Drug & supplement interaction

Lithium + Meloxicam

Meloxicam brand names: Mobic, Vivlodex, Qmiiz ODT, Anjeso.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Lithium has a moderate interaction with Meloxicam. Theoretically, taking lithium supplements with NSAIDs might increase lithium levels and adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Lithium and Meloxicam

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDs)

Why this applies to Meloxicam

Meloxicam falls under NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDs) — the group Lithium interacts with.

Theoretically, taking lithium supplements with NSAIDs might increase lithium levels and adverse effects.
NSAIDs can decrease the renal clearance of lithium and increase lithium levels. It is unclear if this interaction would be clinically significant with the smaller doses found in lithium supplements.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (an NSAID), and NSAIDs can make your kidneys hold onto lithium a little more. When lithium isn't cleared as well, levels in your blood can creep up. Since lithium has a narrow safety window, even a small rise matters. Higher lithium can cause hand tremors, nausea, more thirst and urination, confusion, or unsteadiness.

Keep in mind this is a theoretical concern based on how these drugs behave, not strong proof. With the tiny amounts in supplements like lithium orotate, it may not matter much, but we can't be sure. Before combining them, please check with your pharmacist or doctor so they can guide you safely.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
  2. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Lithium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lithium has 259 major, 255 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Meloxicam one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 259 Moderate 255 No known interaction 2,316 (incl. Meloxicam)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lithium

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Lithium. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Lithium or Meloxicam

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Lithium or Meloxicam, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Meloxicam

This page covers Lithium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Meloxicam page lists 113 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 81 moderate · 27 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Meloxicam page

“Most people take meloxicam (Mobic) daily for arthritis pain, which gives supplement interactions time to add up, so I read this list with real vigilance. Five of the 113 ingredients on file carry a major rating, and two are simply beer and wine, because alcohol plus any NSAID raises the odds of stomach bleeding.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Meloxicam interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Lithium as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 330 real supplement products containing Lithium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lithium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Meloxicam too, on top of Lithium — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Lithium and Meloxicam Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Lithium
Top 25%

#258 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Meloxicam
Top 25%

#471 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Lithium

What is Lithium?

Lithium
  • Mood support
  • Bipolar disorder (prescription)
  • Healthy mental function
  • Irritability or stress
  • Sleep support

Lithium is a naturally occurring metal that, in prescription form (lithium carbonate or citrate), is an FDA-approved, well-proven treatment for bipolar disorder. Low-dose supplement forms like lithium orotate are sold for mood support, but there is very little reliable evidence that they work, and even small amounts of lithium can be risky for some people. Always talk to a pharmacist or doctor before taking any lithium product.

Read the full Lithium monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Meloxicam

What Is Meloxicam Used For?

Brand names: Mobic, Vivlodex, Qmiiz ODT, Anjeso

Meloxicam tablets and oral suspension treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The oral suspension and Zybic™ oral suspension are approved for JRA in children 2 years and older; meloxicam tablets are approved for JRA in patients who weigh at least 60 kg. Meloxicam capsules are approved specifically for the management of osteoarthritis pain.

Two IV (intravenous) formulations — QAMZOVA and XIFYRM — are indicated for adults for the management of moderate-to-severe pain, used alone or with non-NSAID pain relievers. Because these IV forms take time to reach full effect, they are not recommended when rapid pain relief is needed.

See full Meloxicam drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lithium

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Lithium — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

259Major
255Moderate
0Minor
2,315No known interaction
259 Major 255 Moderate 2,315 No interaction
Major

259 interactions

Showing 60 of 259 major interactions — see all 259 on the Lithium page.

Moderate

255 interactions

Showing 60 of 255 moderate interactions — see all 255 on the Lithium page.

No interaction 2,315 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Lithium against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,315 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lithium list.

See the full Lithium interactions page
See every supplement checked against Meloxicam, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Lithium monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Meloxicam supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Meloxicam, ranked by severity Meloxicam drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Lithium and Meloxicam Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lithium with Meloxicam?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Lithium and Meloxicam interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Meloxicam and Lithium?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.