal defects of the heart at an oral dose of 60 mg/kg/day (39-fold greater than the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA comparison). The no effect level was 20 mg/kg/day (13-fold greater than the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA conversion). In rats and rabbits, embryolethality occurred at oral meloxicam doses of 1 mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively (0.32 and 3.24-fold greater, respectively, than the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA comparison) when administered throughout organogenesis.
Oral administration of meloxicam to pregnant rats during late gestation through lactation increased the incidence of dystocia, delayed parturition, and decreased offspring survival at meloxicam doses of 0.125 mg/kg/day or greater (0.04-times the MRHD of 30 mg of ANJESO based on BSA comparison).
There are no human data available on whether meloxicam is present in human milk, or on the effects on breastfed infants, or on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for ANJESO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the ANJESO or from the underlying maternal condition.
Animal Data
Meloxicam was present in the milk of lactating rats at concentrations higher than those in plasma.
Females
Based on the mechanism of action, the use of prostaglandin-mediated NSAIDs, including ANJESO, may delay or prevent rupture of ovarian follicles, which has been associated with reversible infertility in some women. Published animal studies have shown that administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors has the potential to disrupt prostaglandin-mediated follicular rupture required for ovulation. Small studies in women treated with NSAIDs have also shown a reversible delay in ovulation. Consider withdrawal of NSAIDs, including ANJESO, in women who have difficulties conceiving or who are undergoing investigation of infertility.
Males
ANJESO may compromise fertility in males of reproductive potential. In a published study, oral administration of meloxicam to male rats for 35 days resulted in decreased sperm count and motility and histopathological evidence of testicular degeneration at 0.3-times the MRHD based on BSA comparison [see Nonclinical Toxicology]. It is not known if these effects on fertility are reversible. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.
The safety and efficacy of ANJESO has not been established in pediatric patients.
Elderly patients, compared to younger patients, are at greater risk for NSAID-associated serious cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and/or renal adverse reactions. If the anticipated benefit for the elderly patient outweighs these potential risks monitor patients for adverse effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Of the total number of patients in clinical studies of ANJESO, 197 patients were age 65 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.
ANJESO has not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment. For oral meloxicam, no dose adjustment is necessary in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Since meloxicam is significantly metabolized in the liver and hepatotoxicity may occur, monitor for adverse events in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Pharmacokinetics of ANJESO in elderly subjects with mild renal impairment is similar to healthy young subjects. Patients with moderate or severe renal impairment have not been studied. ANJESO is not recommended in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency. ANJESO is contraindicated in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency who are at risk for renal failure due to volume depletion [see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
In patients who are known or suspected to be poor CYP2C9 metabolizers based on genotype or previous history/experience with other CYP2C9 substrates (such as warfarin and phenytoin) consider dose reduction as they may have abnormally high plasma levels due to reduced metabolic clearance, and monitor patients for adverse effects.
Symptoms following acute NSAID overdoses have been typically limited to lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain, which have been generally reversible with supportive care. Gastrointestinal bleeding has occurred. Hypertension, acute renal failure, respiratory depression and coma have occurred, but were rare. [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Manage patients with symptomatic and supportive care following an NSAID overdosage. There are no specific antidotes. Forced diuresis, alkalinization of urine, hemodialysis, or hemoperfusion may be employed but are not likely to be useful due to high protein binding.
There is limited experience with meloxicam overdose. In four reported cases of meloxicam overdose, patients took 6 to 11 times the highest available oral dose of meloxicam tablets (15 mg); all recovered. Cholestyramine is known to accelerate the clearance of meloxicam. Accelerated removal of meloxicam by 4 g doses of cholestyramine given three times a day was demonstrated in a clinical trial. Administration of cholestyramine may be useful following an overdosage.
In case of an overdosage, discontinue ANJESO therapy and contact a regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
ANJESO is contraindicated in the following patients:
