Opokan – indications for use, dosage, composition, contraindications, side effects, substitutes

Proven content

Opokan is a pain reliever used in the treatment of bone, joint and muscle problems associated with degenerative joint diseases and rheumatoid diseases. The preparation belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and, in addition to relieving pain, it also has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. The active substance of Opokan is meloxicam.

Opokan – what is this drug?

Opokan is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine) that uses the active substance meloxicam. The preparation has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect, and the recommendations for its use relate to the short-term treatment of osteoarticular and muscle pains. Opokan comes as over-the-counter Opokan tablets (7,5 mg)which can be used by adults and adolescents from 15 years of age. Other forms of the drug are also available, such as the prescription Opokan Forte (15 mg).

Opokan – indications for use

The use of Opokan tablets is indicated in the case of worsening pain symptoms, e.g. of the spine, back or knees, in the course of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The preparation is used for short-term treatment of symptoms accompanying these diseases, when their exacerbation occurs.

Opokan – dosage

Opokan tablets (7,5 mg) are taken with a meal – the tablet should be washed down with water. The recommended daily dose for adults and adolescents from 15 years of age is one tablet once a day. The use of one Opokan tablet (1 mg) a day is also the maximum dose of the drug for people with liver disease or kidney failure.

Opokan – drug overdose

Use Opokan as prescribed and do not take more than the recommended dose, as there is a risk of overdosing. In this case, symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, headache, drowsiness or insomnia may appear. There is also a risk of high blood pressure, liver and kidney disorders, seizures, shortness or arrest of breathing, coma, allergic reactions and cardiac arrest.

Opokan – composition

The main ingredient of Opokan is the active substance – meloxicam, the content of which in one tablet of the drug is 7,5 g. In addition, the preparation also contains lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, pregelatinized starch, sodium citrate, anhydrous colloidal silica and magnesium stearate.

Opokan – contraindications

In some situations or with certain health problems, the use of Opokan is contraindicated. The drug should not be given to children under 15 years of age, to women in the third trimester of pregnancy or to breastfeeding women, as well as people:

1. suffering from hypersensitivity to meloxicam, other NSAIDs (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid) or any other ingredient of Opokan;
2. who have experienced symptoms such as hives, asthma, attacks of breathlessness, nasal polyps or angioedema after taking other NSAIDs;
3. with severe heart or liver failure;
4. non-dialysed with severe renal failure;
5. after bleeding in the brain or other types of bleeding (e.g. gastrointestinal bleeding) in the past;
6. with gastric and duodenal ulcer disease (active or recurrent).

Opokan – side effects

When using Opokan, the patient may experience side effects caused by the meloxicam contained in the preparation. Down common side effects of Opokan these include gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), itching, rash, swelling (including in the lower limbs), headache, light-headedness or anemia.

Uncommon and rarely, people using Opokan may develop, among others, gastrointestinal bleeding, transient liver disorders, insomnia, mood changes, confusion, tinnitus, increase in blood pressure, visual disturbances, hives or kidney failure. The complete list of possible side effects of Opokan is provided in the package leaflet.

Opokan – when to be careful?

People who have chronic health problems, take medications on a permanent basis, have experienced allergic reactions to substances contained in medicinal preparations (especially in the case of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or have the contraindications mentioned above, should exercise particular caution before using Opokan. In such cases, or if you have any doubts, it is advisable to talk to your doctor before taking the medicine. Consultation is also indicated in patients over 65 years of age, women planning a pregnancy or having difficulties getting pregnant.

Other drugs and opokan

Some medications should not be used simultaneously with Opokan or special care and medical supervision should be exercised. Opokan should not be used in parallel with:

1. other NSAIDs;
2. antihypertensive drugs: sartans, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors;
3. oral anticoagulants;
4. diuretics;
5. litem;
6. cyclosporin;
7. glucocorticoids;
8. orally administered diabetes medications;
9. methotrexate;
10. cholestyramine;
11. contraceptives intrauterine.

Opokan and fertility

Taking Opokan may affect female fertility, and thus cause problems with becoming pregnant. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the drug in the diagnosis of infertility and in the event of problems with becoming pregnant.

Opokan – other variants of the drug

Packaging is a medicine available in the form of tablets with meloxicam – Opokan 7,5 mg and Opokan-forte 15 mg. A solution for injection with the same active substance has appeared on the Polish pharmaceutical market: Opokan FAST (15 mg / 1,5 ml) and Opokan INJ (15 mg/1,5 ml).

It also occurs Opokan gel for use on the skin – this variant of the medicinal product contains other active substances:

1. Opokan Actigel with naproxen (100 mg/g);
2. Opokan-keto with ketoprofen (25 mg/g).

Other medicines containing meloxicam

Other medicines containing meloxicam include e.g. Meloxicam, Aglan 15, Trosicam, Moilec, Aspicam, Movalis and Mel.