Pharmacokinetics of Meloxicam in Patients With Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

The pharmacokinetics of a meloxicam suspension were studied in 18 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Children received a single 0.25‐mg/kg dose up to a maximum of 15 mg. Pharmacokinetic parameters after the first dose were calculated by noncompartmental methods. Geometric mean (percent coefficient of variation for geometric mean [gCV]) C max , AUC 0‐∞ , apparent clearance, apparent volume of distribution, and elimination half‐life values were 1.24 μg/mL (47% gCV), 25.6 μg•h/mL (81% gCV), 0.17 mL/min/kg (83% gCV), 0.19 L/kg (63% gCV), and 13.4 hours (54% gCV) in the younger group and 1.89 μg/mL (25% gCV), 35.8 μg•h/mL (21% gCV), 0.12 mL/min/kg (23% gCV), 0.13 L/kg (22% gCV), and 12.7 hours (21% gCV) for the older group, respectively. Area under the curve, volume of distribution, and clearance tended to be higher in the younger group, whereas elimination half‐lives were similar. A post hoc comparison to pharmacokinetic data in adults revealed no relevant differences. Thus, a common body weight–normalized dose is considered appropriate for children older than 2 years.