Diving while on anti-inflammatories

[elmo]

I’m currently taking meloxicam (15mg/day), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to manage inflammation completely unrelated to diving. Is there any reason for me not to dive while taking it? Avoiding meloxicam is not currently an option for me, unless I replace it with something like ibuprofen.

 

[tursiops]

I am not a doctor (well, not THAT kind of doctor...).
My wife takes meloxicam, and dives. She was told to take it for a few weeks before diving to ensure she didn't have any asthmatic or drowsiness side-effects from it (both being bad underwater) and to be aware that it would mask any pain symptoms that might point to DCS after a dive.

 

[lowflyer]

I’m currently taking meloxicam (15mg/day), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to manage inflammation completely unrelated to diving. Is there any reason for me not to dive while taking it? Avoiding meloxicam is not currently an option for me, unless I replace it with something like ibuprofen.

I'm a doctor who actually participated in clinical trials of meloxicam decades ago before it was released on the market. Unless you have allergic symptoms to it (apparently you don't) there is no reason why you can't dive while taking it.

 

[elmo]

Thanks @tursiops and @lowflyer. I wasn’t expecting it to be an issue but really good to have anecdotal and trial evidence supporting that. Good point on the potential for masking other symptoms. I usually try to avoid getting bent diving and injuring myself carrying gear and I’ll keep trying to avoid them.