Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescribed to treat pain related to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in some cases.
Doctors will prescribe the lowest effective dose and require patients to take the medication for the shortest duration possible, in order to avoid serious side effects of the drug.
How long does meloxicam stay in your system?
The drug can be detected on urine tests for up to 5 days after use.
Meloxicam is likely detectable in your system for the following time frames:
Urine: For horses, 72 hours after last use
Plasma: For horses, 72 hours after last use; despite rumors to the contrary, research has not linked ibuprofen or NSAID use to false-positive results with fecal occult blood tests
(Numbers above are merely estimates, and may vary based on several factors, such as age and other medical conditions.)
Meloxicam Half-Life
Mean elimination half-life: 15-20 hours
The FDA reports meloxicam’s mean elimination half-life to range from 15 to 20 hours. The elimination half-life remains the same in various doses.
For pediatric patients treated with meloxicam, the mean elimination half-life is 15.2 hours for 2 to 6-year-olds and 13 hours for 7 to 17-year-olds. Half-life estimates have not been determined for patients under two years old.
The FDA also reports a difference in half-life between males and females. After a 7.5 mg dose, the mean estimated half-life of meloxicam for young females was 19.5 hours, whereas it was 23.4 hours for young males.
Can I take meloxicam once a day?
Meloxicam comes in two doses: 7.5mg and 15mg. Meloxicam should be taken once per day, unless otherwise noted by your physician.
For more information, please visit our meloxicam dosage page.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
