Abstract: This invention concerns novel methods employing compositions containing as an active antioxidant or antiinflammatory agent the amino acid methionine, and/or one or more related compounds including certain metabolic precursor compounds, for treating or inhibiting inflammation and inflammatory pain in a subject. The compounds include the methionine hydroxy analogs, as well as compounds having the structural formula I: ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable N-(mono- and di-carboxylic acid) acyl derivatives and alkyl esters thereof, where n is an integer from 1 to 3.