INTERACTION OF MELOXICAM WITH CIMETIDINE, MAALOX, OR ASPIRIN

Meloxicam is a new enol carboxamide nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). Preclinical studies have indicated that it possesses a high antiinflammatory potency and a low ulcerogenic potency. This open, ran domized, crossover study was conducted to examine the effects of aspir in, the antacid Maalox (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Cologne, Germany), and ci metidine on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a single oral dose of meloxicam 30 mg in healthy male volunteers. Plasma concentrati ons of meloxicam were determined and subjected to noncompartmental pha rmacokinetic analysis. Meloxicam was well tolerated, and concomitant t reatment with cimetidine or Maalox had little or no effect on the plas ma concentration-time curves, maximum plasma concentration (C-max), or the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) of meloxicam. Concurrent treatment with aspirin increased plasma conce ntrations of meloxicam, increasing C-max by approximately 25% and AUC( 0-infinity) by 10%. These differences were not considered to be clinic ally relevant, and no adjustments of meloxicam dose should be required with coadministration of aspirin, Maalox, or cimetidine.