NSAIDs - Uses and Side Effects

NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are medications used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. They are commonly used to treat conditions such as arthritis, menstrual cramps, and minor injuries.
Category
Medication
Where to get
Available over-the-counter at pharmacies.
Applicable for
Pain Relief | Inflammation Reduction | Fever Reduction
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

NSAIDs FAQ


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What are NSAIDs used for?

What are NSAIDs? Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs are medicines that are used to relieve pain, and reduce swelling (inflammation). Examples include aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib and meloxicam.

What is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAID) are members of a therapeutic drug class which reduces pain, decreases inflammation, decreases fever, and prevents blood clots.

How do NSAIDs work?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are a group of medicines that relieve pain and fever and reduce inflammation. There are nearly two dozen different NSAIDs available, but they all work in the same way, and that is by blocking a specific group of enzymes called cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, often abbreviated to COX enzymes.

What does NSAID stand for?

"Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Metal Complexes and Their Effect at the Cellular Level". European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 2016 (19): 3048–3071. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201501480. ^ "NADA 141–213: New Animal Drug Application Approval (for Metacam (meloxicam) 0.5 mg/mL and 1.5 mg/mL Oral Suspension)" (PDF).

NSAIDs References

If you want to know more about NSAIDs, consider exploring links below:

What Is NSAIDs

  1. https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-agents.html
  2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/anti-inflammatory-medicines
  3. https://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_antiinflammatory_drugs/article.htm
  4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/list-of-nsaids-from-strongest-to-weakest
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsteroidal_anti-inflammatory_drug
  6. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11086-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines-nsaids
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/
  8. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nsaids/
  9. https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/anti-inflammatory-drugs

NSAIDs Information

  1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/medications-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs
  2. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nonsteroidal-antiinflammatory-drugs-nsaids-beyond-the-basics
  3. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/what-are-nsaids/

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