Meloxicam vs Diclofenac: side-by-side comparison
Meloxicam (NSAID (preferential COX-2 inhibitor)) and Diclofenac (NSAID (phenylacetic acid)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Meloxicam | Diclofenac |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | NSAID (preferential COX-2 inhibitor) | NSAID (phenylacetic acid) |
| CAS | 71125-38-7 | 15307-86-5 |
| ATC | M01AC06 | M01AB05 |
| Molecular weight | 351.40 g/mol | 296.15 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Meloxicam and Diclofenac share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Meloxicam acts by a different mechanism than Diclofenac, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Meloxicam: Meloxicam hemmt die Cyclooxygenase-Enzyme mit Präferenz für COX-2 in niedrigen therapeutischen Dosen. Diclofenac: Diclofenac hemmt reversibel die Cyclooxygenasen COX-1 und COX-2, mit etwas stärkerer COX-2-Selektivität als Ibuprofen und Naproxen.
Indications compared
Meloxicam: Meloxicam ist bei Erwachsenen zur symptomatischen Behandlung von Arthrose, rheumatoider Arthritis und Spondylitis ankylosans zugelassen. Diclofenac: Diclofenac ist bei Erwachsenen zur Behandlung von Arthrose, rheumatoider Arthritis, ankylosierender Spondylitis, akuten muskuloskelettalen Schmerzen, postoperativen Schmerzen, primärer Dysmenorrhoe, akuter Migräne und Ur…
Safety profile
Meloxicam: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind gastrointestinale Beschwerden, periphere Ödeme, Hypertonie und Kopfschmerzen. Diclofenac: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind gastrointestinale Beschwerden, Kopfschmerzen, Schwindel und erhöhte Leberenzyme.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Is Meloxicam better than Diclofenac? ▾
Meloxicam and Diclofenac are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Meloxicam and Diclofenac be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Meloxicam
Products with Diclofenac
Die Informationen auf dieser Website dienen ausschließlich zu Referenz- und Bildungszwecken. Sie ersetzen nicht die Beratung durch qualifiziertes medizinisches Fachpersonal.