Piroxicam

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended restrictions on the use of piroxicam containing medicinal products because of the risk of gastrointestinal side effects and serious skin reactions.

The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that piroxicam should no longer be used for treatment of short-term painful and inflammatory conditions. Piroxicam can still be prescribed for the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. However it should not be the first choice of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment in these conditions.

Prescription of piroxicam should always be initiated by a physician experienced in the treatment of patients with inflammatory or degenerative rheumatic diseases and treatment should be used in the lowest dose (no more than 20 mg per day) and for the shortest duration possible. In any case, the treatment should be reviewed after the first 14 days of starting.

Source: EMEA Press release: http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/press/pr/26514407en.pdf