Approved Drug Label (PDF)
5
Warnings and Precautions
5.10 Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)
(Newly added
subsection)
Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic
Symptoms (DRESS) has been reported in patients taking NSAIDs such as meloxicam
oral suspension. Some of these events have been fatal or life-threatening. DRESS
typically, although not exclusively, presents with fever, rash,
lymphadenopathy, and/or facial swelling. Other clinical manifestations may
include hepatitis, nephritis, hematological abnormalities, myocarditis, or
myositis. Sometimes symptoms of DRESS may resemble an acute viral infection.
Eosinophilia is often present. Because this disorder is variable in its
presentation, other organ systems not noted here may be involved. It is
important to note that early manifestations of hypersensitivity, such as fever
or lymphadenopathy, may be present even though rash is not evident. If such
signs or symptoms are present, discontinue meloxicam oral suspension and
evaluate the patient immediately.
5.11 Fetal Toxicity
(Subsection title revised; Additions and/or revisions underlined)
Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus
Avoid use of NSAIDs, including meloxicam oral
suspension, in pregnant women at about 30 weeks gestation and later.
NSAIDs, including meloxicam oral suspension, increase the risk of premature closure
of the fetal ductus arteriosus at approximately this gestational age.
Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment
Use of NSAIDs, including meloxicam oral suspension,
at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy may cause fetal renal
dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal
impairment. These adverse outcomes are seen, on average, after days to weeks of
treatment, although oligohydramnios has been infrequently reported as soon as
48 hours after NSAID initiation.
Oligohydramnios is often, but not always, reversible
with treatment discontinuation. Complications of prolonged oligohydramnios may,
for example, include limb contractures and delayed lung maturation. In some
postmarketing cases of impaired neonatal renal function, invasive procedures
such as exchange transfusion or dialysis were required.
If NSAID treatment is necessary between about 20
weeks and 30 weeks gestation, limit meloxicam oral suspension use to the lowest
effective dose and shortest duration possible. Consider ultrasound monitoring
of amniotic fluid if meloxicam oral suspension treatment extends beyond 48
hours. Discontinue meloxicam oral suspension if oligohydramnios occurs and
follow up according to clinical practice [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
8
Use in Specific Populations
8.1 Pregnancy
(Additions and/or
revisions underlined)
Risk Summary
Use of NSAIDs, including meloxicam oral
suspension, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus and
fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal
renal impairment. Because of these risks, limit dose and duration of meloxicam
oral suspension use between about 20 and 30 weeks of gestation, and avoid
meloxicam oral suspension use at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in
pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations, Data).
Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus
Use of NSAIDs,
including meloxicam oral suspension, at about 30 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy increases the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus
arteriosus.
Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment
Use of NSAIDs
at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy has been associated with
cases of fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios, and in some cases,
neonatal renal impairment.
Data from
observational studies regarding other potential embryofetal risks of
NSAID use in women in the first or second trimesters of pregnancy are inconclusive.
In animal reproduction studies. In animal reproduction studies,
embryofetal death was observed in rats and rabbits treated during the period of
organogenesis with meloxicam at oral doses equivalent to 0.65- and 6.5-times
the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of meloxicam oral suspension.
Increased incidence of septal heart defects were observed in rabbits treated
throughout embryogenesis with meloxicam at an oral dose equivalent to 78-times
the MRHD. In pre- and post-natal reproduction studies, there was an increased
incidence of dystocia, delayed parturition, and decreased offspring survival at
0.08-times MRHD of meloxicam. No teratogenic effects were observed in rats and
rabbits treated with meloxicam during organogenesis at an oral dose equivalent
to 2.6 and 26-times the MRHD [see Data].
Based on animal data, prostaglandins have been
shown to have an important role in endometrial vascular permeability,
blastocyst implantation, and decidualization. In animal studies, administration
of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as meloxicam, resulted in increased
pre- and post-implantation loss. Prostaglandins also have been shown to have
an important role in fetal kidney development. In published animal studies,
prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors have been reported to impair kidney
development when administered at clinically relevant doses.
The estimated background risk of major birth
defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown. All
pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse
outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of
major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%
to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Fetal/Neonatal
Adverse Reactions
Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus:
Avoid use of NSAIDs in women at about 30 weeks
gestation and later in pregnancy, because NSAIDs, including meloxicam oral
suspension, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus (see
Data).
Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment:
If an NSAID is necessary at about 20 weeks
gestation or later in pregnancy, limit the use to the lowest effective dose and
shortest duration possible. If meloxicam oral suspension treatment extends
beyond 48 hours, consider monitoring with ultrasound for oligohydramnios. If
oligohydramnios occurs, discontinue meloxicam oral suspension and follow up
according to clinical practice (see Data).
Labor
or Delivery
There are no studies on the effects of meloxicam
oral suspension during labor or delivery. In animal studies, NSAIDs, including
meloxicam, inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, cause delayed parturition, and
increase the incidence of stillbirth.
Data
Human
Data
Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus:
Published literature reports that the use of NSAIDs
at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in pregnancy may cause premature
closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus.
Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment:
Published studies and postmarketing reports
describe maternal NSAID use at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy
associated with fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios, and in some
cases, neonatal renal impairment. These adverse outcomes are seen, on average,
after days to weeks of treatment, although oligohydramnios has been infrequently
reported as soon as 48 hours after NSAID initiation. In many cases, but not all,
the decrease in amniotic fluid was transient and reversible with cessation of the
drug. There have been a limited number of case reports of maternal NSAID use and
neonatal renal dysfunction without oligohydramnios, some of which were irreversible.
Some cases of neonatal renal dysfunction required treatment with invasive procedures,
such as exchange transfusion or dialysis.
Methodological limitations of these postmarketing studies
and reports include lack of a control group; limited information regarding dose,
duration, and timing of drug exposure; and concomitant use of other medications.
These limitations preclude establishing a reliable estimate of the risk of adverse
fetal and neonatal outcomes with maternal NSAID use. Because the published safety
data on neonatal outcomes involved mostly preterm infants, the generalizability
of certain reported risks to the full- term infant exposed to NSAIDs through
maternal use is uncertain.
Animal
Data
Meloxicam was not teratogenic when administered to
pregnant rats during fetal organogenesis at oral doses up to 4 mg/kg/day
(2.6-fold greater than the MRHD of 15 mg of meloxicam based on BSA comparison).
Administration of meloxicam to pregnant rabbits throughout embryogenesis
produced an increased incidence of septal defects of the heart at an oral dose
of 60 mg/kg/day (78-fold greater than the MRHD based on BSA comparison). The no
effect level was 20 mg/kg/day (26-fold greater than the MRHD based on BSA conversion).
In rats and rabbits, embryolethality occurred at oral meloxicam doses of 1
mg/kg/day and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively (0.65- and 6.5-fold greater,
respectively, than the MRHD based on BSA comparison) when administered
throughout organogenesis.
Oral administration of meloxicam to pregnant rats
during late gestation through lactation increased the incidence of dystocia,
delayed parturition, and decreased offspring survival at meloxicam doses of
0.125 mg/kg/day or greater (0.08-times MRHD based on BSA comparison).
17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)
MEDICATION GUIDE
(Additions and/or
revisions underlined)
…
Before taking
NSAIDs, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions,
including if you:
have
liver or kidney problems
have
high blood pressure
have
asthma
are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking NSAIDs at about 20 weeks of
pregnancy or later may harm your unborn baby. If you need to take NSAIDs for
more than 2 days when you are between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, your
healthcare provider may need to monitor the amount of fluid in your womb and
around your baby. You should not take
NSAIDs after about 30 weeks of pregnancy.
- are
breastfeeding or plan to breast feed.
…
PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
(Additions and/or
revisions underlined)
Advise
the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide) that
accompanies each prescription dispensed.
Inform
patients, families or their caregivers of the following information before
initiating therapy with an NSAID and periodically during the course of ongoing
therapy.
Cardiovascular
Thrombotic Events
Advise
patients to be alert for the symptoms of cardiovascular thrombotic events,
including chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or slurring of speech, and
to report any of these symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Gastrointestinal
Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation
Advise
patients to report symptoms of ulcerations and bleeding, including epigastric
pain, dyspepsia, melena, and hematemesis to their healthcare provider. In the
setting of concomitant use of low-dose aspirin for cardiac prophylaxis, inform
patients of the increased risk for the signs and symptoms of GI bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Hepatotoxicity
Inform
patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea,
fatigue, lethargy, diarrhea, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant
tenderness, and "flu-like" symptoms). If these occur, instruct
patients to stop meloxicam oral suspension and seek immediate medical therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Heart
Failure and Edema
Advise
patients to be alert for the symptoms of congestive heart failure including
shortness of breath, unexplained weight gain, or edema and to contact their
healthcare provider if such symptoms occur [see
Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
Anaphylactic
Reactions
Inform
patients of the signs of an anaphylactic reaction (e.g., difficulty breathing,
swelling of the face or throat). Instruct patients to seek immediate emergency
help if these occur [see
Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].
Serious
Skin Reactions, including DRESS
Advise
patients to stop taking meloxicam oral suspension immediately if they develop
any type of rash or fever and to contact their healthcare provider as
soon as possible [see Warnings and
Precautions (5.9), (5.10)].
Female
Fertility
Advise
females of reproductive potential who desire pregnancy that NSAIDs, including meloxicam
oral suspension, may be associated with a reversible delay in ovulation [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)].
Fetal
Toxicity
Inform
pregnant women to avoid use of meloxicam oral suspension and other NSAIDs
starting at 30 weeks gestation because of the risk of the premature closing of
the fetal ductus arteriosus. If treatment with meloxicam oral suspension is
needed for a pregnant woman between about 20 to 30 weeks gestation, advise her
that she may need to be monitored for oligohydramnios, if treatment continues
for longer than 48 hours [see Warnings
and Precautions (5.11) and Use in
Specific Populations (8.1)].
Avoid
Concomitant Use of NSAIDs
Inform
patients that the concomitant use of meloxicam oral suspension with other
NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) is not recommended due to
the increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity, and little or no increase in
efficacy [see Warnings and Precautions
(5.2) and Drug Interactions (7)]. Alert patients that NSAIDs may be present
in “over the counter” medications for treatment of colds, fever, or insomnia.
Use
of NSAIDs and Low-Dose Aspirin
Inform
patients not to use low-dose aspirin concomitantly with meloxicam oral
suspension until they talk to their healthcare provider [see Drug Interactions (7)].