Gastrointestinal safety profile of meloxicam: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
This article provides a systematic review of the frequency and severity of adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events among patients using meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). A MEDLINE search of English language articles from 1990-1998, a manual search of citations from primary trials and review articles, and a manual search of proceedings from international gastroenterology meetings were conducted. Randomized clinical trials comparing the frequency of GI adverse events for meloxicam versus non-COX-2-selective NSAIDs were selected. Specific data about the frequency of dyspepsia; perforations, ulcers, and bleeds (PUBs); and withdrawal of medication because of adverse GI events was also extracted. From a pool of 62 potentially relevant citations, 12 randomized trials were identified. All trials concerning symptomatic GI adverse events used the World Health Organization's Adverse Reaction Terminology List (WHO-ARTL) to code adverse events. Patients using meloxicam had fewer GI adverse events compared with non-COX-2-selective NSAIDs (odds ratio = 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.69). Patients using meloxicam experienced less dyspepsia (odds ratio = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.64-0.84), fewer PUBs (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28-0.96), and less frequent discontinuation of NSAID because of adverse GI events (odds ratio = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.52-0.67) compared with non-COX-2 selective NSAIDs. Meloxicam, a COX-2-selective NSAID, appears to cause fewer adverse GI events than standard, non-COX-2-selective NSAIDs. However, the generalizability of these data may be limited by the low dose of meloxicam used in most trials and the use of the WHO-ARTL to code adverse events.
Schoenfeld
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Division of Gastroenterology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, USA. pssmd@aol.com
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077239:Meloxicam; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013843:Thiazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000077239:Meloxicam