Two medicines, side by side

Meloxicam vs aspirin

Meloxicam and aspirin are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of meloxicam since 2000 and of aspirin since 1965. Pharmacies paid $0.0166 per meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet and $0.0142 per aspirin ec 81 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the meloxicam label carries a boxed warning.

Check it at the source: the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026); the aspirin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 9, 2025).

Highlights of the meloxicam record

Meloxicam (Mobic) · label of January 29, 2026

Boxed warning

RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Used for

From the label: indications
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Meloxicam tablets are a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for: Osteoarthritis (OA) (1.1) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (1.2) Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in patients who weigh ≥60 kg (1.3) 1.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) Meloxicam tablets are indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. 1.2 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Meloxicam tablets […]

On the market

Earliest approval on file: April 13, 2000
Generic labelers: 43 labelers
Pharmacy cost: $0.0166 per tablet

Supply and safety

Shortage: No current entry
Recalls: 3

Highlights of the aspirin record

Aspirin (Measurin) · label of September 9, 2025

Used for

From the label: indications
Temporarily relieves headache toothache pain and fever of colds muscle pain menstrual pain minor pain of arthritis

On the market

Earliest approval on file: June 25, 1965
Generic labelers: none listed
Pharmacy cost: $0.0142 per tablet

Supply and safety

Shortage: A presentation being discontinued
Recalls: 1

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Meloxicam label of January 29, 2026, Aspirin label of September 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)

How do meloxicam and aspirin differ on the record?

Only the meloxicam label carries a boxed warning.

Generics: meloxicam since 2006; aspirin none approved (Drugs@FDA).

	Meloxicam	Aspirin
Labeled for	Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain	Pain, Cough and cold, Fever
Pharmacologic class	Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug	n/a
How it works (label)	Meloxicam has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The mechanism of action of meloxicam, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood but involves inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2).	n/a
Half-life (label)	The mean elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) ranges from 15 hours to 20 hours.	n/a
Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA)	April 13, 2000	June 25, 1965
First generic approved	July 19, 2006	none
Generic labelers (NDC)	43 labelers	none listed
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)	$0.0166 per tablet (Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet)	$0.0142 per tablet (Aspirin ec 81 mg tablet)
12-month price change	+0.8%	-2%
Boxed warning	Yes	No
Shortage now	No current entry	A presentation being discontinued
Recalls recorded	3	1
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)	57,757	534,208
DEA schedule	none	none

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)

Do their labels mention each other?

Meloxicam label, contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Meloxicam tablets are contraindicated in the following patients: Known hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylactic reactions and serious skin reactions) to meloxicam or any components of the drug product [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7, 5.9)] History of asthma, urticaria, or other allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Meloxicam label, contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to meloxicam or any components of the drug product. ( 4 ) History of asthma, urticaria, or other allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. ( 4 ) In the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ( 4 ) Moderate to severe renal insufficiency patients who are at risk for renal failure due to volume depletion.

What both labels say about taking them together

Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA

What next?

Meloxicam: the full record
Aspirin: the full record
Alternatives to meloxicam: every medicine labeled for the same conditions