In the beginning, your doctor will start you off with a small dosage and increase it gradually so your body can adapt to this NSAID. A small amount of meloxicam is supposed to be present in your body, and that's why it takes about two weeks for this medication to start working correctly. In the beginning, you might be able to notice small changes in your swelling, pain, and inflammation, but it usually takes a bit longer to notice a bigger change in these symptoms.