Celecoxib vs Meloxicam: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Celecoxib | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| Brand names | – | – |
| FAERS reports | 130,858 | 57,729 |
| Serious | 70% | 58% |
| Death outcome | 12,399 | 3,732 |
| Boxed warning | Yes RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased ris | Yes RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS See full prescribing information |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Celecoxib | Meloxicam | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenal ulcer perforation | 2,204 · PRR 68.7 | 648 · PRR 35.1 | Labeled — boxed warning / Labeled — boxed warning |
| Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, insomnia type | 1,072 · PRR 31.9 | 443 · PRR 26.8 | Labeled (related wording) / Labeled (related wording) |
| Peripheral venous disease | 999 · PRR 53.3 | 305 · PRR 30.0 | Labeled (related wording) / Labeled (related wording) |
| Hand deformity | 2,540 · PRR 38.5 | 787 · PRR 23.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Helicobacter infection | 2,172 · PRR 43.2 | 615 · PRR 23.3 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Rheumatic fever | 1,848 · PRR 117.8 | 557 · PRR 53.0 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Muscle injury | 1,677 · PRR 41.0 | 509 · PRR 24.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Facet joint syndrome | 1,517 · PRR 149.4 | 315 · PRR 40.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Deep vein thrombosis postoperative | 1,060 · PRR 190.1 | 491 · PRR 121.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Adjustment disorder with depressed mood | 696 · PRR 84.5 | 283 · PRR 59.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Dislocation of vertebra | 702 · PRR 73.8 | 260 · PRR 48.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Bone erosion | 670 · PRR 37.2 | 243 · PRR 26.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Lupus vulgaris | 603 · PRR 165.6 | 274 · PRR 108.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Retinitis | 404 · PRR 51.0 | 185 · PRR 45.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Porphyria acute | 224 · PRR 30.9 | 163 · PRR 48.5 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Seronegative arthritis | 230 · PRR 41.2 | 79 · PRR 27.4 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Grip strength | 140 · PRR 247.1 | 127 · PRR 444.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Swollen joint count | 116 · PRR 143.5 | 82 · PRR 182.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Celecoxib
- Synovitis — n=3,119, PRR 33.4 Labeled adverse reaction
- Drug tolerance decreased — n=445, PRR 30.1 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Meloxicam
- Rheumatoid lung — n=66, PRR 26.6 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Celecoxib or Meloxicam?
Celecoxib has 130,858 FAERS reports and Meloxicam 57,729. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (70% vs 58%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Celecoxib and Meloxicam share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for duodenal ulcer perforation, sleep disorder due to general medical condition, insomnia type, peripheral venous disease, hand deformity, helicobacter infection. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Celecoxib or Meloxicam safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.