Piroxicam USP is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, available as maroon and blue 10 mg capsules and maroon 20 mg capsules for oral administration. The chemical name is 4-hydroxyl-2-methyl- N -2-pyridinyl-2 H -1,2,-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxide. The molecular weight is 331.35. Its molecular formula is C 15 H 13 N 3 O 4 S, and it has the following chemical structure. Piroxicam occurs as a white crystalline solid, insoluble in water and anhydrous ethanol. It is slightly soluble in 0.1N sodium hydroxide and soluble in methylene chloride. It exhibits a weakly acidic 4-hydroxy proton (pKa 5.1) and a weakly basic pyridyl nitrogen (pKa 1.8). The inactive ingredients in piroxicam capsules USP include: lactose monohydrate, corn starch, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate, gelatin, FD&C Blue 1, D&C Red 33, FD&C Red 40, D&C Red 28, titanium dioxide and trace amount of white edible ink. Image

What kind of drug is piroxicam?

The FDA classifies piroxicam as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take piroxicam with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run piroxicam against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is piroxicam sold under?

We track 2 piroxicam-containing products in the U.S.: Piroxicam and Feldene. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does piroxicam come in?

Across the brands we track, piroxicam is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic piroxicam?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic piroxicam product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Piroxicam: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Piroxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and osteoarthritis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Treats: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammation and Osteoarthritis
Available as: Capsule
Sold as: 2 products — Piroxicam and Feldene
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Yes
Typical price: about $5 for a 30-count supply
Boxed warning: Boxed warning

How piroxicam is dosed

From the FDA label for Piroxicam (application ANDA208340). Other piroxicam products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Use the lowest effective dosage for shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals ( 2 ) OA and RA: 20 mg once daily ( 2 ) Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of piroxicam capsules and other treatment options before deciding to use piroxicam capsules. Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5 )] . After observing the response to initial therapy with piroxicam capsules, the dose and frequency should be adjusted to suit an individual patient's needs. For the relief of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the dosage is 20 mg given orally once per day. If desired, the daily dose may be divided. Because of the long half-life of piroxicam capsules, steady-state blood levels are not reached for 7 to12 days. Therefore, although the therapeutic effects of piroxicam capsules are evident early in treatment, there is a progressive increase in response over several weeks and the effect of therapy should not be assessed for two weeks.

Piroxicam side effects

Most common adverse reactions (incidence >2% from clinical trials) are: nausea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, edema, rash. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc. at 1-866-562-4616 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] GI Bleeding, Ulceration and Perforation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Heart Failure and Edema [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Renal Toxicity and Hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Anaphylactic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Serious Skin Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Hematologic Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In patients taking piroxicam or other NSAIDs, the most frequently reported adverse experiences…

Every piroxicam product we track (2)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Piroxicam products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Piroxicam Boxed warning	70/100	Prescription	Capsule	Generic	$5	View →
2	Feldene

What piroxicam pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Piroxicam pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
P10	10 mg	red, blue	capsule	—
P20	20 mg	red, red	capsule	—
PR;10	10 mg	red, blue	capsule	—
PR;20	20 mg	red	capsule	—
U;255	10 mg	red, blue	capsule	—
U;256	20 mg

Frequently asked questions

What is piroxicam?: Piroxicam USP is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, available as maroon and blue 10 mg capsules and maroon 20 mg capsules for oral administration. The chemical name is 4-hydroxyl-2-methyl- N -2-pyridinyl-2 H -1,2,-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxide. The molecular weight is 331.35. Its molecular formula is C 15 H 13 N 3 O 4 S, and it has the following chemical structure. Piroxicam occurs as a white crystalline solid, insoluble in water and anhydrous ethanol. It is slightly soluble in 0.1N sodium hydroxide and soluble in methylene chloride. It exhibits a weakly acidic 4-hydroxy proton (pKa 5.1) and a weakly basic pyridyl nitrogen (pKa 1.8). The inactive ingredients in piroxicam capsules USP include: lactose monohydrate, corn starch, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate, gelatin, FD&C Blue 1, D&C Red 33, FD&C Red 40, D&C Red 28, titanium dioxide and trace amount of white edible ink. Image
What kind of drug is piroxicam?: The FDA classifies piroxicam as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take piroxicam with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run piroxicam against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is piroxicam sold under?: We track 2 piroxicam-containing products in the U.S.: Piroxicam and Feldene. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does piroxicam come in?: Across the brands we track, piroxicam is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Piroxicam drug interactions

Drugs that Interfere with Hemostasis (e.g. warfarin, aspirin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]/serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]) : Monitor patients for bleeding who are concomitantly taking piroxicam with drugs that interfere with hemostasis. Concomitant use of piroxicam and analgesic doses of aspirin is not generally recommended ( 7 ) Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors , Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB), or Beta-Blockers : Concomitant use with piroxicam may diminish the antihypertensive effect of these drugs. Monitor blood pressure ( 7 ) ACE Inhibitors and ARBs : Concomitant use with piroxicam in elderly, volume depleted, or those with renal impairment may result in deterioration of renal function. In such high risk patients, monitor for signs of worsening renal function ( 7 ) Diuretics : NSAIDs can reduce natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazide diuretics. Monitor patients to assure diuretic efficacy including antihypertensive effects ( 7 ) Digoxin : Concomitant use of piroxicam can increase serum concentration and prolong half-life of digoxin. Monitor serum digoxin levels ( 7 ) See Table 1 for clinically significant drug interactions with piroxicam. Drugs That Interfere with Hemostasis Clinical Impact: Piroxicam and anticoagulants such as warfarin have a synergistic effect on bleeding. The concomitant use of piroxicam…