Melox Fort 15 mg tablets – meloxicam for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

Melox Fort 15 mg tablets contain meloxicam, a medicine from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oxicam subgroup (ATC M01AC06). Meloxicam reduces inflammation and pain in joints and muscles.

The medicine is intended for adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older for short-term treatment of the symptoms of osteoarthritis flares and for long-term symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Each tablet contains 15 mg of meloxicam; the total daily dose must not exceed 15 mg.

What is Melox Fort used for and how should it be taken?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Melox Fort used for?

According to the approved leaflet, Melox Fort is used in adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older for:

• short-term symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis flares (painful, swollen joints during an exacerbation),
• long-term symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,
• long-term symptomatic treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew’s disease).

Meloxicam relieves symptoms (pain, inflammation, stiffness) but does not treat the underlying cause of the disease. It is not intended for the rapid relief of acute pain.

How is Melox Fort taken and dosed?

Always take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Usual dosing according to the leaflet:

• Osteoarthritis flare: 7.5 mg (half a tablet) once daily; if needed, the dose may be increased to 15 mg (one tablet) once daily.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: 15 mg (one tablet) once daily; the dose may be reduced to 7.5 mg (half a tablet).
• Ankylosing spondylitis: 15 mg (one tablet) once daily; the dose may be reduced to 7.5 mg (half a tablet).
• Maximum daily dose: 15 mg meloxicam.
• In patients at increased risk of side effects, the doctor starts treatment with 7.5 mg (half a tablet) daily.

Method of administration: swallow the tablet with water or another drink during a meal. The tablet has a cross score line and can be divided into equal doses, so the 7.5 mg dose is taken as half a tablet.

If you feel no improvement after a few days, or think the effect is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor – do not change the dose yourself.

Special patient groups

• Children and adolescents under 16 years: the medicine must not be given.
• Elderly: for long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis the recommended dose is 7.5 mg daily; gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation are more frequent and more severe in older people.
• Kidney impairment: no dose change in mild to moderate impairment; in dialysis patients with severe impairment the dose must not exceed 7.5 mg daily; severe renal failure without dialysis is a contraindication.
• Liver impairment: no dose change in mild to moderate impairment; severe liver impairment is a contraindication.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy to meloxicam or any of the excipients;
• the last three months of pregnancy;
• children and adolescents under 16 years;
• asthma, nasal polyps, hives or angioedema after taking acetylsalicylic acid or other NSAIDs;
• bleeding or perforation in the stomach or bowel during previous NSAID treatment;
• active ulcer or bleeding in the stomach or bowel, or recurrent ulcer or bleeding (at least two episodes) in the past;
• severe liver impairment;
• severe kidney failure in patients not on dialysis;
• previous bleeding in the brain or any bleeding disorder;
• severe heart failure.

Warnings and precautions

• The risk of heart attack and stroke increases with dose and duration – do not exceed the prescribed dose and treatment duration; talk to your doctor if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease, or if you smoke.
• Stop treatment immediately if you notice black (tarry) stools or abdominal pain – possible signs of an ulcer or bleeding.
• Life-threatening skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Lyell syndrome) have been reported, most often in the first weeks of treatment; with target-like red spots, blisters or sores on mucous membranes, stop the medicine and seek medical help at once. The same applies to previous fixed drug eruptions after meloxicam or other oxicams.
• Meloxicam may mask signs of infection, such as fever.
• Special caution and medical advice are needed in case of previous oesophagitis, gastritis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, high blood pressure, heart, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, reduced blood volume (dehydration, blood loss, surgery), high blood potassium, and in older people.
• The medicine contains lactose – if you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor. It contains less than 1 mmol sodium per tablet.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you take, especially:

• other NSAIDs (including acetylsalicylic acid at pain-relief doses) and corticosteroids;
• anticoagulants and thrombolytics;
• diuretics, blood pressure medicines (e.g. beta-blockers) and medicines for heart and kidney disease – your doctor may monitor kidney function;
• potassium salts, tacrolimus, ciclosporin and trimethoprim (risk of high potassium and kidney damage);
• lithium, SSRI antidepressants, methotrexate, pemetrexed, deferasirox;
• colestyramine;
• oral antidiabetics (sulfonylureas, nateglinide) – because of the risk of hypoglycaemia your doctor will monitor blood sugar.

