Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Rare card · No. 54518

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are members of a therapeutic drug class which reduces pain, decreases inflammation, decreases fever, and prevents blood clots. Side effects depend on the specific drug, its dose and duration of use, but largely include an increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds, heart attack, and kidney disease. Well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen, all of which are available over the counter (OTC). Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is generally not considered an NSAID because it has only minor anti-inflammatory activity. The term nonsteroidal, common from around 1960, distinguishes these drugs from corticosteroids, another class of anti-inflammatory drugs, which during the 1950s had acquired a bad reputation due to overuse and side-effect problems after their introduction in 1948. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work by inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase enzymes (the COX-1 and...

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