Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMeloxicam vs. TylenolSide EffectsNSAID WarningsAcetaminophen WarningsMeloxicam Contraindications

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Table of Contents

Meloxicam vs. Tylenol

Side Effects

NSAID Warnings

Acetaminophen Warnings

Meloxicam Contraindications

Meloxicam and Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be taken together safely if you do not have liver problems. Meloxicam is a prescriptionnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) used to treatarthritis. Tylenol, an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, belongs to a different drug class.

If NSAIDs alone do not relieve your pain, your healthcare provider may tell you to take Tylenol with meloxicam. Research shows combining an NSAID, like meloxicam, with acetaminophen can control pain as effectively as opioid pain medicine without the risk of addiction.

This article discusses Tylenol and meloxicam. It explains how these two medications compare to one another, why they can be taken together, and what risks each drug poses individually.

Verywell / Laura Porter

A person holds their wrist while looking upset or in pain with a pill bottle and pills in front of them (What to Know About Meloxicam and Tylenol)

Meloxicam and Tylenol are both used to treat pain, but they have a few differences. Meloxicam is an NSAID, while Tylenol belongs to a class of drugs known asanalgesics.

Meloxicam is a prescription medication that relieves both pain and inflammation. Tylenol is an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, but it does not reduce inflammation.

Meloxicam is given in doses of 7.5 milligrams (mg) or 15 mg. It is a long-acting medicine that is only taken once a day. However, meloxicam does not start working to relieve pain right away. It can take several days until you feel the full effect of the medication.

Tylenol comes in a variety of strengths—from 325 mg for regular Tylenol up to 650 mg forTylenol 8-Hour Arthritis Pain. The amount you take and how often you take Tylenol depends on the strength of the product. Tylenol starts working to relieve pain within 20 to 45 minutes.

The Most Effective Tylenol for Your Symptoms

How They Help You Manage Pain

Meloxicam and Tylenol work equally well on pain.But meloxicam reduces inflammation in the body, and Tylenol does not.

How Long After Meloxicam Can I Take Tylenol?

There is no standard recommendation for spacing out meloxicam and Tylenol. Meloxicam is a long-acting pain reliever that only needs to be taken once a day. The Tylenol dosing schedule will vary depending on the formula. Always follow the package instructions.

Side Effects of Meloxicam and Tylenol

Taking meloxicam with Tylenol is safe because there are no known drug interactions between the two medications. However, it’s important to remember to follow the recommended daily dosage for each medication. If you go over the dosage of one or the other, dangerous side effects can occur.

Some side effects that can occur if you take too much Tylenol include:

When it comes to meloxicam, taking too much can also cause some harmful health effects. They include:

Too much of either medication can lead toliver damage. In the case of Tylenol, the liver breaks the drug down into separate parts. The parts that are used to help with pain are kept within the body.

Meanwhile, the parts that are not needed are excreted or passed out of the body in your urine. The unnecessary parts include toxic materials (known asN-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine). If you consume too much Tylenol, the body cannot get rid of the toxic material fast enough. It builds up in the liver and causes liver damage.

In terms of meloxicam, the cause of liver damage isn’t clear, but it can still occur in very rare cases.

Pain Medications for Arthritis: Strongest to Weakest

If prescribed for pain, NSAIDs like meloxicam are typically meant to be taken for short periods of time. In fact, it’s usually not used for more than 10 days in a row. There are times when your doctor will prescribe an NSAID to be taken for longer periods, but those are special circumstances that your doctor will outline for you.

NSAIDs like meloxicam can cause an increase in blood pressure. Taking NSAIDs can increase the risk of both heart attacks and strokes. The risk is higher when the drug is taken at higher doses and over a long period of time.

In some instances, there’s also an increased risk of these problems when you first start taking the medication. The chances of a serious reaction are greater if you have a pre-existingheart condition. However, a heart attack or stroke can occur even if you have no history of heart disease.

NSAIDs may also cause stomach and bowel disorders such asulcersor stomach bleeding. The risk of developing these problems is higher in older adults, people who have a history of stomach ulcers, people who take blood thinners, those who drink alcohol daily, and those who are taking more than one prescription or OTC NSAID at a time.

NSAIDs for Chronic Pain: Risks of Long-Term Use

Serious Side Effects

Taking too much acetaminophen can lead to severe liver damage, especially if it is taken with other medications that can damage the liver. Consuming alcohol while taking acetaminophen also increases the risk of liver damage.

It is also possible to have anallergic reactionto Tylenol. Signs of an allergic reaction include skin reddening, blisters, and a rash. Avoid other medications containing acetaminophen when using Tylenol. You should also not take the medication for longer than 10 days forpain reliefor three days for fever relief. Don’t take more than 3 g of acetaminophen per day (maximum recommended daily dose).

Tylenol Overdose

If you experience any of these symptoms and believe you took too much Tylenol, seek medical care immediately.

Concerns About Tylenol Overdose or Poisoning

What Medications Should Not Be Taken With Meloxicam?

