Ibuprofen or Meloxicam: Which Is the Better Pain Reliever?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to treat pain and inflammatory joint conditions, such as arthritis. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and meloxicam (Mobic) are two commonly taken NSAIDs. But is one better than the other?

Here, we’ll discuss meloxicam versus ibuprofen and compare them on effectiveness, dosages, and side effects. Every case is different; so the NSAID that’s right for someone else might not be right for you. Ultimately, you and your healthcare provider can review these differences to help decide which NSAID fits your needs.

Is ibuprofen or meloxicam better for pain?

There isn’t a clear answer. To sum up results from short-term studies, NSAIDs like meloxicam and ibuprofen provide similar pain relief for people with chronic low back pain. This was also true in a review of studies evaluating NSAIDs for pain relief after surgery.

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It’s possible that you could notice a personal difference between the two. But they tend to provide about the same amount of pain relief. Differences might be influenced by the dosage you’re taking or other factors, as we’ll explain below.

What are the standard dosages?

Standard dosages of meloxicam and ibuprofen are different because they last for different amounts of time in the body.

Meloxicam

Meloxicam comes as oral tablets, oral capsules, and an oral liquid. It’s best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest time necessary. This helps lower the risk of side effects.

Typical adult dosages of meloxicam are as follows:

• Capsules: 5 mg to 10 mg once daily

• Tablets: 7.5 mg to 15 mg once daily

• Oral liquid: 7.5 mg to 15 mg (5 mL to 10 mL) once daily

For children ages 2 years and older, the dose is based on body weight. Kids can take up to a maximum of 7.5 mg once daily.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen comes as oral tablets, oral capsules, and oral liquid. Like meloxicam, it should be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed.

Usual adult dosages of ibuprofen are as follows:

• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: 400 mg to 800 mg 3 or 4 times a day

• Mild to moderate pain: 200 mg to 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed

• Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps): 400 mg every 4 hours as needed

The children’s dosage of ibuprofen for ages 6 months to 11 years depends on their body weight. Adolescents aged 12 years and older can take the recommended adult dosages.

How long is typical treatment?

There’s not a usual length of time for a typical course of ibuprofen or meloxicam. As mentioned above, the lowest dose should be taken for the shortest time possible. This is true for all NSAIDs.

Meloxicam was tested in clinical studies to take daily for up to 6 months. And studies of prescription-strength ibuprofen were conducted for up to 1 year. But there are no official rules for how long you should take either medication when they’re prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your provider will help determine the best amount of time you should take meloxicam or ibuprofen.

Notably, you should only self-treat with over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen for up to 10 days for pain. You should speak with a healthcare provider if you feel you need to take it longer than this.

Is meloxicam or ibuprofen more convenient?

Both meloxicam and ibuprofen have pros and cons with regards to convenience. Meloxicam may be more convenient for dosing, since it’s usually taken once a day and keeps working all day. Ibuprofen may be taken up 6 times a day, which can be disruptive to your schedule and difficult to remember.

However, ibuprofen is available OTC, and meloxicam is a prescription-only medication. So it’s generally easier to get started taking ibuprofen because you don’t need a prescription. But keep in mind that only the lowest dose of ibuprofen is available OTC.

Can you get meloxicam over the counter?

No, you can’t get meloxicam OTC. You’ll need a prescription from a healthcare provider to purchase it. But ibuprofen is available OTC as 200 mg pills, a 100 mg/5 mL oral liquid, and a 50 mg/1.25 mL infant’s liquid.

How do ibuprofen and meloxicam work?

NSAIDs work by blocking enzymes (proteins) known as cyclooxygenases (COX). Certain COX enzymes cause symptoms like fever, swelling, and pain. By blocking COX, NSAIDs can relieve pain and inflammation, as well as reduce fevers.

There are two main types of COX enzymes: COX-1 and COX-2. These affect the body in slightly different ways. COX-1 enzymes help platelets form blood clots, regulate blood flow to the kidneys, and protect the lining of the stomach and intestines. COX-2 helps produce immune reactions, like pain and inflammation.

Non-selective NSAIDs block both COX enzymes similarly. Ibuprofen is a non-selective NSAID. Preferential NSAIDs target COX-2 more than COX-1. Meloxicam is a preferential NSAID. This is why these two medications have different risks of some side effects.

For example, blocking COX-1 can raise your risk for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. So certain preferential NSAIDs may be less likely to cause GI side effects than non-selective NSAIDs. But all NSAIDs block COX-2, so they’re all effective options for treating pain and inflammation.

Which has a lower risk for gastrointestinal bleeding?

Surprisingly, ibuprofen has a lower risk of GI bleeding, but it’s possible with both medications. Even though meloxicam is a preferential NSAID, one analysis found that the risk for GI bleeding is generally higher with meloxicam than ibuprofen. Researchers don’t know why meloxicam has greater GI risks than ibuprofen. They just know that it does.

Which is less harmful to the heart?

Meloxicam and ibuprofen both carry the same types of heart risks. Long-term use of NSAIDs can result in an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Studies have suggested that both ibuprofen and meloxicam, like most NSAIDs, carry these heart risks. This is especially true when taking high doses, taking NSAIDs long term, and for people with heart disease.

Some studies suggest that heart attack risks vary across different NSAIDs. But the FDA advises that this information is insufficient to determine if one is safer than the others.

As for stroke risk, a review that included data from a few studies showed a small increased risk of stroke with several NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and meloxicam. But only meloxicam and diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam) had a statistically significant risk.

Which is less harmful to the kidneys?

Between Meloxicam and ibuprofen, one is not more or less harmful to the kidneys than the other. In fact, all NSAIDs can be harmful to the kidneys, especially in older adults and those who have kidney problems. Research suggests that the risk of kidney damage is likely similar amongst all NSAIDs. However, there’s some mixed data about whether some are worse than others. Your healthcare provider may suggest avoiding all NSAIDs if you have kidney problems.

Which is less harmful to the liver?

Neither meloxicam or ibuprofen has been found to cause liver problems for most people. This isn’t surprising, since NSAIDs don’t usually cause liver damage for those without existing liver problems.

But even though they don’t typically harm the liver, NSAIDs aren’t always recommended for those with liver disease. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking an NSAID if you have liver issues.

Can you take meloxicam with ibuprofen?

No, you shouldn’t take meloxicam with ibuprofen. Combining NSAIDs raises your risk for stomach ulcers, serious bleeding, and kidney problems.

If you’re not getting enough pain relief from one medication, speak with your healthcare provider. They may suggest changing your current dosage or switching medications. They may also suggest adding a pain reliever that’s safe to combine with NSAIDs, like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

How to save on meloxicam and ibuprofen

Meloxicam and ibuprofen are available as brand-name medications. But you can also find them as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save off the average retail price of the generic versions of meloxicam and ibuprofen.

Generic meloxicam's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $6.90 with a free GoodRx discount. Prescription-strength ibuprofen's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $8.92 with a free GoodRx discount.

By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC ibuprofen, you can also save with GoodRx. OTC ibuprofen's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.11 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Reviewed by:

Wiktoria Jedrzejczyk, PharmD Candidate

Wiktoria has worked in community pharmacy since 2017 as a pharmacy technician and pharmacy intern for Wegmans Food Markets. While interning at Wegmans, Wiktoria led a project focused on building stronger relationships with patients through education about the Shingrix vaccine — which prevents shingles.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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