What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Diflunisal and piroxicam
Piroxicam's FDA label of August 19, 2026 names diflunisal in its drug interactions section; diflunisal's label does not name piroxicam itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The piroxicam label: “Concomitant use of piroxicam 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 piroxicam FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the diflunisal label say about piroxicam?
Diflunisal's label does not name piroxicam 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 piroxicam label say about diflunisal?
Piroxicam label, drug interactionsNSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of piroxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates (…) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy. Intervention: The concomitant use of piroxicam with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended.
Source: FDA drug label (Piroxicam), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 19, 2026 (SPL set f1123fe1-b79c-430b-8548-08cd6e518482), 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 | Piroxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis | Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.06 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $0.215 per capsule 20 mg capsule |
| 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