diclofenac vs piroxicam
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of diclofenac and piroxicam. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
NSAIDs with short elimination half-lives (e.g., diclofenac, indomethacin) should be avoided for a period of two days before, the day of, and two days following administration of pemetrexed.
Voltaren, Cataflam
Feldene
Diclofenac is a gel that helps with arthritis pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Piroxicam is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
This medicine temporarily relieves arthritis pain. It is only for pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, or knees. It may take up to 7 days to start working. If you still have pain after 7 days, stop using it.
Piroxicam helps to relieve the pain and swelling from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a joint problem that usually affects older people. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Diclofenac is an NSAID. It reduces pain and swelling by blocking substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Piroxicam works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain.
- • Pain
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Constipation
- • Gas
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- Pain 12,281
- Fatigue 11,317
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 9,241
- Rash 8,747
- Arthralgia 8,640
- Drug Hypersensitivity 940
- Rash 874
- Arthralgia 861
- Condition Aggravated 857
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 809
No specific warnings noted.
Piroxicam may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increase with longer use. Piroxicam can also increase your risk of serious stomach and intestine problems, including bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. You should not take piroxicam if you are having heart bypass surgery.
No pregnancy information available.
Taking piroxicam during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm your unborn baby. Avoid using piroxicam starting at 30 weeks of pregnancy. Piroxicam may also affect fertility and make it harder to get pregnant.
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How to Read This diclofenac vs piroxicam Comparison
diclofenac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while piroxicam sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diclofenac has 50,226 submissions while piroxicam has 4,341. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medications are nsaids, and taking them together increases the risk of serious side effects like stomach ulcers and bleeding.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for diclofenac or piroxicam.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.