What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Meloxicam and naproxen
Naproxen's FDA label of March 12, 2026 names meloxicam in its drug interactions (prescription label) section; meloxicam's label does not name naproxen itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The naproxen label: “Concomitant use of NAPRELAN and pemetrexed may increase the risk of pemetrexed-associated myelosuppression, renal, and GI toxicity.”
Check it at the source: the meloxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 2026, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); the naproxen FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 12, 2026, Bayer HealthCare LLC.).
What does the meloxicam label say about naproxen?
Meloxicam's label does not name naproxen 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
What does the naproxen label say about meloxicam?
Naproxen label, drug interactions (prescription label)Pemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of naproxen tablets and naproxen sodium tablets 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.
Naproxen label (Zameer Pharmaceuticals LLC, August 23, 2025), drug interactionsPemetrexed Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NAPROXEN Tablets, Naproxen Delayed-Release Tablets, or NAPROXEN SODIUM 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 (Naprelan, NDA020353), Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC, effective January 8, 2026 (SPL set b8a51c9a-488e-4377-a041-436f6a2f8893), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Naproxen, NDA018965), Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective January 5, 2026 (SPL set 7e6f03fb-4b36-4418-9684-f45637abbb78), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Naproxen, NDA020067), Zameer Pharmaceuticals LLC, effective August 23, 2025 (SPL set d2e5553a-7c90-407c-9f07-3be65560c23a), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Aleve Caplets), Bayer HealthCare LLC., effective March 12, 2026 (SPL set 02941928-128a-2c88-e063-6294a90ac6ba), 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
| Meloxicam | Naproxen | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain | Fever, Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Gout, Pain, Cough and cold |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0166 per tablet 7.5 mg tablet | $0.0565 per tablet 500 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