What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Indomethacin and meloxicam
Indomethacin's FDA label of December 19, 2025 names meloxicam in its drug interactions section; meloxicam's label does not name indomethacin itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The indomethacin label: “Concomitant use of INDOCIN and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”
Check it at the source: the indomethacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 19, 2025, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the indomethacin label say about meloxicam?
Indomethacin label, drug interactionsPemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of indomethacin capsules 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 (Indocin, NDA018332), Zyla Life Sciences US LLC, effective December 16, 2024 (SPL set 73878376-1d24-423b-9f37-3666e83c95da), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Indomethacin), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, effective December 19, 2025 (SPL set f7ed39e2-5431-4e47-935c-c7441d058f94), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the meloxicam label say about indomethacin?
Meloxicam's label does not name indomethacin 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
| Indomethacin | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.210 per capsule 75 mg capsule | $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