Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are members of a drug class that reduces pain, decreases fever, prevents blood clots, and in higher doses, decreases inflammation. Side effects depend on the specific drug but largely include an increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds, heart attack, and kidney disease

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that relieve or reduce pain.

©Medilifestyle_NSAIDs

Drug interactions with NSAIDs

When combined with blood-thinning medicines (such as warfarin) NSAIDs increase the risk of bleeding. NSAIDs can cause kidney failure when they are combined with ACE inhibitors (medicines used to treat heart problems and high blood pressure) and diuretics (medicines to remove excess fluid).

Nice to know about NSAIDs 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that relieve or reduce pain. The most popular examples of drugs in this group are aspirin and ibuprofen.

NSAIDs come under the wider definition of non-opioid analgesics. Doctors typically use NSAIDs rather than opioid pain relievers, such as morphine, to treat less severe pain.

This class of drugs includes some of the most common pain relief drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Estimates suggest that about 30 million people around the world use NSAIDs every day.

This article discusses NSAIDs in more detail, including how they work, their uses, and the precautions that people should take when using them.

Examples of NSAIDs

Over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs include:

1. Ibuprofen
2. Aspirin
3. Naproxen sodium

Prescription NSAIDs include:

1. Oxaprozin 
2. Etodolac 
3. Indomethacin 
4. Naproxen 
5. Nabumetone 
6. Diclofenac 
7. Naproxen/Esomeprazole 

What do doctors use NSAIDs to treat?

People typically use NSAIDs to relieve three symptoms that occur in a range of conditions:

1. High temperature or fever
2. Inflammation
3. Pain

It is common to use NSAIDs to ease minor and short-term inflammation and pain. Some conditions that may cause temporary pain include:

1. Arthritis
2. Backache
3. Cold or flu
4. Headaches
5. Period pain
6. Joint or bone injuries, sprains, and strains
7. Muscle or joint complaints
8. Toothache

If any of these problems become chronic, a person should consider the safety of using NSAIDs.

Healthcare professionals previously also recommended that adults aged 50–70 years with an increased risk of cardiovascular health issues take low doses of aspirin to help prevent artery disease that can lead to heart attack and stroke. However, experts now believe that the health risks of taking this drug every day outweigh the benefits, so they no longer advise daily aspirin for most people.

Using NSAIDs for cold and flu

Many people take NSAIDs to treat the symptoms of the common cold. However, although these drugs relieve some of the symptoms, such as fever and pain, they neither kill the virus nor improve the course of the illness.

Evidence shows that NSAIDs tend to help more with bodily pain and throat irritation and less with respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.

Precautions to take when using NSAIDs

People thinking about taking NSAIDs may wish to consider a few precautions.

For instance, it is best to limit or avoid alcohol while using NSAIDs, as this combination of drugs can irritate the gut and increase the risk of internal stomach bleeding.

It is also important not to mix more than one kind of NSAID and to tell a doctor before combining an NSAID with any other medicine, as this can sometimes causeTrusted Source some adverse effects.

Other people who may need to avoid these drugs or take them with medical guidance include those who:

• Have an allergy to NSAIDs
• Have asthma, as NSAIDs can worsen the symptoms of this condition in some cases
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have heart disease

Side effects of NSAIDs and long-term safety

Anyone who takes NSAIDs may experience some side effects.

Serious side effects are less common than mild ones, and the likelihood of any side effect varies among individuals. People taking drugs in high dosages or over a more extended term are more likely to have side effects.

Prescription NSAIDs are generally more effective in relieving pain, particularly intense pain, than OTC NSAIDs. However, they are more likely to cause side effects.

Less severe side effects that some people experience include:

1. Indigestion and other gut complaints
2. Headaches
3. Dizziness
4. Drowsiness

Rare adverse events associated with NSAIDs include problems with:

fluid retention

the kidneys

the liver

the heart and circulation

NSAIDs can also increaseTrusted Source blood pressure. The risk of heart attack and stroke may be higher for a person who takes NSAIDs, unless they take aspirin. However, this is usually more of a concern for people who have other risk factors for heart problems.