Tenoxicam is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent of the oxicam class, and therefore closely related to piroxicam. It possesses a long half-life which enables it to be administered once daily. Clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and non-articular rheumatism suggest that tenoxicam 20mg daily is an equally effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent compared with piroxicam 20mg daily, and that it is at least as well tolerated. Additionally, a few small studies in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis suggest that tenoxicam 20mg daily is as effective and as well tolerated as usual therapeutic dosages of diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin and naproxen. Transient mild or moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, in 8% of patients at a dosage of 20mg daily, are the most frequently reported side effects. If further studies confirm the initially favourable efficacy and tolerability findings, particularly the relatively low incidence of adverse effects, tenoxicam can be considered a useful new agent for the symptomatic treatment of rheumatic and inflammatory diseases, and a worthwhile alternative to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.