Two medicines, side by side
Meloxicam vs methylprednisolone
Meloxicam and methylprednisolone are both labeled for osteoarthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of meloxicam since 2000 and of methylprednisolone since 1957. Pharmacies paid $0.0166 per meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet and $0.121 per methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Methylprednisolone's other strengths are brand-only: $6.28 per Solu-medrol 40 mg vial. In FDA's classes, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and methylprednisolone a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026); the methylprednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2026).
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 methylprednisolone record
Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) · label of June 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMethylprednisolone tablets are indicated in the following conditions: 1. Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 24, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.121 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 46
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Meloxicam label of January 29, 2026, Methylprednisolone label of June 22, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do meloxicam and methylprednisolone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and methylprednisolone a corticosteroid.
Only the meloxicam label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: meloxicam since 2006; methylprednisolone since 1978 (Drugs@FDA).
| Meloxicam | Methylprednisolone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain | Osteoarthritis, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia |
| Pharmacologic class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Corticosteroid |
| 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 | October 24, 1957 |
| First generic approved | July 19, 2006 | March 28, 1978 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0166 per tablet (Meloxicam 7.5 mg tablet) | $0.121 per tablet (Methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +0.8% | -22% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 46 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,757 | 170,232 |
| 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