What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ketorolac and meloxicam
Ketorolac's FDA label (Sprix) of December 5, 2024 names meloxicam in its drug interactions section; meloxicam's label does not name ketorolac itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The ketorolac label: “Concomitant use of SPRIX and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”
Check it at the source: the ketorolac FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 31, 2023, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the ketorolac label say about meloxicam?
Sprix label (Zyla Life Sciences US LLC, December 5, 2024), drug interactionsPemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of SPRIX 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 (Sprix, NDA022382), Zyla Life Sciences US LLC, effective December 5, 2024 (SPL set 97005a1c-167e-4676-bae7-e49b38c36f9e), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Ketorolac Tromethamine), Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, effective August 31, 2023 (SPL set 3d88cbe6-5230-47aa-80af-0c41283d1f00), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the meloxicam label say about ketorolac?
Meloxicam's label does not name ketorolac 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
| Ketorolac | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.02 per mL 30 mg/mL vial | $0.0166 per tablet 7.5 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | In shortage | 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