Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and skin irritation of piroxicam patch were investigated. Piroxicam patch increased the pain threshold in rat hind paw inflamed by carrageenan and inhibited writhing induced by acetic acid in mice. Piroxicam patch also inhibited the carrageenan-induced edema in rat hind paw as well as the increased vascular permeability induced by histamine in rats. In adjuvant arthritis of rats, piroxicam patch showed anti-inflammatory effects. Skin irritation of piroxicam patch was tested in Newzealand White rabbits and evaluated by Primary Irritation Index of Draize. The results from skin irritation test showed that piroxicam patch seemed practically non-irritating. The result from the present study indicates that piroxicam may be useful without serious side effects as anti-inflammatory analgesics in this patch form.