Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Meloxicam
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Meloxicam: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Taking a systemic corticosteroid with an NSAID increases the chance of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding compared with either agent alone. Meloxicam is relatively COX-2 preferential at low doses, but the risk is still raised.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Meloxicam can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine; Meloxicam belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic mucosal injury through NSAID prostaglandin inhibition and corticosteroid impairment of mucosal repair.
What to do
Keep doses and duration to a minimum and consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in higher-risk patients. Monitor for GI bleeding symptoms.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Other interactions of Meloxicam
- Ketorolac intranasal + Meloxicam Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Meloxicam Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Meloxicam Major
- Acemetacin + Meloxicam Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Meloxicam Major
- Alteplase + Meloxicam Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Meloxicam?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Meloxicam can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Taking a systemic corticosteroid with an NSAID increases the chance of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding compared with either agent alone. Meloxicam is relatively COX-2 preferential at low doses, but the risk is still raised.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Meloxicam?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Keep doses and duration to a minimum and consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in higher-risk patients. Monitor for GI bleeding symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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