Lack of interaction between meloxicam and warfarin in healthy volunteers

Abstract

Objective

The effect of multiple oral doses of meloxicam 15 mg on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin was investigated in healthy male volunteers. Warfarin was administered in an individualized dose to achieve a stable reduction in prothrombin times calculated as International Normalized Ratio (INR) values. Then INR- and a drug concentration-time profile was determined. For the interaction phase, meloxicam was added for 7 days and then INR measurements and the warfarin drug profiles were repeated for comparison. Overall, warfarin treatment lasted for 30 days.

Results

Warfarin and meloxicam were well tolerated by healthy volunteers in this study. Thirteen healthy volunteers with stable INR values entered the interaction phase. Prothrombin times, expressed as mean INR values, were not significantly altered by concomitant meloxicam treatment, being 1.20 for warfarin alone and 1.27 for warfarin with meloxicam cotreatment. R- and S-warfarin pharmacokinetics were similar for both treatments. Geometric mean (% gCV) AUC_Ss values for the more potent S-enantiomer were 5.07 mg·h·l^-1 (27.5%) for warfarin alone and 5.64 mg·h·l^-1 (28.1%) during the interaction phase. Respective AUC_ss values for R-warfarin were 7.31 mg·h·l^-1 (43.8%) and 7.58 mg·h·r^-1 (39.1%).

Conclusion

The concomitant administration of the new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam affected neither the pharmacodynamics nor the pharmacokinetics of a titrated warfarin dose. A combination of both drugs should nevertheless be avoided and, if necessary, INR monitoring is considered mandatory.