Meloxicam and Itraconazole: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Itraconazole
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 meloxicam exposure
Interaction Deep Dive
Concomitant administration of itraconazole with meloxicam may lead to reduced meloxicam levels and potentially decrease the effectiveness of meloxicam. Meloxicam dose increase may be necessary2. In an open-label, randomized, three-phase crossover study of 12 male patients, coadministration of itraconazole and meloxicam decreased the mean meloxicam AUC (0 to 72 hours) by 63% and the mean Cmax by 36% when compared to control values. The combination also resulted in a decline in thromboxane B2 inhibition compared to meloxicam alone. Dosing adjustments and monitoring for potential decreased effectiveness may be appropriate 1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) An open-labeled, randomized, three-phase crossover study of 12 male patients (ages 19 to 39 years) demonstrated decreases in plasma concentrations when meloxicam was coadministered with itraconazole. The subjects were given either no pretreatment (control), pretreatment with voriconazole (400 mg every 12 hours on day 1 and 200 mg every 12 hour on day 2) or pretreatment with itraconazole (200 mg/day in the morning for 4 days) in random order with a 4 week washout period between phases. One hour following the last dose of either voriconazole or itraconazole, meloxicam 15 mg was administered. Plasma samples were drawn at scheduled times following meloxicam administration. Participants showed a decrease in mean meloxicam AUC (0 to 72 hours) by 63% (p less than 0.001) and mean Cmax by 36% (p less than 0.001) when coadministered with itraconazole compared with control values. The median Tmax with itraconazole was reached at 24 hours compared to 4 hours with the control and the half-life was increased to 27 hours from 17.4. Within the first 24 hours, meloxicam (with itraconazole) did not demonstrate any impact on thromboxane B2 synthesis. At 48 hours, thromboxane B2 synthesis was inhibited by 29%, a value consistent with the degree of inhibition seen 5 hours after meloxicam 7.5 mg is administered without itraconazole 1.
Common questions
Can I take Meloxicam and Itraconazole together?
Reduced meloxicam exposure Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Meloxicam and Itraconazole interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "rapid". Effects can appear quickly, often within about 24 hours of combining the drugs.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "established". Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
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 Itraconazole 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 anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (2)
- Hynninen V, Olkkola KT, Bertilsson L, et al: Voriconazole increases while itraconazole decreases plasma meloxicam concentrations. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 2009; 53(2):587-592. PubMed
- Product Information: SPORANOX(R) oral capsules, itraconazole oral capsules. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc (per FDA), Titusville, NJ, 2022. DailyMed
Keep reading about Itraconazole
Keep reading about Meloxicam
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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