Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Meloxicam?What Is Naproxen?Which Is Stronger?How to TakeSafety and Side EffectsWho Should Avoid Them?Drug Interactions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Meloxicam?
What Is Naproxen?
Which Is Stronger?
How to Take
Safety and Side Effects
Who Should Avoid Them?
Drug Interactions
Meloxicamis a prescription-onlynonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)for treating pain related toarthritisin adults and children 2 years old and older.
Naproxenis another NSAID, and it is approved for distribution as a prescription (sold as Naprosyn) and an over-the-counter (OTC) drug (sold as Aleve).
Meloxicam is considered more potent than naproxen and has a longer-lasting effect.As a result, meloxicam can be taken in smaller doses and less frequently than naproxen.
Naproxen, on the other hand, is dosed multiple times daily and is available in slow-release formulations. These slow-release formulations are designed to release the drug into the body at slower rates, prolonging its effects.
Meloxicam’s risk of GI side effects is lower compared to naproxen. However, it does have a higher risk of heart-related effects.Other NSAIDs, like naproxen, may be preferred if you have any GI risk or high cardiovascular risk.
This article compares the similarities and differences of meloxicam and naproxen.
Getty Images / Malorny
Meloxicam is an NSAID used to relieve various types of pain. It is used to treatosteoarthritisorrheumatoid arthritisin adults andjuvenile rheumatoid arthritisin children at least 2 years old.It is available as tablets and capsules.
How Does It Work?
Meloxicam inhibits COX-1 and COX-2, the enzymes that produceprostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are responsible for producing pain and inflammation.Specifically, COX-1 protects the stomach lining, promotes blood clotting, and aids in kidney function, while COX-2 is involved in the body’s inflammatory response.
Meloxicam preferentially inhibits COX-2 over COX-1 at low doses, such as 7.5 milligrams (mg). This means that it can reduce pain and inflammation without irritating the stomach lining or increasing the risk of stomach ulcers. However, if the dosage of meloxicam is increased to 15 mg, it will inhibit COX-1, which may increase its risk of GI side effects.
Naproxen is also an NSAID, and it is approved for prescription and OTC use. The prescription formulation is marketed under Naprosynand EC-Naprosyn(delayed-release formulation).OTC naproxen is sold under the brand name Aleve.
The delayed-release tablets are slower-acting naproxen forms used only for treating long-term conditions such as arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. They will not work fast enough to treat acute pain (sudden or urgent).
Naproxen is also available in combination with sumatriptan, a type of selective serotonin receptor agonist, to treatmigraines, and in combination with esomeprazole to lower the risk of developing gastric ulcers.
Naproxen sodium is also marketed as an OTC product, Aleve, for reducing pain, inflammation, or fever in those 12 and older.Plus, it’s available in combination with diphenhydramine in Aleve PMand with pseudoephedrine inAleve-D Sinus & Cold.
Meloxicam vs. Naproxen: Which Is Stronger?
Meloxicam and naproxen are both effective pain relievers. However, meloxicam is considered more potent and longer-lasting than naproxen
In one clinical study involving adults with rheumatoid arthritis, meloxicam was just as effective as naproxen. It was also better tolerated, with a significantly lower incidence of Gl and kidney side effects.
In another randomized, double-blind clinical trial in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the short- and long-term safety and efficacy of meloxicam was comparable with the safety and efficacy of naproxen
Overall, the choice between meloxicam and naproxen will depend on your specific condition, medical history, and other factors. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the most suitable option for you.
How to Take Meloxicam and Naproxen
Can You Take Meloxicam and Naproxen Together?
Avoid taking naproxen and meloxicam together as combining may increase the risk or severity of side effects like:
Common Side Effects
Some common side effects of meloxicam are:
A common side effect of naproxen isshortness of breath.
Shared common side effects of both medications include:
Severe Side Effects
Meloxicam and naproxen can sometimes cause the following potentially severe side effects:
Meloxicam can also potentially causeaseptic meningitis(a condition causing inflammation of the brain lining).
The following conditions have also been associated with naproxen:
Other Precautions
Like all NSAIDs, meloxicam’s and naproxen’s labeling both carry boxed warnings. These warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlight the significant risks of a potentially dangerous medication.
NSAIDs can cause serious side effects, including heart-related (cardiovascular) risks and GI bleeding.
Cardiovascular Risks
Taking meloxicam or naproxen may increase the risk ofheart attackorstroke. These can occur anytime, but the risk is higher for those taking high doses or taking the medication long term.
Avoid taking either of these medications if you have recently had a heart attack, and tell your healthcare provider of any history of heart disease or other health conditions.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Taking meloxicam or naproxen may increase the risk of tears,ulcersor bleeding in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. These events can occur at any time during use.
The risk increases with the following:
Before taking NSAIDs, inform the prescribing provider of all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about the other medicines you take, including prescription or OTC medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. NSAIDs and some other medicines can interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Do not start taking new medications without talking to your healthcare provider first.
Who Shouldn’t Take Meloxicam or Naproxen?
Do not take meloxicam under the following circumstances:
Do not take naproxen under the following circumstances:
Both meloxicam and naproxen may interact with the following:
Naproxen may also interact with the following:
Summary
Meloxicam and naproxen are both NSAIDs used to treat pain and inflammation. Meloxicam is considered more potent and longer lasting, requiring lower dosages and less frequent administration.
Meloxicam is also a selective COX-2 inhibitor, reducing the risk of GI side effects compared to naproxen.
However, NSAIDs that are selective COX-2 inhibitors, like meloxicam, have increased cardiovascular risk. NSAIDs like naproxen may be preferred in people with low to moderate GI risk and high cardiovascular risk.
