Abbreviation NSAID
- does this tell you anything? If not, then we suggest expanding your horizons somewhat and finding out what these mysterious four letters mean. Read the article and everything will become absolutely clear. We hope that it will be not only informative, but also interesting!
NSAIDs stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - drugs are very popular and popular nowadays, because they can simultaneously eliminate pain and relieve inflammation in a variety of organs of our body.
If until now you have never had a need to take NSAIDs, this can be considered almost a miracle. You are one of the rare lucky ones, really, your health is enviable! NSAIDs are, let’s get ahead of the next question and immediately talk about the definition of the word “non-steroidal”, which means that these drugs are non-hormonal, i.e. do not contain any hormones. And this is very good, because everyone knows how unpredictable and dangerous hormonal drugs can be.
Most popular NSAIDs
If you think that NSAIDs are drugs whose names are rarely spoken in everyday life, then you are mistaken.
Many people do not even realize how often we have to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to cure various ailments that have accompanied the human race since the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise.
Read the list of such products; you probably have some of them in your home medicine cabinet. So, NSAIDs include medications such as: Aspirin, Amidopyrine, Analgin, Piroxicam, Bystrumgel, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Indomethacin, Ketorol, Naproxen, “Ketorolac”, “Flurbiprofen”, “Voltarengel”, “Nimesil”, “Diclofenac”, “Ibuprofen”, “Indopan”, “Iprene”, “Upsarin UPSA”, “Ketanov”, “Mesulide”, “Movalis”, “ Nise", "Nurofen", "Ortofen", "Trombo ACC", "Ultrafen", "Fastum", "Finalgel".
Yes, these are all NSAID drugs. The list, although large, is, of course, far from complete. And yet, it gives a good idea of the variety of modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Some historical facts
The first primitive NSAID drugs were known to people in ancient times. For example, in Ancient Egypt, willow bark, a natural source of salicylates and one of the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, was widely used to relieve fever and pain. And even in those distant times, healers treated their patients suffering from joint pain and fever with decoctions of myrtle and lemon balm - they also contain salicylic acid.
In the mid-19th century, chemistry began to develop rapidly, which gave impetus to the development of pharmacology. At the same time, the first studies of the compositions of medicinal substances obtained from plant materials began to be carried out. Pure salicin from willow bark was synthesized in 1828 - this was the first step towards the creation of the familiar Aspirin.
But it will take many years of scientific research before this medicine comes to light. A grandiose event took place in 1899. Doctors and their patients quickly appreciated the benefits of the new drug. In 1925, when a terrible influenza epidemic hit Europe, Aspirin became a savior for a huge number of people.
And in 1950, this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the painkiller with the largest sales volume. Well, later pharmacists created other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
For what diseases are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used?
The range of uses of NSAIDs is very wide. They are very effective in treating both acute and chronic diseases accompanied by pain and inflammation.
Nowadays, research is in full swing to study the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of heart and vascular diseases. And today almost everyone knows that they can be used for pain in the spine (NSAIDs for osteochondrosis are a real salvation).
Here is a list of painful conditions in the event of which the use of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated: Fever. Headaches, migraines. Renal colic. Rheumatoid arthritis. Gout. Arthrosis. Osteoarthritis. Dysmenorrhea. Inflammatory arthropathy (psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome). Postoperative pain syndrome. Pain syndrome from mild to moderate severity due to injuries and various inflammatory changes.
Classification of NSAIDs according to their chemical structure
By reading this article, you have already had the opportunity to see that there are a lot of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To navigate among them at least a little better, let's start classifying these funds.
First of all, they can be divided as follows: a group - acids and a group of NSAIDs - non-acid derivatives.
The first include: - Salicylates (you can immediately remember about “Aspirin”). — Derivatives of phenylacetic acid (“Aceclofenac”, “Diclofenac”, etc.). - Pyrazolidines (metamizole sodium, known to most of us as “Analgin”, “Phenylbutazone, etc.). — Oxicams (“Tenoxicam”, “Meloxicam”, “Piroxicam”, “Tenoxicam”). — Derivatives of indoleacetic acid (“Sulindac”, “Indomethacin”, etc.). — Derivatives of propionic acid (“Ibuprofen”, etc.).
