GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY OF MELOXICAM .2. EFFECTS ON BLOOD-PRESSURE, BLOOD-FLOW, HEART-RATE, ECG, RESPIRATORY MINUTE VOLUME AND INTERACTIONS WITH PARACETAMOL, PIRENZEPINE, CHLORTHALIDONE, PHENPROCOUMON AND TOLBUTAMIDE

The pharmacodynamic properties of meloxicam, a new nonsteroidal antiin flammatory drug (NSAID), that go beyond those typical of an NSAID were examined. The extent to which meloxicam shows NSAID like interactions with paracetamol, pirenzepine, chlorthalidone, phenprocoumon and tolb utamide was also investigated. In the dose range studied, meloxicam ha d no influence on the blood pressure of the unanaesthetized rat, blood flow, heart rate, ECG and respiratory minute volume of the anaestheti zed cat or on the blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory minute vo lume of the anaesthetized dog. The acute toxicity level of meloxicam a fter oral and parenteral administration to the rat and mouse proved co nsiderably lower than that of indomethacin. Meloxicam showed excellent tissue tolerability following parenteral administration. The effects against inflammatory pain and acute antiexudative effects of meloxicam were enhanced by simultaneous low doses of paracetamol. Pirenzepine s howed an antagonistic effect on the ulcerogenicity of meloxicam in the rat stomach. The diuretic effect of chlorthalidone in the rat was not influenced by high doses of meloxicam. The effect of phenprocoumon in the rat was enhanced by high doses of meloxicam. However, the hypogly caemic effect of tolbutamide in the rabbit was not influenced by melox icam.