Feldene

Feldene is a prescription medication used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Feldene belongs to a group of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It works by blocking substances called prostaglandins that cause pain and inflammation.

This medication comes in capsule form. It is taken once or twice daily, with or after food to minimize stomach upset.

Common side effects include stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Feldene may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

Feldene is a prescription medication used:

• For relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
• For relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your liver function
• your age

The recommended dose of Feldene (piroxicam) for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is 20 mg given orally once per day.

• If needed, the daily dose may be divided.

Cardiovascular Risk

• NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use. Patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease may be at greater risk.
• Feldene is contraindicated for the treatment of peri-operative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Gastrointestinal Risk

• NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These events can occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms. Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events.

Serious side effects have been reported with Feldene including the following:

• Cardiovascular thrombotic events. Feldene can increase your risk of cardiovascular and heart diseases such as strokes and myocardial infarctions, which can lead to death. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease.
• Gastrointestinal effects. Feldene can cause digestive tract problems such as ulcers, bleeding, inflammation, and perforations (small holes). Tell your doctor if you have a history of digestive problems, or if you smoke or frequently drink alcohol. Alert your doctor if you take anticoagulants (blood-thinners) or corticosteroids such as prednisone.
• Renal effects. Kidney damage can result from the use of Feldene. Tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease or take ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril and enalapril) or diuretics (water pills).
• Hypersensitivity reaction. An allergic reaction to Feldene can occur. Symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction include:
  • hives
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • itching
  • swelling
• Adverse skin reactions. Feldene can lead to dangerous skin reactions. Symptoms of a skin reaction include:
  • rash
  • red, itchy, or scaly skin
  • blisters
  • fever
• Pregnancy. Feldene  should not be taken in late pregnancy.

Feldene can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Feldene affects you.

Do not take Feldene if you:

• are allergic to Feldene or to any of its ingredients
• have experienced asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Severe, rarely fatal, anaphylactic-like reactions to NSAIDs have been reported in such patients.
• being treated for peri-operative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

Common side effects include:

• indigestion
• heartburn
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• headache
• dizziness
• nervousness
• drowsiness

This is not a complete list of Feldene side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• aspirin
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) blockers such as
  • benazepril (Lotensin, Lotensin HCT)
  • captopril (Capoten, Capozide)
  • enalapril (Vasotec, Vaseretic)
  • fosinopril (Monopril, Monopril HCT)
  • lisinopril (Prinivil, Prinzide, Zestril, Zestoretic)
  • moexipril (Univasc, Uniretic)
  • quinapril (Accupril, Accuretic, Quinaretic)
  • ramipril (Altace)
  • trandolapril (Mavik, Tarka)
• diuretics such as
  • acetazolamide (Diamox)
  • amiloride (Midamor)
  • bumetanide (Bumex)
  • chlorothiazide (Diuril)
  • chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
  • ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
  • furosemide (Lasix)
  • hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HCTZ)
  • metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
  • torsemide (Demadex)
  • triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide)
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• lithium (Lithobid)
• highly protein bound drugs such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)

This is not a complete list of Feldene drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Feldene falls into category C. There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Feldene capsules are not recommended for use in pregnant women since safety has not been established in humans. Feldene should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

In late pregnancy, as with other NSAIDs, Feldene should be avoided.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Feldene has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Feldene, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. Feldene is not recommended for use in nursing mothers.

You may see the therapeutic effects of piroxicam early in treatment, but there is a progressive increase in response over several weeks later.

Take piroxicam with or after food to minimize stomach upset.

Piroxicam can cause ulcers and bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any signs or symptoms of bleeding.