meloxicam vs piroxicam
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Side-by-side comparison of meloxicam 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
In the absence of data regarding potential interaction between pemetrexed and NSAIDs with longer half-lives (e.g., meloxicam, nabumetone), patients taking these NSAIDs should interrupt dosing for at least five days before, the day of, and two days following pemetrexed administration.
Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps to reduce pain and swelling.
Piroxicam is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Meloxicam treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can also treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children who weigh at least 132 pounds (60 kg). This medicine helps to relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints.
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.
Meloxicam works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation and pain.
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.
- • Diarrhea
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Upset stomach
- • Flu-like symptoms
- • Nausea
- • Constipation
- • Gas
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- Pain 4,670
- Fatigue 4,578
- Arthralgia 4,222
- Nausea 3,807
- Headache 3,323
- Drug Hypersensitivity 940
- Rash 874
- Arthralgia 861
- Condition Aggravated 857
- Rheumatoid Arthritis 809
Meloxicam may increase your risk of serious heart problems, including heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with longer use. You should not take meloxicam if you are having heart bypass surgery. Meloxicam can also increase your risk of serious stomach and intestinal problems, including bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. These problems can occur without warning. The elderly and those with a history of ulcers are at greater risk.
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.
Using meloxicam between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy may cause kidney problems in the baby, leading to low amniotic fluid. Avoid using meloxicam after 30 weeks of pregnancy because it can cause heart problems in the baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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 meloxicam vs piroxicam Comparison
meloxicam 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 prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, meloxicam has 20,600 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 these are both the same type of pain medicine, and taking them together increases the risk of stomach and kidney damage without providing extra relief.. 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 meloxicam or piroxicam.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.