What is "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug"

alt. (context pharmacology English) Any anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, that does not contain steroids. n. (context pharmacology English) Any anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, that does not contain steroids.

n. an anti-inflammatory drug that does not contain steroids; "NSAIDs inhibit the activity of both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes" [syn: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, NSAID]

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (usually abbreviated to NSAIDs ), also called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents/analgesics (NSAIAs) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs), are a drug class that groups together drugs that provide analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects, and, in higher doses, anti-inflammatory effects.

The term nonsteroidal distinguishes these drugs from steroids, which, among a broad range of other effects, have a similar eicosanoid-depressing, anti-inflammatory action. First used in 1960, the term served to distance new drugs from steroid related iatrogenic tragedies.

As analgesics, NSAIDs are unusual in that they are non- narcotic and thus are used as a non-addictive alternative to narcotics.

The most prominent members of this group of drugs, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, are all available over the counter in most countries. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is generally not considered an NSAID because it has only little anti-inflammatory activity. It treats pain mainly by blocking COX-2 mostly in the central nervous system, but not much in the rest of the body.

Most NSAIDs inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and thereby, the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. It is thought that inhibiting COX-2 leads to the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects and that those NSAIDs also inhibiting COX-1, particularly aspirin, may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.