Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
← Back to search
Medication

Meloxicam

NSAID (preferential COX-2)

Brand names: Mobic

Oral health effects

  • Increased bleeding (platelet inhibition)

    Somewhat less platelet effect than non-selective NSAIDs at low dose.

    Mechanism: Reversible COX-1 inhibition reduces thromboxane-mediated platelet aggregation.

    Clinical management: Usually minor; consider acetaminophen if bleeding is a concern; local hemostasis as needed.

  • Mouth ulcers (ulcerative stomatitis)

    Stomatitis/ulcerative stomatitis is listed in the label (ulcerative stomatitis among reactions occurring in <2% of patients in clinical trials).

    Clinical management: Consider the NSAID when a patient has new oral ulceration; provide symptomatic care and advise the patient to discuss with the prescriber if ulcers persist or recur.

Sources

  1. Adverse drug events in the oral cavity. Yuan A, Woo SB. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2015.
  2. Meloxicam prescribing information (FDA label) Proficient Rx LP / DailyMed, 2024.
  3. A review and guide to drug-associated oral adverse effects-Oral mucosal and lichenoid reactions. Part 2. Teoh L, Moses G, McCullough MJ. Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 2019.