This 10-week, double-blind, crossover study compared piroxicam (20 mg administered once daily) and indomethacin (25 mg administered three times daily) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the 30 patients evaluated, both drugs produced statistically significant improvement after 4 weeks compared to placebo in all parameters measured with the exception of joint swelling and 10 m walking time. Piroxicam provided greater improvement with respect to the severity of pain, joint tenderness and restoration of motion, and was significantly more effective than indomethacin in reducing the consumption of paracetamol and in improving morning stiffness. Both drugs were equally effective in improving the remaining parameters measured. Roughly, two-thirds of the patients considered piroxicam to be the more effective agent. With both drugs side effects were mild and infrequent.