title: Meloxicam oral suspension: a treatment alternative to solid meloxicam formulations.
abstract: This paper reviews recent studies that have aimed to establish the relative bioavailability of a new oral formulation of meloxicam, and to evaluate its safety and efficacy in a clinical setting. For the bioavailability study, 16 healthy volunteers were randomised to receive either an oral or a solid formulation of meloxicam 15 mg. The performance of the oral suspension was tested in 286 patients with osteoarthritis who were randomised to receive either formulation at 7.5 mg daily. It was found that the new oral suspension was bioequivalent to the capsules formulation, and was more rapidly absorbed after a single dose. No clinical differences were observed in both efficacy and tolerability parameters with either type of formulation in patients with osteoarthritis. The oral suspension was well accepted by the patients. Hence, the oral suspension provides a useful alternative to solid formulations in the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases and painful musculoskeletal disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG, Biberach/Riss, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hanft
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Türck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheuerer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sigmund
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001682:Biological Availability; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013535:Suspensions; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D013535:Suspensions; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077239:Meloxicam