People who have frequent migraine attacks may feel that their migraine treatment plan isn’t working well enough. When that happens, it’s common to seek new pain-relief options, especially during flare-ups.

One medication that might be added to a migraine treatment plan is called meloxicam. Read on to learn what meloxicam is, how it may be used in the treatment of migraine, and safety information to know.

What Is Meloxicam?

Meloxicam is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It’s used to relieve conditions that cause pain, swelling, stiffness, or fever by reducing inflammation in the body.

Most commonly, it’s used to treat arthritis (joint pain), and can be given as an oral medicine or injected. In some cases, it’s administered through an intravenous (IV) line.

NSAIDs for Migraine

NSAIDs work for migraine by blocking inflammatory pathways that lead to migraine attacks. Meloxicam isn’t a first-line NSAID for migraine. But it may be used off-label to treat some people with migraine attacks.

Compared to other NSAIDs, meloxicam is longer-acting but slower to take effect. This may make it less effective in treating headache pain. However, it has fewer side effects than some other NSAIDs.

More common NSAIDs used for migraine include ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. These drugs have been better studied for treating migraine, which is why they’re more commonly prescribed by healthcare providers.

How Meloxicam May Help With Migraine

Meloxicam may be used, usually in combination with other medications, during a migraine attack. It’s not used to prevent migraine attacks from occurring. It may be prescribed by a doctor for use at home or included in a “migraine cocktail” in the emergency department.

The FDA has approved a combination of meloxicam and rizatriptan (Symbravo) to treat acute migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. This oral medicine combines meloxicam with rizatriptan, a type of drug known as a triptan.

This combination has been shown to quickly provide pain relief in an active migraine episode. It may also reduce the chance that migraine symptoms come back.

One study of this drug included over 1,500 people with migraine. The study authors randomly assigned people one of four options to take during a migraine attack:

• Meloxicam alone
• Rizatriptan alone
• The combination drug
• A placebo (inactive treatment)

They found that those who took the combination treatment were significantly more likely to have relief from their migraine attack within two hours, compared to people who received any of the other options.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell how much your migraine treatments, including NSAIDs, are helping. “I had to stop all of my medications before surgery,” shared one MyMigraineTeam member. “Not having those pills helped me realize that my meloxicam certainly helps more than I thought.”

Risks of Meloxicam

Like all medications, meloxicam comes with risks. These may include adverse events, drug interactions, and contraindications, which are reasons why certain people shouldn’t take the drug.

Side Effects of Meloxicam

Meloxicam has several common side effects, including:

• Stomach pain and heartburn
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Dizziness
• Cold or flu-like symptoms

You can take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with food and water may help reduce some of the gastrointestinal side effects.

Serious side effects can also occur in rare cases. Stop taking meloxicam and speak to your doctor if you experience:

• A skin rash
• Shortness of breath
• Weight gain or unusual swelling of the feet or ankles
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Black, bloody, or tarry stool
• Chest pain
• Weakness or balance problems
• Vision changes

“Because of all the meloxicam that I was taking due to headaches, I’ve gotten a stomach ulcer,” said one member of MyMigraineTeam.

Meloxicam Medication Interactions

Before starting meloxicam, let your doctor know if you’re taking:

• An antidepressant
• Methotrexate
• Kayexalate
• Blood pressure medications
• Diuretic medications
• Steroids (like prednisone)
• Pemetrexed
• Lithium
• Cyclosporine

Your doctor will help you determine if it’s safe and effective to take meloxicam with your other medications.

Contraindications to Meloxicam

People who have certain conditions or medical history shouldn’t take meloxicam for migraine.

You shouldn’t take meloxicam if you:

• Have had asthma or an allergic reaction after taking an NSAID in the past
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have liver disease
• Have kidney disease
• Have stomach bleeding or ulcers
• Have had a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot

Don’t start taking meloxicam or an over-the-counter NSAID without your doctor’s approval.

Speak With Your Doctor

If you feel like your migraine treatments aren’t working, it may be worth discussing other options with your doctor.

Questions you could ask a healthcare professional include:

• What other medications could help me during migraine attacks?
• Could meloxicam be appropriate for my migraine treatment?
• Are there other treatments that I should consider taking?

To make your migraine appointments more productive, prepare questions for your provider ahead of time. Ask your physician to review your migraine treatment plan and help you gain control over your migraine symptoms.

Join the Conversation

On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you ever been prescribed meloxicam for migraine headaches? Let others know in a comment below.