• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is piroxicam?
Piroxicam is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Piroxicam works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Piroxicam is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis. Piroxicam may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Back to Top

What are the possible side effects of piroxicam?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking piroxicam and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• swelling or rapid weight gain;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

• fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Keep taking piroxicam and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;

• bloating, gas;

• dizziness, headache, nervousness;

• skin itching or rash;

• blurred vision; or

• ringing in your ears.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Back to Top

How should I take piroxicam?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. If you switch brands of piroxicam, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much medicine to take. If you take piroxicam for a long period of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about piroxicam?
This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use piroxicam. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance. This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking piroxicam. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect piroxicam?
Before taking piroxicam, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix); steroids (prednisone and others); aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Piroxicam has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence to embryotoxicity or teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Use late in pregnancy may result in premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and prolong labor and delivery. Piroxicam is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk. Piroxicam should be avoided near term.

Piroxicam is excreted into human milk in small amounts. While the manufacturer recommends avoiding piroxicam during lactation, the American Academy of Pediatrics considers the drug to be compatible with breast-feeding.

In a study of four lactating women administered piroxicam 20 mg once a day for up to 52 days, milk to plasma ratios ranged from 0.01 to 0.03. The maximum concentration of piroxicam measured in milk was 141 mcg/mL, with a mean concentration of 78 mcg/mL. Neither piroxicam nor its conjugates were detected in the serum of one nursing infant. Similar results were obtained in an earlier report. Piroxicam milk concentrations ranged from 50 to 170 mcg/mL in one patient. Piroxicam was not detected in the serum of the nursing infant. Piroxicam milk concentrations ranged from 110 to 220 mcg/mL after a 40 mg dose in another patient.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to piroxicam or any ingredient in the formulation.
• History of asthma, urticaria, or other sensitivity reaction precipitated by aspirin or other NSAIAs.
• Treatment of perioperative pain in the setting of CABG surgery.

Back to Top

What does my medication look like?
Piroxicam is available with a prescription under the brand name Feldene. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Feldene 10 mg--maroon/blue capsules Feldene 20 mg--maroon capsules

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a piroxicam overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing, fainting, or coma.

Back to Top

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking piroxicam?
Taking an NSAID can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use an NSAID. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG). NSAIDs can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking an NSAID. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top