14 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.DailyMed.Meloxicam label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Naprosyn label.Türck D, Roth W, Busch U.A review of the clinical pharmacokinetics of meloxicam.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:13-6. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.13Dalal D, Dubreuil M, Peloquin C, et al.Meloxicam and risk of myocardial infarction: A population-based nested case-control study.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(12):2071-2078. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3835-xMeloxicam. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging Dis. 2018;9(1):143-150. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Haffar A, Fillingham YA, Breckenridge L, et al.Meloxicam versus celecoxib for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: Safety, efficacy and cost.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022;6(4):e22.00032. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00032DailyMed.Treximet label.DailyMed.Vimovo label.DailyMed.Aleve label.Wojtulewski JA, Schattenkirchner M, Barceló P, et al.A six-month double-blind trial to compare the efficacy and safety of meloxicam 7.5 mg daily and naproxen 750 mg daily in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:22-28. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.22Ruperto N, Nikishina I, Pachanov ED, et al.A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of two doses of meloxicam compared with naproxen in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: short- and long-term efficacy and safety results.Arthritis Rheum.2005;52(2):563-72. doi:10.1002/art.20860.Zhang X, Donnan PT, Bell S, Guthrie B.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced acute kidney injury in the community dwelling general population and people with chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Nephrol.2017;18(1):256. doi:10.1186/s12882-017-0673-8Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175
14 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.DailyMed.Meloxicam label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Naprosyn label.Türck D, Roth W, Busch U.A review of the clinical pharmacokinetics of meloxicam.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:13-6. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.13Dalal D, Dubreuil M, Peloquin C, et al.Meloxicam and risk of myocardial infarction: A population-based nested case-control study.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(12):2071-2078. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3835-xMeloxicam. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging Dis. 2018;9(1):143-150. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Haffar A, Fillingham YA, Breckenridge L, et al.Meloxicam versus celecoxib for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: Safety, efficacy and cost.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022;6(4):e22.00032. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00032DailyMed.Treximet label.DailyMed.Vimovo label.DailyMed.Aleve label.Wojtulewski JA, Schattenkirchner M, Barceló P, et al.A six-month double-blind trial to compare the efficacy and safety of meloxicam 7.5 mg daily and naproxen 750 mg daily in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:22-28. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.22Ruperto N, Nikishina I, Pachanov ED, et al.A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of two doses of meloxicam compared with naproxen in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: short- and long-term efficacy and safety results.Arthritis Rheum.2005;52(2):563-72. doi:10.1002/art.20860.Zhang X, Donnan PT, Bell S, Guthrie B.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced acute kidney injury in the community dwelling general population and people with chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Nephrol.2017;18(1):256. doi:10.1186/s12882-017-0673-8Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175
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.
DailyMed.Meloxicam label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Naprosyn label.Türck D, Roth W, Busch U.A review of the clinical pharmacokinetics of meloxicam.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:13-6. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.13Dalal D, Dubreuil M, Peloquin C, et al.Meloxicam and risk of myocardial infarction: A population-based nested case-control study.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(12):2071-2078. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3835-xMeloxicam. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging Dis. 2018;9(1):143-150. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Haffar A, Fillingham YA, Breckenridge L, et al.Meloxicam versus celecoxib for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: Safety, efficacy and cost.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022;6(4):e22.00032. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00032DailyMed.Treximet label.DailyMed.Vimovo label.DailyMed.Aleve label.Wojtulewski JA, Schattenkirchner M, Barceló P, et al.A six-month double-blind trial to compare the efficacy and safety of meloxicam 7.5 mg daily and naproxen 750 mg daily in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:22-28. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.22Ruperto N, Nikishina I, Pachanov ED, et al.A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of two doses of meloxicam compared with naproxen in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: short- and long-term efficacy and safety results.Arthritis Rheum.2005;52(2):563-72. doi:10.1002/art.20860.Zhang X, Donnan PT, Bell S, Guthrie B.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced acute kidney injury in the community dwelling general population and people with chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Nephrol.2017;18(1):256. doi:10.1186/s12882-017-0673-8Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175
DailyMed.Meloxicam label.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Naprosyn label.
Türck D, Roth W, Busch U.A review of the clinical pharmacokinetics of meloxicam.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:13-6. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.13
Dalal D, Dubreuil M, Peloquin C, et al.Meloxicam and risk of myocardial infarction: A population-based nested case-control study.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(12):2071-2078. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3835-x
Meloxicam. In:LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.
Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging Dis. 2018;9(1):143-150. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306
Haffar A, Fillingham YA, Breckenridge L, et al.Meloxicam versus celecoxib for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: Safety, efficacy and cost.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022;6(4):e22.00032. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00032
DailyMed.Treximet label.
DailyMed.Vimovo label.
DailyMed.Aleve label.
Wojtulewski JA, Schattenkirchner M, Barceló P, et al.A six-month double-blind trial to compare the efficacy and safety of meloxicam 7.5 mg daily and naproxen 750 mg daily in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Br J Rheumatol.1996;35 Suppl 1:22-28. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/35.suppl_1.22
Ruperto N, Nikishina I, Pachanov ED, et al.A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of two doses of meloxicam compared with naproxen in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: short- and long-term efficacy and safety results.Arthritis Rheum.2005;52(2):563-72. doi:10.1002/art.20860.
Zhang X, Donnan PT, Bell S, Guthrie B.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced acute kidney injury in the community dwelling general population and people with chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Nephrol.2017;18(1):256. doi:10.1186/s12882-017-0673-8
Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175
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