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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Fenoprofen and meloxicam

Fenoprofen's FDA label of August 20, 2026 names meloxicam in its drug interactions section; meloxicam's label does not name fenoprofen itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The fenoprofen label: “Concomitant use of FENOPROFEN CALCIUM and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”

Check it at the source: the fenoprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026, Misemer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).

What does the fenoprofen label say about meloxicam?

Fenoprofen label, drug interactions

Pemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of FENOPROFEN CALCIUM and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity (…). … 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.

Source: FDA drug label (Fenoprofen Calcium), Misemer Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective August 20, 2026 (SPL set d33ad329-1ca6-ac2e-e053-2995a90a15c5), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the meloxicam label say about fenoprofen?

Meloxicam's label does not name fenoprofen itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):

Meloxicam label, boxed warning

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Meloxicam label, boxed warning

This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use (5.1) Meloxicam tablets are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (4, 5.1) NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Source: FDA drug label (MELOXICAM), PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective January 29, 2026 (SPL set 19c13159-71f1-2427-e063-6394a90ad44e), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.

Both medicines on the record

6Fenoprofen generic labelers
43Meloxicam generic labelers
FenoprofenMeloxicam
Labeled forPain, Rheumatoid arthritis, OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain
Boxed warningYesYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)n/a$0.0166 per tablet 7.5 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

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