Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol are the most frequent drugs used worldwide for the management of pain, inflammation and fever associated with many acute and chronic conditions. Despite of its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, all display adverse effects mediated by the same mechanisms by which they control pain, inflammation and fever. A relatively frequent problem with the use of NSAIDs and/or aspirin, and less frequently with paracetamol, is the development of intolerance and hypersensitivity reactions, a situation for which diverse alternatives have been proposed. One of these includes the use of cyclo-oxigenase-2 specific inhibitors (COXIB), a therapeutic modality analyzed in the present paper.