Meloxicam vs. Celebrex: How Do They Compare for Pain and Inflammation?
Key takeaways:
Meloxicam (Mobic) and celecoxib (Celebrex) are prescription-only medications that help relieve pain and inflammation. They’re commonly used to treat conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Meloxicam and Celebrex work slightly differently in the body than other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They’re similarly effective as other NSAIDs for pain relief.
Meloxicam and Celebrex are both available in generic forms. Meloxicam typically costs less than generic Celebrex, making it a more affordable option. But there are still ways to save on both medications.
Table of contents
Trying to figure out the right medication to take for pain can be challenging. You want something that will not only take away your pain, but will also help with inflammation (swelling). The over-the-counter pain relievers you’ve tried so far haven’t worked. Well, it might be time to talk to your healthcare provider about the other options available.
Here, we’ll compare two of the many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that may be possible options to treat your pain and inflammation: meloxicam (Mobic) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
What is meloxicam?
Meloxicam is a prescription-only NSAID prescribed for pain and inflammation. It comes available as an oral tablet, capsule, or liquid. Meloxicam tablets are available as both a brand-name (sold as Mobic) and generic medication. But the oral capsules and liquid are only available as generic products.
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What conditions is meloxicam approved to treat?
Meloxicam is FDA-approved to treat the following conditions:
Osteoarthritis (OA) in adults
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) for children ages 2 and older
What is Celebrex?
Celebrex is a prescription-only NSAID prescribed for pain and inflammation. Although available as a generic (called celecoxib), many people still refer to this medication by its brand name. Celebrex only comes as an oral capsule.
What conditions is Celebrex approved to treat?
Celebrex is FDA-approved for more health conditions than meloxicam:
OA
RA
JRA for children ages 2 and older
Acute (sudden) pain
Primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods)
How do meloxicam and Celebrex work for pain and inflammation?
To understand how NSAIDs work for pain and inflammation, first, you have to understand what causes these symptoms. There’s an enzyme (protein) in our bodies called cyclooxygenase (COX). COX is important for helping us heal when we’re injured or sick. It does this by making hormones, called prostaglandins.
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There are two main types of COX enzymes in the body: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 helps us form blood clots to stop bleeding. It also plays a role in protecting our stomach, intestines, and kidneys. COX-2 helps create fever, pain, and swelling when our bodies think we’re hurt or sick. NSAIDs block COX enzymes and help lower the amount of prostaglandins produced. This helps reduce fever, pain, and inflammation.
Many NSAIDs, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), block both COX-1 and COX-2 equally. They’re known as non-selective NSAIDs. Because they block COX-1, this can sometimes cause stomach-related side effects or kidney damage. It can also raise the risk for serious bleeding.
Meloxicam and Celebrex affect the COX enzymes a bit differently. Meloxicam blocks COX-2 more than COX-1. And Celebrex is considered COX-2 selective, meaning it blocks very little COX-1. Because meloxicam and Celebrex have less of an effect on COX-1, they may have lower risks of stomach-related side effects than other NSAIDs.
How are meloxicam and Celebrex dosed and given?
Meloxicam doses for adults range from 5 mg to 15 mg once daily. Meloxicam are available in 5 mg and 10 mg capsules, as well as 7.5 mg and 15 mg tablets.
The exact dose is based on the form of meloxicam you’re taking and the health condition being treated. Doses for children are based on the child’s body weight. If you’re taking liquid meloxicam, be sure to shake the bottle well each time before measuring out the medication.
Celebrex may be taken once or twice a day as directed by your healthcare provider. Celebrex is available from 50 mg to 400 mg. If you have trouble swallowing your Celebrex capsules, you can open them and sprinkle the contents over a teaspoonful of cold or room temperature applesauce. You should take the applesauce mixture right away with water. But if you need to, you can store the mixture for up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
Meloxicam and standard Celebrex doses can be taken with or without food. But you may want to eat before taking these medications to lower the chance of stomach upset.
How effective are Meloxicam and Celebrex for treating pain?
Meloxicam and Celebrex are both effective options for treating pain.
