Feldene (Piroxicam)

FELDENE comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It’s typically taken once or twice daily.

Take this medicine around the same time each day with a full glass of water.

You can take FELDENE with food if it upsets your stomach.

Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully. Don’t take more or less FELDENE than your doctor recommends.

FELDENE Overdose

Symptoms of an overdose may include:

• Drowsiness
• Upset stomach or stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Bloody, black, or tarry stools
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Coma
• Breathing difficulties

If you suspect an overdose, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Missed Dose of FELDENE

If you miss a dose of FELDENE, take it as soon as you remember.

However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule.

Don’t double up on doses to make up for a missed one.

Common Side Effects of FELDENE

Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects are severe or don’t go away:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Gas
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Headache

Serious Side Effects of FELDENE

Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms listed in the FELDENE Warnings section above, or any of the following serious side effects:

• Vision problems
• Unexplained weight gain
• Joint pain
• Fever
• Blisters
• Rash, itching, or hives
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hoarseness
• Pale skin
• Excessive fatigue or lack of energy
• Fast heartbeat
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Upset stomach
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• Flu-like symptoms
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Back pain
• Difficult or painful urination
• Discolored, cloudy, or bloody urine

FELDENE carries a black-box warning because it may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in certain people.

This risk may be greater if you already have heart problems or if you take FELDENE for a long time.

Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had:

• Heart disease
• A heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol

Don’t take FELDENE right before or right after bypass heart surgery.

Get emergency medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking FELDENE:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Weakness on one side of your body
• Slurred speech

This medicine also carries a black-box warning because it may increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers and bleeding. These problems can be serious and sometimes fatal.

Elderly people and those who take NSAIDs such as FELDENE for a long time have a greater risk of developing intestinal problems. Consuming alcohol may also increase your risk of stomach bleeding or ulcers.

Tell your doctor before starting FELDENE if you take any of the following medicines:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• Aspirin
• Other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
• Oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone)

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you have ever had ulcers, stomach bleeding, gastritis, or any bleeding problems.

Stop taking FELDENE right away and call your doctor if you experience:

• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Heartburn
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Bloody stools
• Black and tarry stools

Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory while taking FELDENE. Your doctor will want to carefully monitor your body’s response to the drug.

Before taking FELDENE, you should tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• Asthma
• Nasal polyps
• Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Stomach or bowel bleeding
• Low blood sodium levels
• A history of alcohol abuse
• Allergies to medications

Discuss the risks and benefits of using this medicine with your doctor if you’re over the age of 65. Older adults are more likely to experience serious side effects.

FELDENE will help control your symptoms, but it won’t cure your condition. It may take up to 12 weeks before you experience the full benefits of this drug.

Tell your doctor that you take FELDENE before any type of surgery, including dental procedures.

Pregnancy and FELDENE

FELDENE may harm an unborn baby. Don’t take this medicine without talking to a doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You especially shouldn’t take FELDENE during your last three months of pregnancy.

The medicine is found in breast milk and could hurt a nursing baby. Don’t take FELDENE while breastfeeding a baby.

FELDENE for Dogs

FELDENE is commonly used to manage pain in dogs.

It can also be combined with other drugs to treat a type of bladder cancer in dogs.

The medicine may have risks, so you should talk to your veterinarian before giving your pet FELDENE.

Tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you’re taking, especially those listed in the FELDENE Warnings section above, or any of the following:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik)
• Diuretics (water pills)
• Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• Medications for diabetes
• Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

FELDENE and Other Interactions

FELDENE may cause dizziness or drowsiness.

Don’t drive or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

FELDENE and Alcohol, Tobacco

Consuming alcohol or using tobacco products may raise the risk of developing serious side effects while taking FELDENE.

Talk to your doctor about these potential interactions.