Category:

• Analgesic

Description:

• Nonnarcotic angalgesic, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)

Indications:

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

Precautions:

• Pregnancy category B (avoid administration near term); excreted into breast milk, but should not present risk to infant

• Children, bleeding disorders

• GI disorders, cardiac disorders

• Asthma, renal or hepatic disease

• Elderly

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• CNS: anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, insomnia, tremors

• CV: dysrhythmias, palpitations, peripheral edema, tachycardia

• EENT: blurred vision, hearing loss, tinnitus

• GI: anorexia, bleeding, cholestatic hepatitis, constipation, cramps, diarrhea, dry mouth, flatulence, jaundice, nausea, perforation, ulceration, vomiting

• GU: nephrotoxicity

• HEME: blood dyscrasias

• SKIN: photosensitivity, pruritus, purpura, rash, sweating

Dosage:

Administered orally

• Adult:   PO 20mg once daily or 10mg 2 times daily

Drug interactions:

• Anticoagulants: addition of piroxicam associated with excessive hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding; ibuprofen less likely to interact

• Methotrexate: addition of piroxicam may interfere with the renal secretion of methotrexate, yielding increased risk of methotrexate toxicity