Why can’t you lie down after taking Meloxicam?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Why can’t you lie down after taking Meloxicam?
You shouldn’t lie down for 15-30 minutes after taking Meloxicam to prevent intense gastrointestinal side effects.
If you do so, the gastrointestinal side effects of the drug can become prominent, as laying down can retract the GI fluids back into your oesophagus, which may cause more severe heartburn associated with Meloxicam.
Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a class of drugs which are well known for causing gastrointestinal damage because of Prostaglandin inhibition.
Prostaglandins are essential to make up a muco-protective coating around your stomach to protect your organ from the corrosive damage caused by gastric acid.
This is the main reason why NSAIDs, including Meloxicam, are associated with GI side effects – which may vary in intensity. Mild side effects include (1):
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Acid reflux or heartburn – severe acid reflux can reduce calorie consumption and lead to weight loss.
- indigestion
- Stomach pain
Severe side effects of NSAIDs are:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Black-coloured stools
- Ulceration
- Stomach or intestinal perforation
- dyspepsia
These side effects can be life-threatening if not managed properly. This is why it’s best to take Meloxicam as properly as you can to minimise the risk of unwanted and painful adverse events.
How to take Meloxicam properly?
The best way to take Meloxicam is to take it with food. This is because food acts as a barrier and protects your stomach from the harmful effects of Meloxicam. It also prevents the rapid absorption of the drug.
Make sure you don’t lie down after taking the medication, as it can cause more intense heartburn. Another important thing to remember is to only take Meloxicam as much as needed. Meloxicam can be cut in half if you wish to take a lower dose.
Unnecessary use of meds puts you at an increased risk of side effects. It is always best to monitor your side effects while taking Meloxicam. If you think Meloxicam is not working, please consult your doctor.
Meloxicam can be used for arthritis/joint and muscle pains, and is less commonly used for headaches. However, it may not suit everyone.
Meloxicam may cause severe side effects in some people. If you feel intense stomach pain or acid reflux, or if your stools appear black, reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as possible, as this could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. If you already have a gastrointestinal disease, it’s best to avoid NSAIDs in general.
Final words
It is important to take medications, including Meloxicam, in the best possible way. Proper drug administration is the key to achieving the best possible therapeutic response. NSAIDs are well known for gastrointestinal side effects, but you can prevent them.
Just take your Meloxicam as directed by your doctor. Take it with food and do not lie down immediately after it. This can surely help prevent GI upset. If Meloxicam gives you a hard time or you can’t tolerate this medication, reach out to your prescribing physician.
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References
1.-
MedlinePlus. Meloxicam [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Apr 15; cited 2023 March 7]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601242.html
