piroxicam
Brand names: Feldene
Piroxicam is a medicine that reduces pain and swelling. It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.16/unit
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Piroxicam helps to relieve the pain and swelling from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Common side effects
Nausea, Constipation, Gas
Key warnings
Piroxicam may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take piroxicam capsules by mouth, usually once a day. The typical dose is 20 mg daily. You can take it with or without food. It may take several weeks to feel the full effect of this medicine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store piroxicam capsules at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,370 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 6,176 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
6,176
Death-Related Reports
1,024
Hospitalization Reports
2,479
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 940 |
| 2 | RASH | 874 |
| 3 | ARTHRALGIA | 861 |
| 4 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 857 |
| 5 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 836 |
| 6 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 809 |
| 7 | DIARRHOEA | 806 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 802 |
| 9 | PAIN | 797 |
| 10 | NAUSEA | 788 |
| 11 | PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY | 781 |
| 12 | SINUSITIS | 775 |
| 13 | OFF LABEL USE | 726 |
| 14 | SCIATICA | 725 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 716 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Diuretics Clinical Impact: Clinical studies, as well as post-marketing observations, showed that NSAIDs reduced the natriuretic effect of loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics in some patients. In such high risk patients, monitor for signs of worsening renal function ( 7 ) • Diuretics : NSAIDs can reduce natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazide diuretics.
Mechanism: Piroxicam can make your water pill less effective at removing salt and fluid from your body.
What to do: Your doctor should check your kidney function and watch how well your water pill is working.
Methotrexate Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NSAIDs and methotrexate may increase the risk for methotrexate toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction). Intervention: During concomitant use of piroxicam capsules and methotrexate, monitor patients for methotrexate toxicity.
Mechanism: Piroxicam can cause methotrexate to build up to toxic levels in your blood, which can harm your kidneys and blood health.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any signs of methotrexate poisoning while you are taking both drugs.
NSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of piroxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].
Mechanism: Taking these two similar pain medicines together increases the risk of serious stomach damage without providing any extra relief.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medicines at the same time to protect your stomach from damage.
Table 3: Drugs that Can Increase the Risk of Bleeding Drug Class Specific Drugs Anticoagulants argatroban, dabigatran, bivalirudin, desirudin, heparin, lepirudin Antiplatelet Agents aspirin, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, prasugrel, ticlopidine Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, sulindac Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, milnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafa...
Mechanism: Piroxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug that can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners like warfarin. This combination makes it more likely for you to experience serious bleeding issues.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the risks of using these drugs together. They may need to adjust your warfarin dose or check your blood clotting levels more often.
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.
Mechanism: 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.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medications at the same time to prevent serious side effects.
Common Questions
Can I take piroxicam with aspirin?
How long does it take for piroxicam to start working?
Can piroxicam affect my blood pressure?
What should I do if I experience stomach pain while taking piroxicam?
Can I drink alcohol while taking piroxicam?
Is it safe to take piroxicam if I have kidney problems?
Can piroxicam cause skin reactions?
Does piroxicam interact with other medications?
Can piroxicam cause drowsiness?
What should I do if I have an allergic reaction to piroxicam?
What are the common side effects of piroxicam?
Does piroxicam interact with other medications?
What drug class is piroxicam?
Is piroxicam safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Other drugs grouped near piroxicam — same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
Compare with piroxicam →
acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
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acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
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acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
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adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
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What the FDA Data Shows for piroxicam
The FDA label for piroxicam (sold under brand names such as Feldene) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Piroxicam helps to relieve the pain and swelling from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Constipation, Gas.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,370 voluntary reports. The database also lists 15 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.16.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 25, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages