Dolonex DT Tablet: Uses, Composition, Side Effects & FAQs

Dolonex DT is a dispersible tablet for pain and swelling from arthritis and some muscle, joint and short-term pain problems. It is a prescription-only medicine in India and cannot be bought without a valid doctor's prescription. It contains piroxicam, an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that lowers pain, swelling and fever. It eases symptoms, but it can cause serious stomach problems, so the dose and duration need your doctor's guidance.

Dolonex DT is a single-ingredient painkiller that also reduces swelling. "DT" stands for dispersible tablet, which means it can be mixed in water before you swallow it. It is an NSAID, so it belongs to the same wider family of medicines as ibuprofen and naproxen.

Check your strip says DT 20 mg, because Dolonex IM is a separate injection with different uses.

Piroxicam blocks an enzyme your body needs to make prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that drive pain, swelling and fever, so fewer of them means less discomfort.

Doctors usually prescribe Dolonex DT for:

• Osteoarthritis, where the joints wear down over time
• Rheumatoid arthritis, where the lining of the joints swells, including the juvenile form in children
• Spine conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis that mainly affects the spine) and cervical spondylitis (in the neck), which cause back or neck pain and stiffness
• Muscle, tendon and joint problems, including swollen tendons (tendinitis), swollen joint cushions (bursitis) and pain after an injury or surgery
• Period pain, also called primary dysmenorrhea
• Fever and pain with nose and throat inflammation, when your doctor feels it is needed

Dolonex DT should not be used for short-term muscle and joint pain or period pain if your stomach bleeding risk is high. That includes being older, having heart disease, or taking steroids, aspirin or SSRI antidepressants.

Do not use it on your own for headache, toothache or plain fever, which are not listed uses.

1. Follow your prescription exactly. Most regimens are once a day.
2. Swallow the tablet whole with water, or disperse it in at least 50 ml of water and then drink it.
3. Have it with or without food, but with food if it upsets your stomach.
4. Try to have it at the same time each day.
5. Split the tablet along its break line only if your doctor has asked you to.
6. Do not stop or change your dose without asking your doctor, unless you get a warning sign listed below.

Your doctor decides the dose based on your condition, age, other health problems and other medicines. For rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, the listed starting dose is 20 mg as a single daily dose. Most people stay on 20 mg a day, and a small group on 10 mg a day.

The listed adult dose is 20 mg once a day after surgery or an injury, and 10 mg or 20 mg once a day for 5 to 7 days for nose and throat inflammation. For short-term muscle and joint problems, it is 40 mg a day for 2 days, then 20 mg a day, for 7 to 14 days in total. For period pain, it is 40 mg once a day for 2 days, then 20 mg once a day for 1 to 3 more days if needed.

Never increase the dose on your own. Doses above 20 mg a day carry a higher risk of stomach side effects.

Children should have it only on a paediatrician's advice, and listed doses are for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis only. Doses are once a day by weight: 5 mg under 15 kg and 10 mg at 16 to 25 kg. It is 15 mg at 26 to 45 kg, and 20 mg above 46 kg.

An overdose can cause drowsiness, vomiting, stomach pain and bleeding. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately and carry the strip with you, or call 112 (ambulance 108). If someone took too much on purpose, Tele-MANAS gives mental health support 24×7 on 14416 or 1800-891-4416.

Take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose is almost due, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never double up, because that raises the risk of side effects.

Pain relief can begin soon after a dose, but full arthritis benefit may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer. See your doctor about 2 weeks after starting, even if it is helping, to check whether you should continue. Go sooner if your pain gets worse or you notice side effects.

Store the tablets in a dry place, at a temperature not above 40°C. Keep them out of children's reach and do not use them after the expiry date.

Most people tolerate Dolonex DT well, and stomach symptoms are the most common complaint.

Common and mild:

• Stomach pain, indigestion or gas
• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Headache or dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Ringing in the ears
• Mild itching or ankle swelling

Rare but serious (stop the medicine and see a doctor right away):

• Stomach bleeding: black or bloody stools, vomiting blood (call 112), or severe stomach pain
• Heart attack or stroke: chest pain, breathlessness, weakness on one side, or slurred speech (call 112)
• Severe allergy: swelling of the face or throat, wheezing, or trouble breathing (call 112)
• Skin reaction, most likely in the first weeks: any rash, blisters, peeling skin, mouth sores or fever
• Liver or kidney trouble: yellow eyes or skin, upper right stomach pain, or bloody urine

Stomach side effects may be more serious with piroxicam than with some other NSAIDs. They are more likely above 20 mg a day, at an older age, or with steroids, aspirin or SSRI antidepressants.

• Allergy to piroxicam or any ingredient in the tablet
• Past severe skin reaction or repeating drug rash from piroxicam
• Asthma, nasal polyps, hives or swelling after aspirin or other NSAIDs
• Past or current stomach or gut ulcer, bleeding or perforation (a hole)
• Severe liver, kidney or heart failure; pain around heart bypass surgery
• Pregnancy

Tell your doctor before taking Dolonex DT if you have:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, past stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, or if you smoke (it can raise blood pressure, heart attack and stroke risk)
• Kidney disease, dehydration, leg swelling or fluid retention (it can reduce kidney function and worsen swelling)
• Long-term gut inflammation or a bleeding disorder (more risk of gut bleeding)
• Asthma (it can trigger breathing trouble)
• Liver disease (rare but serious liver damage)
• Age over 70 (you may need a stomach protector)
• Breastfeeding or trouble getting pregnant (it enters breast milk and may reversibly reduce fertility)
• Lactose intolerance (the tablet contains lactose)

Always tell your doctor about every medicine, supplement or home remedy you are using. Alcohol adds to the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding, so ask your doctor before you drink.

Dolonex DT only helps with symptoms. See a doctor quickly if you have:

• Pain or swelling that is getting worse
• Black stools, vomiting blood (call 112), or stomach pain that will not settle
• Any new rash, blisters or mouth sores
• Sudden weight gain, leg swelling or breathlessness
• Yellow eyes or skin, bloody urine, blurred vision or eye problems
• Chest pain, weakness on one side, slurred speech, throat swelling or trouble breathing (call 112 immediately)

Dolonex DT can ease pain and swelling from arthritis and certain other conditions when your doctor prescribes it. Use the lowest dose for the shortest time your doctor advises, and do not add other NSAIDs on your own. Common side effects, such as stomach upset and headache, are often mild. Know the warning signs listed above.