Meloxicam and Alcohol

Concomitant use of Meloxicam and alcohol increases the risk of side effects and doctors have banned the consumption of alcohol while using Meloxicam and other NSAIDs. Side effects of meloxicam and alcohol include:

• Bleeding– FDA has put a black box warning on Meloxicam because it causes severe bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Alcohol increases the risk of these complications since it reduces platelets, (type of blood cells) that are involved in blood clotting. As a result of using Mobic and alcohol together, you start bleeding internally. Some red flags that should not be ignored in this setting are- red blood in your vomit or stool, particles that looks like the coffee ground in your vomit, and stool that is black and tarry. 

• Gastritis– Meloxicam being an NSAID interferes with the protection of the stomach lining which results in its inflammation and is termed gastritis. Alcohol and Mobic further exacerbate this effect and there is a risk of permanent stomach damage in the form of ulcers. Symptoms include stomach pain, discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. Moreover, due to gastritis, the absorption of vitamin B12 is impaired which results in nerve damage and mental changes. 

• Gout–  When gout is being treated with Meloxicam, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited since alcohol is known to cause gout flares and impedes the resolution of the disease. Signs to look out for gout include- severe pain in a single joint (usually your big toe), swelling or redness in a single joint that feels hot when you touch it.

Related: The Side Effects of Mixing Diazepam and Alcohol

• Liver damage– Since the liver is the primary site for the metabolism of meloxicam and alcohol and consequently, it is most prone to damage with excessive alcohol consumption. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die and are not able to regenerate. Moreover, Meloxicam is recycled in the liver before it peaks in the blood for the second time. So liver damage caused by alcohol disrupts the regulation of Meloxicam, reducing its effectiveness. Hence, meloxicam 15mg and alcohol are not used together.

• Heart Attack and Stroke– Like other NSAIDs, Meloxicam possesses the risk of causing heart attack and stroke. Meanwhile, alcohol is known to cause remodeling of the heart muscles resulting in cardiomyopathy. Meloxicam and Alcohol interact and the combined effect of the two results in serious cardiac manifestations such as a fatal heart attack. Some alarming signs that you can not miss are chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in the left arm, or shoulder pain as these signs are the cardinal features of a heart attack.

If the patient presents with any of the aforementioned conditions it is imperative to take the patient to a medical emergency.