Two medicines, side by side
Meloxicam vs hydroxychloroquine
Meloxicam and hydroxychloroquine are both labeled for rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of meloxicam since 2000 and of hydroxychloroquine since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.0166 per meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet and $0.149 per hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and hydroxychloroquine an antirheumatic agent.
Check it at the source: the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026); the hydroxychloroquine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 8, 2024).
Highlights of the meloxicam record
Meloxicam (Mobic) · label of January 29, 2026
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: indicationsINDICATIONS 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 hydroxychloroquine record
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) · label of October 8, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsSOVUNA is an antimalarial and antirheumatic indicated for the: Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium vivax in adult and pediatric patients. (1.1) Prophylaxis of malaria in geographic areas where chloroquine resistance is not reported in adult and pediatric patients. (1.1) Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 18, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.149 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Meloxicam label of January 29, 2026, Hydroxychloroquine label of October 8, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do meloxicam and hydroxychloroquine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and hydroxychloroquine an antirheumatic agent.
How each works, in its label's words: Meloxicam, “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).”; Hydroxychloroquine, “Malaria Hydroxychloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial [see Microbiology (12.4)] and antirheumatic agent.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Meloxicam, “The mean elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) ranges from 15 hours to 20 hours.”; Hydroxychloroquine, “Results following a single oral dose of a 200 mg tablet demonstrated a half-life of hydroxychloroquine about 40 days in …”
Only the meloxicam label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: meloxicam since 2006; hydroxychloroquine since 1994 (Drugs@FDA).
| Meloxicam | Hydroxychloroquine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Antimalarial, Antirheumatic Agent |
| 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). | Malaria Hydroxychloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial [see Microbiology (12.4)] and antirheumatic agent. |
| Half-life (label) | The mean elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) ranges from 15 hours to 20 hours. | Results following a single oral dose of a 200 mg tablet demonstrated a half-life of hydroxychloroquine about 40 days in whole blood. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 13, 2000 | April 18, 1955 |
| First generic approved | July 19, 2006 | September 30, 1994 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0166 per tablet (Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet) | $0.149 per tablet (Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +0.8% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,757 | 151,392 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to meloxicam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions