Meloxicam And Tramadol: Is It Safe To Take Mobic With Tramadol?

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

Authored by Olivier George, Ph.D.

Reviewed by Michael Espelin APRN

0 sources cited

Tramadol and Meloxicam (Mobic) are pain-relieving drugs, but each caters to different types and severity of pain. Tramadol is a weak opioid used in the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain. At the same time, Meloxicam belongs to a class of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain.

When considering the treatment with Meloxicam and Tramadol, let’s look at whether you can take the drugs together, the differences between Tramadol vs. Meloxicam, the adverse effects and interactions of Tramadol, and Meloxicam.

Can You Take Tramadol with Meloxicam?

Tramadol and Meloxicam are both known to provide pain relief, but they have different mechanisms of action that target different pain pathways within the body.

Woman sitting on the couch at home has a pain in her neck.

Still, can you take Tramadol with Meloxicam? There is tentative evidence that the practice of combining both medications may lead to better pain relief through their synergistic activity. Studies have shown that both drugs can be taken together safely, although taking them together does not always double the pain-relieving effect. However, combining lower doses of both drugs was more effective than taking higher doses of Ultram alone and can help contribute towards lesser gastrointestinal side effects and fewer chances of developing withdrawal symptoms from prolonged use of Ultram. In addition, fewer gastrointestinal side effects are expected in patients because of the lower Meloxicam pill dose when used together.

What is the Difference Between Tramadol and Meloxicam?

When considering Mobic vs. Tramadol, both have strong and weak sides, which are described below:

Mobic Pros:

  • Works well for inflammation
  • Patients can use Mobic for nerve pain as well
  • It can be taken once a day
  • It is comparatively cheaper than other types of NSAIDs

Tramadol Pros:

  • Provides effective pain relief for moderate and severe pain
  • Causes lesser side effects when compared with other opioids
  • It has less chance of causing breathing problems in older patients

Mobic Cons:

  • It has some severe side effects, especially for pregnant women
  • Long-term intake increases the possible number of side effects
  • It cannot be obtained without a prescription from a medical professional

Tramadol Cons:

  • It is addictive, and the high risk of abuse is involved
  • It cannot be used during pregnancy and lactation period because it can affect the fetus or newborn baby
  • Offers relatively less pain relief when compared with other opioids

Meloxicam vs. Tramadol Indications for Use

Tramadol is a weak opioid that reduces the perception of painful stimuli by modifying specific opioid receptors located throughout the nervous system. It is used for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe continuous pain. It includes conditions such as injuries, cancer pain, neuropathic pain (pain due to direct nerve injury), etc. However, the long-term use of Ultram is often limited due to its addictive properties and the substantial risk of developing a narcotic dependence when taking the medication. On the other hand, Mobic is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication belonging to a class of drugs known as NSAIDs. It is used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain, such as pain due to inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, physical injury, headaches, menstrual pain, and so on. However, its effectiveness in the treatment of neuropathic pain is still debated.

What are the Side Effects of Tramadol and Mobic?

Based on the research about control of chronic pain, both Ultram and Mobic are effective pain relief medications. So, is Mobic like Ultram when it comes to the side effects? Both cause different types of side effects which differ in severity and seriousness.

Ultram Has Less Serious Side Effects Listed Below:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Breathing problems

However, Ultram does have several severe side effects, such as addiction and overdose. Mobic also poses some serious side effects.

These Include:

  • Stomach ulcers
  • GI Bleeding
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Raised blood pressure
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Stroke

Can Mobic cause weight gain? Yes, weight gain is a possible side effect of Mobic. It happens because of fluid retention in the body, which causes swelling, edema, and weight gain. It is a severe adverse effect that requires you to seek immediate medical help.

Are Meloxicam and Tramadol Addictive Medications?

Meloxicam and Tramadol both can be abused and should be taken as prescribed following all the instructions. However, as an opioid, Ultram has the potential to lead to dependence and addiction. It is especially evident when the medication is misused, such as when taken at higher doses than prescribed by your doctor, when taken longer than prescribed or mixed with other psychoactive substances. It may be due to the euphoric effect that can be caused by opioid abuse. The danger in this is that when taken in higher amounts, Ultram can lead to an overdose.

Female hands holding blister pack with pills.

Mobic, on the other hand, does not provide any euphoric feelings to the patient. It can, however, be abused when taken in large quantities, taken for too long, or mixed with other medications such as other painkillers. It usually happens when the drug is taken without a prescription or when you fail to contact your doctor first for more information. It could lead to significant side effects of abuse, such as gastrointestinal issues like gastrointestinal pain, ulcers, bleeding, and even rupture.

Meloxicam vs. Tramadol Interactions

A look at the Meloxicam vs. Tramadol side effects shows that several drugs have dangerous interactions with Mobic and Ultram. Some of the medications should completely be avoided when taking the Meloxicam pills.

These Are:

  • Cidofovir: Cidofovir has the potential to cause kidney injury. NSAIDs such as Mobic are also known to cause kidney injury. Therefore combining both medications at the same time may increase your risk of developing kidney disease.
  • Methotrexate: High doses of methotrexate are known to damage kidney tissue. Therefore combining methotrexate and another medication known to adversely affect the kidney, such as Mobic, is not advisable.
  • Aspirin: Aspirin is an NSAID like Mobic, and combining these medications increases your risk of developing the adverse effects of using higher doses of NSAIDs.
  • Quinapril: The combination of both medications may reduce kidney function, particularly in elderly or volume-depleted individuals.

Information on Meloxicam interactions with Advil shows that they can also be used together with a doctor’s prescription.

In the case of Ultram drug interactions, the following drugs should completely be avoided while taking this medication:

  • Propoxyphene: Propoxyphene is an opioid medication similar to Ultram. Therefore combining these drugs increases your risk of developing the adverse effects of using higher doses of opioids, such as overdose and dependence.
  • Dapoxetine: Combining both of these medicines can increase the level of serotonin in your body, leading to various derangements within the body, a condition known as Serotonin Syndrome.
  • Naltrexone: Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning that it blocks the effects of opioids. Therefore taking the medication with Ultram may reduce or eliminate the effects of Ultram.

Always contact your doctor to discuss all the medications you are taking to prevent dangerous interactions of Meloxicam or Ultram when prescribing them and to obtain more information concerning any other possible drug-drug interactions when using the medicine.

Is Meloxicam Stronger than Tramadol?

Meloxicam and Tramadol are both painkillers but may have different strengths and efficacy. While opioids are generally believed to provide stronger pain relief than NSAIDs, they are often associated with severe adverse effects such as respiratory depression, overdose, and addiction. An article on the pain coverage of Meloxicam vs. Tramadol found evidence that did support that a Meloxicam 15mg dose provided stronger pain relief than a 50 mg dose of Tramadol.

Which One is the Best Pain Reliever?

Meloxicam and Tramadol are used to treat pain associated with different conditions. Ultram dosage requires it to be taken multiple times a day, whereas Mobic can be used only once daily. Ultram has relatively less severe adverse reactions, whereas Meloxicam can have more severe adverse effects. From this point of view, Ultram is relatively safer, but Ultram is an opioid and an addictive medication, which is an essential factor when comparing Tramadol vs. Meloxicam.

Always contact a medical doctor before taking Mobic or Ultram. Only the medical professional knows the conditions when the use of Ultram is necessary and when it is better to use Mobic. If any signs of abuse have been noticed in a patient, they can lead to harmful consequences if not treated in time.

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Page Sources

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Published on: May 14th, 2019

Updated on: March 22nd, 2024

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