Meloxicam and Furosemide: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Furosemide
Meloxicam
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Reduced diuretic effectiveness and possible nephrotoxicity
Interaction Deep Dive
Risk of renal toxicity is increased with combined use of NSAIDs and diuretics due to NSAID-associated dose-dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and in renal blood flow. Coadministration of NSAIDs and loop diuretics has reduced the natriuretic effect of the diuretic in some patients, also related to the effect of NSAID inhibition of renal prostaglandin synthesis2. Increased BUN, serum creatinine, serum potassium, and weight gain have been reported with furosemide coadministered with NSAIDs. CrCl was temporarily reduced with concomitant furosemide and acetylsalicylic acid in patients with chronic renal impairment (N=6) 7. During concomitant use of NSAIDs and diuretics, monitor for signs of worsening renal function and assure diuretic efficacy, including appropriate effects on blood pressure 31.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Decreased renal prostaglandin synthesis
Literature reports
3 reports — tap to read
a) In part A of a study designed to investigate the influence of diuretics on renal prostaglandins, 24 healthy subjects on a constant sodium intake received furosemide (80 mg daily), hydrochlorothiazide (100 mg), triamterene (200 mg), or spironolactone (300 mg). In part B of the study, the same subjects were pretreated for 3 days with indomethacin (150 mg daily). This was continued during the 3-day administration of the diuretics. In study A, triamterene administration led to a rise in urinary prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, but this was not observed with the other diuretics. In study B, the natriuretic effect of spironolactone and furosemide was reduced and was unaffected by hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene. Prostaglandins were significantly inhibited in all subjects. The results suggest that prostaglandins contribute to the interaction between NSAIDs and the natriuretic effects of furosemide and spironolactone, but not to the natriuretic effects of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene 4.
b) A base cohort study involving 10,519 patients older than 55 years who were receiving NSAIDs and diuretics was conducted to investigate the relationship between congestive heart failure (CHF) and the use of these 2 classes of drugs. The patient population was 72.2% female, with an average age of 70.8 years. During periods of concomitant NSAID and diuretic use, the risk of hospitalization for CHF was twice that of periods of diuretic use only. Patients who used diuretics on a regular basis also had an increased risk of hospitalization due to CHF compared with irregular users of diuretics. A combination of a thiazide and a potassium-sparing diuretic was the most frequently used diuretic type, and the incidence density of hospitalizations during times of use with this combination and a NSAID resulted in a 3-fold increase over that for diuretic use only 5.
c) Concomitant therapy with oral furosemide 40 mg daily and oral azapropazone 1200 mg daily demonstrated that the hypouricemic effect of azapropazone was only slightly antagonized by furosemide; the diuretic effect of furosemide was not altered significantly 6.
Common questions
Can I take Meloxicam and Furosemide together?
Reduced diuretic effectiveness and possible nephrotoxicity Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Meloxicam and Furosemide interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Meloxicam or Furosemide need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (7)
- Product Information: CALDOLOR(R) intravenous injection, ibuprofen intravenous injection. Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (per FDA), Nashville, TN, 2016. DailyMed
- Product Information: DAYPRO(R) oral caplets, oxaprozin oral caplets. GD Searle LLC (per FDA), New York, NY, 2016. DailyMed
- Product Information: ANAPROX(R) oral tablets, naproxen sodium oral tablets. Canton Laboratories, LLC (per FDA), Alpharetta, GA, 2016. DailyMed
- Favre L, Glasson P, Riondel A, et al: Interaction of diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in man. Clin Sci (Lond) 1983; 64(4):407-415. PubMed
- Heerdink ER, Leufkens HG, Herings RMC, et al: NSAIDs associated with increased risk of congestive heart failure in elderly patients taking diuretics. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158:1108-1112. DOI
- Williamson P, Ene M, & Roberts C: A study of the potential interactions between azapropazone and frusemide in man. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1984; 18:619-623. PubMed
- Product Information: LASIX(R) oral tablets, furosemide oral tablets. sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC (per FDA), Bridgewater, NJ, 2016. DailyMed
Keep reading about Furosemide
Keep reading about Meloxicam
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Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
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