What Is Felxicam Used For? (Clarifying the Piroxicam and Meloxicam Connection)

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

Piroxicam, a drug sold under brand names like Feldene, has a half-life of approximately 60 hours, allowing for once-daily dosing. This longevity is a key feature distinguishing it from other NSAIDs, prompting many to ask: what is felxicam used for, and how does it work?

Quick Summary

Felxicam refers to medications like piroxicam and meloxicam, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to treat pain, stiffness, and swelling in various arthritic conditions and other inflammatory disorders.

Key Points

Name Clarification: 'Felxicam' is often a brand name for the NSAID piroxicam, sometimes confused with meloxicam.
Primary Uses: Both piroxicam and meloxicam are used to manage pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Long Half-Life: Piroxicam has a notably long half-life, allowing for once-daily dosing, though this increases risks for gastrointestinal side effects.
NSAID Risks: Both medications carry significant FDA boxed warnings for increased risk of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal events, including heart attack, stroke, and severe bleeding.
Important Contraindications: Piroxicam and meloxicam are contraindicated before or after heart bypass surgery and should be used with caution in patients with heart, kidney, or liver disease.
Drug Interactions: Concomitant use with other NSAIDs, blood thinners, and certain blood pressure medications can be dangerous and should be avoided.
Medical Supervision: Due to serious potential side effects, these medications require a prescription and careful medical monitoring, especially with long-term use.

Demystifying the Name: Felxicam, Piroxicam, and Meloxicam

The name 'Felxicam' is often a brand name or a misspelling. It is commonly associated with piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and sometimes confused with meloxicam, another NSAID. Both piroxicam (e.g., Feldene) and meloxicam (e.g., Mobic) manage pain and inflammation but differ in structure, half-life, and specific uses. This article will clarify their uses.

What Piroxicam (Feldene) is Used For

Piroxicam is an NSAID used for long-term conditions and is taken once daily due to its extended half-life. It works by blocking COX enzymes, reducing pain and inflammation caused by prostaglandins.

Common indications for piroxicam include:

Osteoarthritis: Relieves pain and swelling from this joint disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Manages chronic pain and inflammation.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Provides symptomatic treatment.
Other Musculoskeletal Disorders: Used for various muscle and joint issues.
Gouty Arthritis: Treats severe joint pain during gout attacks.

What Meloxicam (Mobic) is Used For

Meloxicam is an NSAID that also inhibits COX enzymes but is more selective for COX-2 than piroxicam. This may lower the risk of certain GI side effects compared to non-selective NSAIDs.

Common indications for meloxicam include:

Osteoarthritis: Alleviates signs and symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treats this autoimmune condition.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): Approved for certain types in children aged 2 and older.
Post-Operative Pain: Short-term management of moderate-to-severe pain.

Potential Risks and Precautions

Both piroxicam and meloxicam have FDA boxed warnings about cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks.

Cardiovascular Risks

Heart Attack and Stroke: NSAIDs increase the risk of serious, potentially fatal cardiovascular events, especially with long-term use or in patients with heart conditions.
Heart Bypass Surgery: Contraindicated before or after CABG surgery.
Fluid Retention: Can cause swelling and worsen heart failure or high blood pressure.

Gastrointestinal Risks

Bleeding and Ulcers: NSAIDs can cause serious, sometimes fatal, GI bleeding and ulcers without warning.
Risk Factors: Higher risk for older adults, those with a history of ulcers, and those taking other medications that increase bleeding risk.

Comparison: Piroxicam vs. Meloxicam


Feature	Piroxicam (e.g., Feldene)	Meloxicam (e.g., Mobic)
Drug Class	Non-selective NSAID	Preferentially COX-2 selective NSAID
Half-Life	Long (approx. 50-60 hours)	Shorter than piroxicam, allowing once-daily dosing
Dosage Frequency	Typically once a day	Typically once a day
Formulations	Oral capsules	Oral capsules, tablets, suspension, injection
Gastrointestinal Risk	Higher risk of gastric ulceration and bleeding	Potentially lower risk of GI side effects
Common Side Effects	Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness	Headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, swelling
Pediatric Use	Limited data, not generally for very young children	Approved for certain conditions in children aged 2+

Important Considerations for Safe Use

Consult a healthcare professional before taking any medication potentially referred to as 'felxicam'. They can determine the correct drug and dosage based on your individual needs and medical history.

Drug Interactions: Piroxicam and meloxicam can interact with blood thinners, blood pressure medications, diuretics, certain antidepressants, and other NSAIDs. Combining with other NSAIDs is not advised due to increased side effect risk.
Pregnancy: Generally avoided during pregnancy, especially after 20 weeks.
Medical History: Conditions like heart disease, kidney or liver disease, asthma, and a history of ulcers or bleeding increase the risk of complications.
Monitoring: Long-term use may require monitoring of blood pressure, kidney, and liver function.

Conclusion

What is felxicam used for? It usually refers to piroxicam, a long-acting NSAID for arthritis, or potentially meloxicam, another NSAID with a more selective action. While effective for pain and inflammation, both carry serious cardiovascular and GI risks. Understanding your specific medication, its use, and potential side effects is essential. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting or changing treatment with these potent anti-inflammatory drugs.

For more information on the active ingredients discussed, please refer to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus drug information website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Piroxicam is a non-selective NSAID that inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, while meloxicam is preferentially COX-2 selective. Piroxicam has a longer half-life, but meloxicam may have a lower risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

'Felxicam' is a brand name often referring to piroxicam. While both piroxicam and meloxicam are NSAIDs with similar uses, they are different drugs with varying mechanisms, half-lives, and side effect profiles.

Common side effects for piroxicam include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. For meloxicam, they can include headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, and swelling.

No, you should not take 'Felxicam' (piroxicam or meloxicam) with other NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin. Combining these medications significantly increases the risk of severe side effects, especially gastrointestinal bleeding.

These medications are not recommended for individuals with a history of allergies to NSAIDs, those with heart disease, a recent heart attack, stomach ulcers, severe kidney or liver disease, and pregnant women beyond 20 weeks.

The most serious risks include life-threatening cardiovascular thrombotic events like heart attack and stroke, and severe gastrointestinal events like bleeding and ulcers, which can occur without warning.

Due to its long half-life, it may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer to experience the full benefits of piroxicam. Steady-state plasma levels are typically achieved within 7–12 days.