Understanding NSAIDs

[Marina]

http://arthritis.emedtv.com/nsaids-(...of-nsaids.html

Understanding NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs for short) are a class of medicines used to reduce mild to moderate pain, stiffness, fever, and inflammation. They are also used to treat a number of medical conditions that cause pain and inflammation. When it comes to NSAIDs, the list is long, and not all medications in this category are approved for the same uses.

Some specific uses of NSAIDs include:

•Pain relief. NSAIDs can relieve pain resulting from a procedure, as well as pain caused by straining a muscle or inflammation in a tendon (tendonitis) or bursa (bursitis). They can also be used to treat general pain, such as:

◦Headache
◦Toothache
◦Knee pain
◦Back pain
◦Foot pain.

•Treatment of arthritis symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and swelling. NSAIDs can be used to treat several different types of arthritis, including:

◦Osteoarthritis
◦Rheumatoid arthritis
◦Juvenile arthritis (also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
◦Ankylosing spondylitis
◦Gout.

These drugs do not cure these types of arthritis, however, nor do they change the progression of the disease.

•Treatment of painful menstrual periods.

•Relief of moderate to severe pain in the short term. "Short term" is defined as fewer than five days. Toradol® is an example of an NSAID often used to relieve this type of pain. This medication is most often used to relieve pain following a procedure, but it may also be used to relieve back pain, cancer pain, pain caused by kidney stones, and other types of short-term pain.

•Temporary relief of fever.

Specific List of NSAIDs
NSAIDs are available in both prescription and nonprescription strengths. They are also available in brand-name and generic versions. NSAIDs may be used alone or combined with other medications in several common cold, flu, and sinus products. These medications can be used to help relieve fever, aches, and pains associated with common cold symptoms, flu symptoms, or sinus problems.

The following is a specific list of NSAIDs that may be prescribed or bought over-the-counter:

•Aspirin (Ecotrin®, Bayer®, Anacin®)
•Choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate®)
•Diflunisal (Dolobid®)
•Celecoxib (Celebrex®)
•Diclofenac (Cataflam®, Voltaren®)
•Etodolac (Lodine®, Lodine® XL)
•Fenoprofen (Nalfon®)
•Flurbiprofen (Ansaid®)
•Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®, Nuprin®)
•Indomethacin (Indocin®, Indocin SR®)
•Ketoprofen (Orudis®, Actron®, Oruvail®)
•Ketorolac (Toradol)
•Meclofenamate (Meclomen®)
•Meloxicam (Mobic®)
•Nabumetone (Relafen®)
•Naproxen (Naprosyn®, Aleve®, Anaprox®, Naprelan®)
•Oxaprozin (Daypro®)
•Piroxicam (Feldene®)
•Salsalate (Salflex®, Disalcid®, Amigesic®)
•Sulindac (Clinoril®)
•Tolmetin (Tolectin®).

[Tonia]

Re: Understanding NSAIDs

Very helpful information. Thanks!

[Marsh]

Re: Understanding NSAIDs

Unfortunately, NSAIDS caused my kidney failure! But, I took a lot over a long period of time.

[caovanloi]

Re: Understanding NSAIDs

Here:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) annually account for 70 million prescriptions and 30 billion over-the-counter (OTC) medications sold in the United States alone. Despite our familiarity with these drugs, NSAIDs are full of paradoxes that pose significant challenges for the medical community. Although NSAIDs are among the oldest of drugs, new formulations continue to come to market. Some formulas are safe enough to be sold OTC for use in infants with fever, while others are available only as a prescription medication and are a leading cause of iatrogenic reactions, hospitalizations, and death. Physicians face the choice of prescribing lower cost, older NSAIDs versus the more expensive but potentially safer ones. The use of NSAIDs is clearly increasing. Factors contributing to this increase are the availability of OTC preparations and the aging of the population with a concomitant increase in osteoarthritis. One indication of the popularity of NSAIDs is that following the introduction of 2 new cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors in 1999, these drugs immediately became the most frequently prescribed new drugs in the United States. This article will familiarize the practitioner with the various types of NSAIDs, including the newer COX-2 formulations, their mechanism of action, and potential adverse reactions and efficacy. Although most practitioners are aware of the indications for NSAIDs, research is continuing to explore nontraditional applications. A new framework is being created that will allow new additions to the NSAID class of medications.

[Vicky]

Re: Understanding NSAIDs

Do no take ANY NSAIDS is one of the first things that came out of the nephrologists mouth after Dave's diagnosis. Tylenol products only.

I know they have their place in this world just as a lot of other medications do, it's just sad when something that is supposed to help you survive damages you beyond repair.