Methods useful for inhibiting the release of interleukin-1 and for alleviating interleukin-1 mediated conditions, such as IL-1-mediated inflammation, comprising administration of an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidant compound such as disulfiram, tetrakis [3-(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyloxy methyl]methane or 2,4-disobutyl-6-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)-phenol.