Melox Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy: Lethal effects on the foetus have been reported in animal studies using doses higher than those administered clinically. Use of NSAIDs at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy may cause foetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. These adverse outcomes are seen, on average, after days to weeks of treatment, although oligohydramnios has been infrequently reported as soon as 48 hours after NSAID initiation. Oligohydramnios is often, but not always, reversible with treatment discontinuation. It is recommended that the use of meloxicam be avoided during pregnancy. In the final trimester of pregnancy the use of any prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor may result in foetal cardiopulmonary toxicity, pulmonary hypertension and premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, and renal toxicity. Uterine contraction may also be inhibited, and in animals this has been associated with dystocia incidence elevation and delayed parturition. Meloxicam, in common with all NSAIDS, is absolutely contraindicated during the final trimester of pregnancy.
Lactation: NSAIDS are excreted in maternal breast milk, therefore administration should be avoided in women who are breast feeding as a precaution.