Droxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is a pro-drug of piroxicam. The mechanism of action of droxicam, as well as that of piroxicam, is that of inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Droxicam acts by inhibition of PGE2. Although it belongs to the oxicam family, it is characterised by being a pro-drug of piroxicam, the molecule undergoing conversion by hydrolysis once dissolved in the digestive tract. Droxicam was used for the relief of pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Droxicam possesses considerable analgesic activity, of equal magnitude to that of piroxicam and notably greater than that of acetylsalicylic acid, dipyrone, phenylbutazone and isoxicam. The antipyretic activity of droxicam, studied by means of different tests, has shown itself to be clearly superior to that of acetylsalicylic acid, dipyrone and 4-aminoantipyrine. Droxicam acts as an inhibitor of ex vivo platelet aggregation in the dog. However, owing to hepatotoxicity, droxicam was withdrawn in many countries.