Mobic vs Advil – Compared Meds

Mobic

It is the brand name of a drug called meloxicam that belongs to a family of medications collectively called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

This medication works by blocking the action of cyclooxygenase (COX) – an enzyme that is involved in the production of many chemicals in the human body, especially prostaglandins – substances responsible for causing pain and inflammation in the body.

Uses

It is typically used to relieve the swelling and pain of rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints) and osteoarthritis.

Moreover, this medication is occasionally used to treat ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic, multisystem inflammatory disorder involving mainly the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joints).

Dosage

The initial recommended dose is 0.09 mg/lb bodyweight only on the first day of treatment.

Notes – your doctor may want to prescribe another drug for you to take along with this one to protect your stomach from irritation. However, you should take the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration according to individual response.

Side Effects And Precautions

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness;
  • upset stomach;
  • nausea;
  • diarrhea;
  • flu-like symptoms;
  • gas;
  • edema (an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin and in the cavities of the body);
  • upper respiratory infection;
  • stomach pain;
  • headaches;
  • digestive problems;
  • heartburn.

Rare side effects may include:

  • tarry stools;
  • cracks in the skin;
  • weak pulse;
  • loosening of the skin;
  • hoarseness;
  • loss of heat from the body;
  • unpleasant breath odor;
  • severe stomach pain;
  • problems with swallowing;
  • continuing vomiting;
  • scaly skin;
  • muscle pain;
  • irritated eyes;
  • red, swollen skin;
  • fever with or without chills;
  • vomiting of blood which looks like coffee grounds;
  • a decreased amount of urine;
  • swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, lips, face, or tongue;
  • unusual tiredness.

Do not take this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug if you:

  • have recently had coronary artery bypass graft surgery;
  • have experienced hives, asthma, nasal polyps, or any type of allergic reaction;
  • are less than 18 years of age;
  • are allergic to any ingredients of the medication;
  • have higher than normal levels of potassium in the blood;
  • have severely reduced liver function;
  • have intestinal ulcers;
  • have severe uncontrolled heart failure;
  • have any bleeding disorders;
  • have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease);
  • have severely reduced kidney function.

Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the drugs you take including non-prescription and prescription drugs and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you are taking:

  • ACE inhibitors like captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil), enalapril (Vasotec), and fosinopril (Monopril);
  • lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
  • aspirin (Ecotrin) and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • alcohol;
  • cimetidine (Tagamet);
  • cholestyramine (Questran);
  • warfarin (Coumadin);
  • digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin);
  • methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
  • oxymetazoline;
  • phenylephrine;
  • diuretics, like furosemide (Lasix) or thiazides (hydrochlorothiazide);
  • Claritin;
  • cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).

Pregnancy

Use of this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug during pregnancy (particularly if you are 30 or more weeks pregnant) is not advised unless prescribed by your doctor.

Advil

It is the brand name of a drug called ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that works by stopping the production of prostaglandins, compounds in the human body that cause inflammation.

Uses

This medication is used for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), and rheumatoid arthritis. In children under 12, it is used for pain due to a sore throat, colds, earache, immunization, and high temperature.

Side Effects and Precautions

Common side effects may include:

  • breathing difficulty;
  • bruising;
  • dizziness;
  • pain in the chest below the breastbone;
  • headaches;
  • belching;
  • a feeling of indigestion;
  • difficult or painful urination;
  • tightness in the chest.

Rare side effects may include:

  • pounding in the ears;
  • swallowing difficulties ;
  • skin eruptions;
  • itching skin;
  • dilated neck veins;
  • a dry cough;
  • seizures;
  • purplish patches on the skin;
  • shallow breathing;
  • swelling around the eyes, lips, face, or tongue;
  • severe sunburn;
  • stomach pain;
  • skin thinness;
  • red skin lesions, usually with a purple center;
  • eye pain;
  • blue lips, fingernails, or skin;
  • swelling or soreness of the tongue;
  • slurred speech;
  • extreme fatigue;
  • red, irritated eyes;
  • white spots on the lips or inside the mouth;
  • redness or other discoloration of the skin;
  • excess flatulence (intestinal gas);
  • fluid-filled skin blisters.

Do not use this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug if you:

  • have a bleeding in the brain;
  • have uncontrolled heart failure;
  • have severely reduced or worsening kidney function;
  • are allergic to any ingredients of this medication;
  • have a severely reduced liver function;
  • have had allergic symptoms (e.g., asthma, itchy skin rash, runny nose, nasal polyps,  swelling of the throat, face, or tongue) caused by any medications;
  • have high blood potassium levels;
  • are allergic to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ketorolac, ibuprofen, diclofenac) or loratadine;
  • have a bleeding in the intestines or stomach;
  • are in the third trimester of pregnancy;
  • have a bleeding disorder;
  • are breast-feeding a baby;
  • have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as – Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis;
  • have had recent heart bypass surgery.

Mobic vs Advil – Which Is Better?

According to a 1996 study that was conducted at the Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne about the effectiveness of these medications:

  • meloxicam has the advantage of a considerably lower incidence of gastrointestinal and renal side effects. In addition, it is a good treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, with efficacy comparable to ibuprofen.
  • there was a substantial decrease in hemoglobin (the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells) and a notable increase in serum creatinine and urea in the ibuprofen group.

Image credit – Shutterstock

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