Naproxen vs Meloxicam: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Naproxen | Meloxicam | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug |
| Brand names | – | – |
| FAERS reports | 142,029 | 57,729 |
| Serious | 61% | 58% |
| Death outcome | 11,472 | 3,732 |
| Boxed warning | Yes RISK OF SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR AND GASTROINTESTINAL EVENTS Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased r | 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 | Naproxen | Meloxicam | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenal ulcer perforation | 2,535 · PRR 77.9 | 648 · PRR 35.1 | Labeled — boxed warning / Labeled — boxed warning |
| Muscle injury | 2,008 · PRR 47.7 | 509 · PRR 24.0 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Peripheral venous disease | 1,263 · PRR 68.2 | 305 · PRR 30.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Labeled (related wording) |
| Porphyria acute | 294 · PRR 39.8 | 163 · PRR 48.5 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Hand deformity | 2,837 · PRR 40.7 | 787 · PRR 23.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Helicobacter infection | 2,516 · PRR 48.2 | 615 · PRR 23.3 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Rheumatic fever | 2,066 · PRR 133.1 | 557 · PRR 53.0 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Facet joint syndrome | 1,649 · PRR 163.1 | 315 · PRR 40.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Deep vein thrombosis postoperative | 984 · PRR 149.5 | 491 · PRR 121.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Dislocation of vertebra | 953 · PRR 110.9 | 260 · PRR 48.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Adjustment disorder with depressed mood | 871 · PRR 112.6 | 283 · PRR 59.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Lupus vulgaris | 613 · PRR 157.8 | 274 · PRR 108.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Retinitis | 426 · PRR 50.4 | 185 · PRR 45.2 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Seronegative arthritis | 318 · PRR 58.2 | 79 · PRR 27.4 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Grip strength | 128 · PRR 183.4 | 127 · PRR 444.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Swollen joint count | 124 · PRR 150.8 | 82 · PRR 182.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Naproxen
- None stood out among the strongest labeled signals.
Labeled signals distinctive to Meloxicam
- Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, insomnia type — n=443, PRR 26.8 Labeled (related wording)
- Rheumatoid lung — n=66, PRR 26.6 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Naproxen or Meloxicam?
Naproxen has 142,029 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 (61% vs 58%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Naproxen and Meloxicam share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for duodenal ulcer perforation, muscle injury, peripheral venous disease, porphyria acute, hand deformity. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Naproxen 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.