Drug interactions
Meloxicam + Prednisone
Severity: Moderate
Meloxicam and Prednisone: 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
Concurrent corticosteroid and NSAID therapy increases the likelihood of upper gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Meloxicam is relatively COX-2 preferential at low doses but the added risk with prednisone remains clinically relevant.
What this interaction means in plain words
Meloxicam and Prednisone 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.
Meloxicam belongs to Musculoskeletal; Prednisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic mucosal injury: reduced prostaglandin-mediated protection from the NSAID plus impaired mucosal healing from the corticosteroid.
What to do
Keep doses and duration to a minimum and add gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in patients at elevated risk. Monitor for signs of GI bleeding.
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 Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone 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 Meloxicam with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Meloxicam and Prednisone 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. Concurrent corticosteroid and NSAID therapy increases the likelihood of upper gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Meloxicam is relatively COX-2 preferential at low doses but the added risk with prednisone remains clinically relevant.
How serious is the interaction between Meloxicam and Prednisone?
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 add gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in patients at elevated risk. Monitor for signs of GI bleeding.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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