The second group is: - Sulfonamide derivatives (“Celecoxib”, “Nimesulide”, “Rofecoxib”). — Alkanons (“Nabumeton”).
Classification of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs according to their effectiveness
The use of NSAIDs for osteochondrosis and in the treatment of other joint diseases can literally work wonders. But, unfortunately, not all drugs are equal in their effectiveness. The undisputed leaders among them can be considered: Diclofenac, Ketoprofen, Indomethacin, Flurbiprofen, Ibuprofen and some other drugs.
The listed medications can be called basic; that is, on their basis, new NSAIDs can be developed and supplied to the pharmacy chain, but under a different changed name and often at a higher price. To avoid wasting your money, study the next chapter thoroughly.
The information contained in it will help you make the right choice. What you need to pay attention to when choosing a medicine NSAIDs are, for the most part, excellent modern drugs, but when you come to the pharmacy, it is better to be aware of some of the nuances. Which ones? But read it! For example, you are faced with a choice of what is better to buy: Diclofenac, Ortofen or Voltaren. And you are trying to ask the pharmacist which of these drugs is better. Most likely, they will recommend you the one that is more expensive. But the fact is that the composition of the listed drugs is almost identical. And the difference in names is explained by the fact that they were produced by different companies, which is why the brands differ from each other.
The same can be said, for example, about “Methindole” and “Indomethacin” or “Ibuprofen” and “Brufen”, etc. To sort out the confusion, always look carefully at the packaging, because the main active ingredient of the drug must be indicated there facilities. Only it will most likely be written in small letters.
But that is not all. Or rather, it’s not that simple! Using an NSAID analogue of a drug that you are familiar with can unexpectedly cause an allergic reaction or side effects that you have never experienced before. What's the matter? The reason may lie in additional additives, which, of course, nothing was written about on the packaging. This means that you also need to study the instructions.
Another possible reason for the different results of analog drugs is the difference in dosage. Ignorant people often do not pay any attention to this, but in vain. After all, small tablets can contain a “horse” dose of the active substance. And, conversely, pills or capsules of huge sizes, it happens, consist of fillers by as much as 90 percent. Sometimes drugs are also produced in retardated form, i.e., as long-acting (prolonged) drugs. An important feature of such drugs is the ability to be absorbed gradually, due to which their effect can last a whole day. This drug does not need to be taken 3 or 4 times a day; a single dose will be sufficient. This feature of the medicine should be indicated on the packaging or directly in the name. For example, “Voltaren” in a prolonged form is called “Voltaren-retard”.
List of analogues of known drugs
We are publishing this little cheat sheet in the hope that it will help you better navigate the many beautiful pharmacy packaging. Let's say you immediately need effective NSAIDs for arthrosis to relieve excruciating pain. Take out your cheat sheet and read the following list:
- Analogs of “Diclofenac”, in addition to the already mentioned “Voltaren” and “Ortofen”, are also “Diclofen”, “Dicloran”, “Diclonac”, “Rapten”, “Diclobene”, “Artrosan”, “Naklofen”.
- "Indomethacin" is sold under such brands as "Indomin", "Indotard", "Metindol", "Revmatin", "Indobene", "Inteban".
- Analogues of "Piroxicam": "Erazon", "Pirox", "Roxicam", "Pirocam".
- Analogues of "Ketoprofen": "Flexen", "Profenid", "Ketonal", "Artrosilene", "Knavon".
- The popular and inexpensive Ibuprofen is included in such drugs as Nurofen, Reumafen, Brufen, Bolinet.
Rules for taking NSAIDs
Taking NSAIDs can be accompanied by a number of side effects, so it is recommended to follow these rules when taking them:
- Reading the instructions and following the recommendations it contains are mandatory!
- When taking a capsule or tablet, take it with a glass of water to protect your stomach. This rule must be followed even if you are taking the most modern drugs (which are considered safer), because extra precaution never hurts;
- Do not lie down after taking the drug for about half an hour. The fact is that gravity will facilitate better passage of the capsule down the esophagus;
- It is better to avoid alcoholic beverages, since NSAIDs and alcohol combined together are an explosive mixture that can cause various stomach diseases.
- You should not take two different non-steroidal drugs on the same day - this will not increase the positive result, but, most likely, will add up to the side effects.
