Meloxicam vs Diclofenac 1%: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Meloxicam | Diclofenac 1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | – |
| Brand names | – | Diclofenac Sodium |
| FAERS reports | 57,729 | 35,508 |
| Serious | 58% | 78% |
| Death outcome | 3,732 | 6,889 |
| Boxed warning | Yes RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS See full prescribing information | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Meloxicam | Diclofenac 1% | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenal ulcer perforation | 648 · PRR 35.1 | 3,741 · PRR 620.8 | Labeled — boxed warning / No label text to screen |
| Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, insomnia type | 443 · PRR 26.8 | 1,762 · PRR 223.1 | Labeled (related wording) / No label text to screen |
| Peripheral venous disease | 305 · PRR 30.0 | 1,265 · PRR 274.9 | Labeled (related wording) / No label text to screen |
| Hand deformity | 787 · PRR 23.2 | 5,238 · PRR 397.0 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Helicobacter infection | 615 · PRR 23.3 | 3,696 · PRR 337.7 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Rheumatic fever | 557 · PRR 53.0 | 2,767 · PRR 1,041.7 | Likely indication confounding / No label text to screen |
| Muscle injury | 509 · PRR 24.0 | 2,608 · PRR 276.2 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Facet joint syndrome | 315 · PRR 40.2 | 1,628 · PRR 638.1 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Deep vein thrombosis postoperative | 491 · PRR 121.4 | 1,238 · PRR 1,031.6 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Adjustment disorder with depressed mood | 283 · PRR 59.2 | 942 · PRR 522.8 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Dislocation of vertebra | 260 · PRR 48.0 | 944 · PRR 438.6 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Lupus vulgaris | 274 · PRR 108.7 | 840 · PRR 1,458.5 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Bone erosion | 243 · PRR 26.7 | 689 · PRR 142.7 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Retinitis | 185 · PRR 45.2 | 718 · PRR 449.1 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Porphyria acute | 163 · PRR 48.5 | 320 · PRR 178.5 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Seronegative arthritis | 79 · PRR 27.4 | 353 · PRR 271.9 | Likely indication confounding / No label text to screen |
| Grip strength | 127 · PRR 444.9 | 144 · PRR 985.4 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
| Swollen joint count | 82 · PRR 182.0 | 121 · PRR 576.9 | Not in label — unassessed / No label text to screen |
Labeled signals distinctive to Meloxicam
- Rheumatoid lung — n=66, PRR 26.6 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Diclofenac 1%
- None stood out among the strongest labeled signals.
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Meloxicam or Diclofenac 1%?
Meloxicam has 57,729 FAERS reports and Diclofenac 1% 35,508. 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 (58% vs 78%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Meloxicam and Diclofenac 1% 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 Meloxicam or Diclofenac 1% 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.