Key takeaways:
Meloxicam (Mobic) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They’re similarly effective for treating pain and inflammation.
Meloxicam and ibuprofen have similar risks, such as stomach-related and heart problems. So they should be taken at the lowest possible doses for the shortest time needed.
Meloxicam is typically taken once a day, while ibuprofen can be taken up to 6 times a day at certain doses. But ibuprofen is available over the counter (OTC), and meloxicam requires a prescription.
Meloxicam and ibuprofen are both available as brand-name and generic medications. But you can also find ibuprofen OTC. GoodRx can help you get the best price on your medication.
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.
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.
Save over 40% on Qsymia with GoodRx
Discover the once daily Qsymia for weight management. Qsymia is for adults and children 12-17 in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
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.
Standard dosages of meloxicam and ibuprofen are different because they last for different amounts of time in the body.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 $7.82 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.
Meloxicam and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs. They’re similarly effective for treating pain and inflammation. Meloxicam tends to be more convenient with regard to dosing, since it’s typically taken only once a day. But it’s often easier to get started with ibuprofen because certain doses are available OTC.
Neither meloxicam or ibuprofen is clearly better than the other in all cases. Depending on your preferences, you might prefer one over the other. Your healthcare provider might also recommend one over the other depending on your situation.
AAFES/Your Military Exchanges. (2023). Ibuprofen [package insert].
American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Group on the Use of Selective and Nonselective Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs. (2008). Recommendations for use of selective and nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: An American College of Rheumatology white paper. Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Bekker, A., et al. (2018). Meloxicam in the management of post-operative pain: Narrative review. Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology.
Castellsague, J., et al. (2012). Individual NSADs and upper gastrointestinal complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (the SOS project). Drug Safety.
DailyMed. (2022). Concentrated ibuprofen infants.
Dolgencorp, Inc. (Dollar General & Rexall). (2022). Ibuprofen [package insert].
Emerald Therapeutics, LLC. (2022). Meloxicam [package insert].
Enthoven, W. T. M., et al. (2016). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic low back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC. (2023). Childrens advil [package insert].
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. (2020). Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSADs).
Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2022). Meloxicam [package insert].
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem compound summary for CID 3672, ibuprofen.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem compound summary for CID 54677470, meloxicam.
NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Ibuprofen [package insert].
Peterson, K., et al. (2010). Results. Drug Class Review: Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Final Update 4 Report.
Redpharm Drug, Inc. (2023). Ibuprofen [package insert].
RemedyRepack Inc. (2023). Meloxicam [package insert].
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018). FDA drug safety communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attacks or strokes.
Ungprasert, P., et al. (2016). Nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of hemorrhagic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Stroke.
Varas-Lorenzo, C., et al. (2013). Myocardial infarction and individual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs meta-analysis of observational studies. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.
Zhang, X., et al. (2017). 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 Nephrology.