Do not combine meloxicam with other NSAID painkillers without medical advice.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

• Last 3 months of pregnancy: the medicine must not be taken (risk to the baby’s kidneys and heart, prolonged bleeding, delayed or prolonged labour).
• First 6 months of pregnancy: only if absolutely necessary and on medical advice, at the lowest dose for the shortest time; from week 20 even use for several days may damage the baby’s kidneys (low amniotic fluid) or cause narrowing of the ductus arteriosus.
• Breastfeeding: use is not recommended.
• Fertility: meloxicam may make it more difficult to conceive – tell your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy.

Driving and using machines

• Visual disturbances (blurred vision), dizziness, drowsiness and vertigo may occur. If they do, do not drive or use machines.

Possible side effects

Very common (more than 1 in 10): indigestion, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, diarrhoea.

Common (up to 1 in 10): headache.

Uncommon (up to 1 in 100): dizziness, vertigo, drowsiness, anaemia, high blood pressure, flushing, sodium and water retention, high potassium, belching, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, stomatitis, itching, rash, swelling (including ankles), angioedema, changes in liver and kidney test results.

Rare (up to 1 in 1,000): mood changes, nightmares, blood count changes, ringing in the ears, palpitations, stomach or duodenal ulcer, oesophagitis, asthma attack in people allergic to NSAIDs, severe skin reactions (SJS/TEN), hives, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, colitis.

Very rare (up to 1 in 10,000): bullous reactions and erythema multiforme, hepatitis, acute kidney failure, bowel perforation, agranulocytosis.

Not known: confusion, disorientation, anaphylactic reactions, photosensitivity, heart failure, pancreatitis, female infertility, fixed drug eruption.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: contact a doctor or the nearest healthcare facility immediately. Possible symptoms are lethargy, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and upper abdominal pain; in severe poisoning, bleeding, high blood pressure, acute kidney failure, liver dysfunction, breathing difficulties, seizures, coma and collapse.
• Missed dose: do not take a double dose; take the next dose at the usual time.
• Stopping treatment: your doctor decides how long treatment lasts; if a serious side effect occurs, stop the medicine immediately and contact your doctor.

Related information

For additional care and support with joint pain and stiffness, see also the category Bones, joints and muscles – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: meloxicam – 15 mg per tablet.
• Excipients: crospovidone; povidone K30; microcrystalline cellulose; sodium citrate; anhydrous lactose; colloidal anhydrous silica; magnesium stearate.
• Appearance: round light-yellow tablets with a cross score line.
• Pack: opaque PVC/PE/PVDC-aluminium blister with 10 tablets; box with 1 or 3 blisters (10 or 30 tablets).
• Marketing authorisation holder: Representative office Nobel Ilac Sanayii ve Ticaret AS Belgrade (Vračar), Belgrade. Manufacturer: Nobel Ilac Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S., Duzce, Turkey.
• Marketing authorisation number: 515-01-04198-22-001 (10 tablets) and 515-01-04199-22-001 (30 tablets), renewal of 17.10.2023.

Storage

• This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Shelf life: 4 years; do not use after the expiry date stated on the box.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Melox Fort and Melox?

Both tablets contain meloxicam. Melox Fort contains 15 mg per tablet and Melox 7.5 mg. The maximum daily dose is 15 mg for both, i.e. one Melox Fort tablet per day.

Can I split a Melox Fort tablet?

Yes. The tablet has a cross score line and can be divided into equal doses; half a tablet equals 7.5 mg, the recommended dose for older patients and those at increased risk.

How long may I take Melox Fort?

For osteoarthritis flares the medicine is intended for short-term treatment, and for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis for long-term treatment – always as long as your doctor prescribes, at the lowest effective dose.

Does Melox Fort affect blood pressure?

It can. High blood pressure and fluid retention are listed as uncommon side effects, and meloxicam may reduce the effect of some blood pressure medicines and diuretics. If you are treated for hypertension, measure your blood pressure regularly.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient information leaflet Melox Fort 15 mg tablets (PIL)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics Melox Fort 15 mg (SmPC)

Date sources were checked: 25.10.2026.