What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ibuprofen and meloxicam
Ibuprofen's FDA label (Caldolor) of January 29, 2026 names meloxicam in its drug interactions section; meloxicam's label does not name ibuprofen itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The ibuprofen label: “Concomitant use of CALDOLOR and pemetrexed, may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”
Check it at the source: the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026, Savings Distributors LLC); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the ibuprofen label say about meloxicam?
Caldolor label (Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., January 29, 2026), drug interactionsPemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of CALDOLOR 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 (Caldolor, NDA022348), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective January 29, 2026 (SPL set 1eaa7790-f1a1-4f51-b10a-cbbaf033f684), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Motrin IB), NDA019012 (Kenvue Brands), as published by Savings Distributors LLC, effective January 1, 2026 (SPL set 56846774-8413-c306-e063-6394a90a2be8), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the meloxicam label say about ibuprofen?
Meloxicam's label does not name ibuprofen itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):
Meloxicam label, boxed warningGastrointestinal 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 warningThis 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
| Ibuprofen | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0573 per tablet 800 mg tablet | $0.0166 per tablet 7.5 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once