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What are NSAIDs?
Inflammation is the immune system's response to infection and injury. Heat, redness, swelling, and pain are noticeable signs of inflammation.
The body receives pain signals from nerve receptors when inflammation occurs. These signals result from complex responses and interactions between cells and chemicals in the body.
Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain partly by reducing inflammation. People can use these drugs to relieve symptoms of pain, stiffness, swelling, and fever.
The painkilling action of NSAIDs reduces the direct effect of inflammation on pain-nerve stimulation and sensitivity, but also the indirect effect of inflammatory heat and swelling.
Examples of NSAIDs
OTC NSAIDs include:
Prescription NSAIDs include:
Function
NSAIDs are a broad group of drugs from a number of different classes. Although their chemical structures are different, they have the following effects in common:
NSAIDs work by slowing the formation of compounds known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins play an important role in the body's inflammatory response. Reducing the amount of prostaglandins that are produced by tissue damage reduces inflammation.
NSAIDs block an enzyme called cyclooxygenase, also known as COX. The COX enzyme helps the reactions that produce prostaglandins.
Blocking COX also interferes with platelets - cells in the blood involved in clotting. This is why NSAIDs have anti-clotting properties.
In the case of aspirin, this property helps prevent the blocked arteries that can cause heart attacksor stroke.
What are NSAIDs used to treat?
NSAIDs are used for three broad symptom types that occur in a range of conditions:
NSAIDs are used to ease pain in a number of conditions, including:
In low doses, aspirin is used to help prevent artery disease that can lead to heart attack or stroke. It may also be used to reduce the risk of some types of colorectal cancer.
Headache and lower back pain are two of the more common reasons for using NSAIDs. If these problems become long-term issues, patients should consider the safety of using NSAIDs.
Using NSAIDs for cold and flu
For more than 100 years, NSAIDs have been taken to treat symptoms of the common cold.
However, these drugs do not kill the virus or improve the course of the illness. NSAIDs simply relieve some of the symptoms, including fever and pain.
A systematic review of the best available evidence for treating a common cold with NSAIDs shows that they produce significant results against headache, ear pain, and muscle and joint pain.
Precautions for using NSAIDs
How the body responds to NSAIDs varies from person-to-person, and some people will experience side effects.
High doses and long-term use make some side effects more likely.
Here are some general points regarding the precautions of NSAIDs:
Other people who may need to avoid these drugs or take them with medical guidance: