What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Diflunisal and meloxicam
Meloxicam's FDA label (Qamzova) of July 16, 2026 names diflunisal in its drug interactions section; diflunisal's label does not name meloxicam itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The meloxicam label: “Concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy.”
Check it at the source: the diflunisal FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 4, 2026, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the diflunisal label say about meloxicam?
Diflunisal's label does not name meloxicam itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):
Diflunisal label, boxed warningGastrointestinal Risk NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.
Diflunisal label, warningsGastrointestinal Effects – Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding and Perforation NSAIDs, including diflunisal tablets, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, which can be fatal.
Source: FDA drug label (diflunisal), Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective August 4, 2026 (SPL set 666f89b4-fd81-420a-a390-eb1cd4014f61), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the meloxicam label say about diflunisal?
Qamzova label (Nanjing Delova Biotech Co., Ltd., July 16, 2026), drug interactionsNSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates (…) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions () ]. Intervention: The concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended.
Meloxicam label (Emerald Therapeutics, LLC, May 29, 2026), drug interactionsClinical Impact: Concomitant use of meloxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates (…) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy. Intervention: The concomitant use of meloxicam oral suspension with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended.
Source: FDA drug label (Qamzova, NDA217593), Nanjing Delova Biotech Co., Ltd., effective July 16, 2026 (SPL set 385fd779-1be1-49ae-8213-750b96ecc997), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Meloxicam, NDA021530), Emerald Therapeutics, LLC, effective May 29, 2026 (SPL set 55af77dd-2abc-49a6-990c-399d5a5e7a91), via openFDA
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
| Diflunisal | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.06 per tablet 500 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