Non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. They can be used as pain killers (analgesics), and also help reduce inflammation and lower fevers ( the anti-inflammatory effects may take from a few days to three weeks to come on, so it is worth persevering for a while before deciding that a NSAID is not going to help).

They also prevent blood from clotting, which is good in some cases but not so beneficial in others. For example, because they reduce clotting action, some NSAIDS, especially aspirin, may have a protective effect against heart disease.

NSAIDs are used as follows:
1. The commonest use is for arthritis, back pain, sciatica, sprains, strains, and
rheumatism.
2. To relieve mild to moderate pain caused by headache, toothache, period
pains(dysmenorrhoea) ,heavy periods (menorrhagia), pain after surgery, sports
injuries.
3. To reduce pain from kidney stones (renal colic).
4. To help reduce temperature in someone with a fever.
5. For other painful conditions, especially where there is inflammation.

How do NSAIDs work?

NSAIDs work by blocking the production of chemicals in the body known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are a related family of chemicals that are produced by the cells of the body and have several important functions. They promote inflammation, pain, and fever, support the function of platelets that are necessary for the clotting of blood, and protect the lining of the stomach from the damaging effects of acid. Prostaglandins are produced within the body's cells by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (Cox). There actually are two Cox enzymes, Cox-1 and Cox-2. Both enzymes produce prostaglandins that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. However, only Cox-1 produces prostaglandins that support platelets and protect the stomach.
Traditional NSAIDs block the actions of both COX-1 and COX-2, which is why they can cause stomach upset and bleeding as well as ease pain and inflammation.

Here are some common traditional NSAIDs:
Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nabumetone, Ketoprofen, Piroxicam, Diclofenac sodium, fenbufen, Indometacin, Mefenemic acid, Meloxicam, Tenoxicam (In Generic Name ).

There are special category of NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors. These medications target only the COX-2 enzyme that stimulates the inflammatory response. Because they do not block the actions of the COX-1 enzyme, these medications generally do not cause the kind of stomach upset or bleeding that traditional NSAIDs do. COX-2 inhibitors also do not offer the same kind of protection against heart disease.

COX-2 inhibitors include:
Celecoxib, Rofecoxib, Valdecoxib (In Generic Name ).


References :
1.http://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_antiinflammatory_drugs/article.htm
2.http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00284&return_link=0
3.http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/nsaids.html
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAID
5.http://www.medinfo.co.uk/drugs/nsaids.html