In a review of 13 clinical trials, all NSAIDs were found to be similarly effective for relieving chronic lower back pain. This included meloxicam and Celebrex. One study included in the review also found Celebrex to be more effective than tramadol (Ultram), an opioid pain reliever.
Celebrex has also been compared to ibuprofen for OA knee pain. Researchers found it was just as effective as ibuprofen for pain relief. But it had a lower risk of stomach-related side effects.
Another review of 24 studies compared meloxicam, Celebrex, and three other NSAIDS for gout pain. Researchers found that all NSAIDs were effective for relieving pain. But in some of the studies reviewed, NSAIDs like Celebrex were slightly more effective than certain other NSAIDs.
What are the side effects of meloxicam and Celebrex?
Since meloxicam and Celebrex are both NSAIDs, they share many of the same side effects. The most common meloxicam side effects and Celebrex side effects include:
Diarrhea
Flu-like symptoms
All NSAIDs, including meloxicam and Celebrex, have a boxed warning (the FDA’s strictest warning) about the risk of severe gastrointestinal (the stomach and intestines) side effects, such as ulcers or bleeding. Meloxicam and Celebrex also include boxed warnings for a higher risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Other serious side effects of NSAIDs include:
Serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Worsening of asthma for people with aspirin allergies
What interactions do meloxicam and Celebrex have?
Meloxicam interactions and Celebrex interactions are similar. Below are some of the most notable interactions. But be sure to share an updated medication list with your healthcare provider and pharmacist. They’ll more thoroughly check for potential interactions.
Certain medications can raise your risk of bleeding when taken with meloxicam or Celebrex, such as:
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Aspirin and other NSAIDs, like ibuprofen
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like sertraline (Zoloft)
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), like venlafaxine
Other potential medication interactions include:
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), like lisinopril (Zestril)
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), like losartan (Cozaar)
Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
Digoxin (Lanoxin) — interacts with Celebrex but not meloxicam
Fluconazole (Diflucan) — interacts with Celebrex but not meloxicam
Lithium (Lithobid)
Methotrexate (Trexall, Xatmep)
Rifampin — interacts with Celebrex but not meloxicam
How to save on meloxicam and Celebrex
Even though both medications have generic versions available, there’s still a difference between their costs. Meloxicam is generally more affordable than celecoxib (generic Celebrex) without insurance. Using a GoodRx coupon with your prescription is one of the easiest ways you can save money. For example, 30 tablets of meloxicam 15 mg may cost around $5 at certain pharmacies. At some pharmacies, you can get 30 capsules of generic Celebrex 200 mg for less than $11.
If your healthcare provider decides you should take brand-name Celebrex, a manufacturer copay card may help you save. For people with commercial insurance, your prescription may cost as little as $4 a month with the copay card. If you don’t have insurance, this copay card can take $200 off the price of your prescription.
Can you take meloxicam and Celebrex together for pain?
No, you shouldn’t. Since meloxicam and Celebrex are both NSAIDs, you should only take one or the other for pain. Taking meloxicam and Celebrex together raises your risk of side effects without improving your pain relief.
The bottom line
Meloxicam and Celebrex are prescription-only NSAIDs commonly prescribed to treat pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Many studies have shown meloxicam and Celebrex to be as effective as other NSAIDs for pain and inflammation. But some studies show Celebrex might work better than other NSAIDs in some cases.
Tell your healthcare provider about other medications you’re taking and other health conditions you have. Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about cost when deciding which medication is right for you. But remember to check with GoodRx to see if it can help you save on your prescription.
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References
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Enthoven, W. T. M., et al. (2016). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic low back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Gord, A. C., et al. (2017). Efficacy of celecoxib versus ibuprofen for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized double-blind, non-inferiority trial. Journal of International Medical Research.
Li, M., et al. (2020). Comparative efficacy of traditional non-selective NSAIDs and selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors in patients with acute gout: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ.
Micro Labs Limited. (2022). Celecoxib — celecoxib capsule [package insert].
PubChem. (2022). Meloxicam.
Qureshi, O. (2022). Cox Inhibitors. StatPearls.
Society for Endocrinology. (2019). Prostaglandins.