Meloxicam should not be taken with other NSAIDs, including:

Other types of medication that should be used with caution when taking meloxicam include:

Summary

Tylenol, the brand name of acetaminophen, and meloxicam, a type of NSAID, can be taken together to relieve pain and other symptoms of arthritis. However, there are serious risks of liver damage, stomach disorders, kidney failure, and even death if you take too much of either medication.

Tylenol and meloxicam may seem harmless since they’re so commonly used. And, generally, they will only help if used appropriately, but it is possible to overdose. Problems are more likely if you take other forms of NSAIDs with meloxicam or Tylenol with other products that contain acetaminophen. If you think you’ve taken too much of these drugs, call your doctor immediately.

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gazendam A, Ekhtiari S, Horner NS, et al; NO PAin Investigators.Effect of a postoperative multimodal opioid-sparing protocol vs standard opioid prescribing on postoperative opioid consumption after knee or shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2022;328(13):1326–35. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16844American Academy of Family Physicians.Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.Zarif Najafi H, Oshagh M, Salehi P, Babanouri N, Torkan S.Comparison of the effects of preemptive acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and meloxicam on pain after separator placement: a randomized clinical trial.Prog Orthod.2015;16(34) doi:10.1186/s40510-015-0104-yYoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol.2016;4(2):131-142. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meloxicam.National Library of Medicine: LiverTox.Meloxicam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attack or stroke.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Meloxicam capsule[drug label].Ghosh A, Berger I, Remien CH, Mubayi A.The role of alcohol consumption on acetaminophen induced liver injury: implications from a mathematical model.J Theor Biol.2020:110559. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110559Food and Drug Administration.Recommended warning for over-the-counter acetaminophen-containing drug products and labeling statements regarding serious skin reactions.National Library of Medicine: Livertox.Acetaminophen.

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gazendam A, Ekhtiari S, Horner NS, et al; NO PAin Investigators.Effect of a postoperative multimodal opioid-sparing protocol vs standard opioid prescribing on postoperative opioid consumption after knee or shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2022;328(13):1326–35. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16844American Academy of Family Physicians.Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.Zarif Najafi H, Oshagh M, Salehi P, Babanouri N, Torkan S.Comparison of the effects of preemptive acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and meloxicam on pain after separator placement: a randomized clinical trial.Prog Orthod.2015;16(34) doi:10.1186/s40510-015-0104-yYoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol.2016;4(2):131-142. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meloxicam.National Library of Medicine: LiverTox.Meloxicam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attack or stroke.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Meloxicam capsule[drug label].Ghosh A, Berger I, Remien CH, Mubayi A.The role of alcohol consumption on acetaminophen induced liver injury: implications from a mathematical model.J Theor Biol.2020:110559. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110559Food and Drug Administration.Recommended warning for over-the-counter acetaminophen-containing drug products and labeling statements regarding serious skin reactions.National Library of Medicine: Livertox.Acetaminophen.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gazendam A, Ekhtiari S, Horner NS, et al; NO PAin Investigators.Effect of a postoperative multimodal opioid-sparing protocol vs standard opioid prescribing on postoperative opioid consumption after knee or shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2022;328(13):1326–35. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16844American Academy of Family Physicians.Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.Zarif Najafi H, Oshagh M, Salehi P, Babanouri N, Torkan S.Comparison of the effects of preemptive acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and meloxicam on pain after separator placement: a randomized clinical trial.Prog Orthod.2015;16(34) doi:10.1186/s40510-015-0104-yYoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol.2016;4(2):131-142. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meloxicam.National Library of Medicine: LiverTox.Meloxicam.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attack or stroke.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Meloxicam capsule[drug label].Ghosh A, Berger I, Remien CH, Mubayi A.The role of alcohol consumption on acetaminophen induced liver injury: implications from a mathematical model.J Theor Biol.2020:110559. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110559Food and Drug Administration.Recommended warning for over-the-counter acetaminophen-containing drug products and labeling statements regarding serious skin reactions.National Library of Medicine: Livertox.Acetaminophen.

Gazendam A, Ekhtiari S, Horner NS, et al; NO PAin Investigators.Effect of a postoperative multimodal opioid-sparing protocol vs standard opioid prescribing on postoperative opioid consumption after knee or shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2022;328(13):1326–35. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16844

American Academy of Family Physicians.Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Zarif Najafi H, Oshagh M, Salehi P, Babanouri N, Torkan S.Comparison of the effects of preemptive acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and meloxicam on pain after separator placement: a randomized clinical trial.Prog Orthod.2015;16(34) doi:10.1186/s40510-015-0104-y

Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol.2016;4(2):131-142. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meloxicam.

National Library of Medicine: LiverTox.Meloxicam.

Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attack or stroke.

National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Meloxicam capsule[drug label].

Ghosh A, Berger I, Remien CH, Mubayi A.The role of alcohol consumption on acetaminophen induced liver injury: implications from a mathematical model.J Theor Biol.2020:110559. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110559

Food and Drug Administration.Recommended warning for over-the-counter acetaminophen-containing drug products and labeling statements regarding serious skin reactions.

National Library of Medicine: Livertox.Acetaminophen.

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