- If the medicine does not help, consult your doctor; perhaps the dose you were prescribed was too small.
Side effects and nonsteroidal gastropathy
Now you have to find out what NSAID gastropathy is. Unfortunately, all NSAIDs have significant side effects. They have a particularly negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Patients may be bothered by symptoms such as nausea (sometimes very severe). Heartburn. Vomit. Dyspepsia. Gastrointestinal bleeding. Diarrhea. Ulcer of the duodenum and stomach.
All of the above troubles are NSAID gastropathy. This is why doctors so often try to prescribe their patients the lowest possible doses of classic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To minimize harmful effects on the stomach and intestines, it is recommended that you never take such medications on an empty stomach and only do so after a large meal.
But problems with the digestive system are not all the side effects that some NSAIDs can cause. Certain drugs can have a bad effect on the heart and also on the kidneys. Sometimes taking them can be accompanied by headache and dizziness.
Another serious problem is that they have a destructive effect on intra-articular cartilage (of course, only with long-term use). Fortunately, today there are new generation NSAIDs on the market, which are largely free from these disadvantages.
New generation non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Over the past two decades, several pharmaceutical companies have been intensively developing new modern NSAIDs, which, along with the effective elimination of pain and inflammation, would have as few side effects as possible.
The efforts of pharmacists were crowned with success - a whole group of new generation drugs, called selective, was developed. Imagine - these drugs can be taken for very long courses under the supervision of a doctor. Moreover, the time frame can be measured not only in weeks and months, but even in years.
Medicines from this group do not have a destructive effect on articular cartilage, side effects are much less common and practically do not cause complications. New generation NSAIDs are medications such as: Movalis. “Nise” (aka “Nimulid”). "Arcoxia". "Celebrex."
We will talk about some of their advantages using Movalis as an example. It is available both in traditional tablets (7.5 and 15 mg), and in suppositories of 15 mg, and in glass ampoules for intramuscular administration (also 15 mg). This medicine acts very gently, but at the same time extremely effective: just one tablet is enough for the whole day. When a patient is indicated for long-term treatment for severe arthrosis of the hip or knee joints, Movalis is simply irreplaceable.
Different forms in which NSAIDs are available
Most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be purchased and used not only in the form of tablets and capsules for oral administration, but also in ointments, gels, suppositories and injection solutions. And this, of course, is very good, since such diversity makes it possible in some cases to avoid harm during treatment while simultaneously obtaining a faster therapeutic effect.
Thus, new generation NSAIDs, used in the form of injections for arthrosis, have much less effect on the gastrointestinal tract. But there is also a flip side to this coin: when administered intramuscularly, almost all non-steroidal drugs can cause a complication - necrosis of muscle tissue. This is why NSAID injections are never practiced for a long time.
Basically, injections are prescribed for exacerbation of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints and spine, accompanied by severe unbearable pain. After the patient’s condition improves, it becomes possible to switch to tablets and external agents in the form of ointments.
Typically, doctors combine different dosage forms, deciding what and when can bring the greatest benefit to the patient. The conclusion suggests itself: if you do not want to harm yourself by self-treating such common ailments as osteochondrosis or arthrosis, seek help from a medical institution, that is where they will be able to help you.
Can NSAIDs be used during pregnancy?
Doctors categorically do not advise pregnant women to take NSAIDs (this prohibition especially applies to the third trimester), as well as mothers who are breastfeeding. It is believed that drugs in this group can adversely affect the gestation of the fetus and cause various malformations in it.
According to some reports, such a harmless medicine, in the opinion of many, as Aspirin, can increase the risk of miscarriage in the early stages. But sometimes doctors prescribe this drug to women according to indications (in a limited course and in minimal doses). In each specific case, the decision must be made by a medical specialist.
During pregnancy, women often have back pain and there is a need to solve this problem with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as the most effective and fast-acting. In this case, it is permissible to use Voltaren Gel. But - again - its independent use is possible only in the first and second trimester; in the later stages of pregnancy, the use of this strong drug is allowed only under the supervision of a doctor.
Conclusion
We told you what we ourselves knew about NSAIDs. Decoding abbreviations, classification of medications, rules for taking them, information about side effects - this can be useful in life. But we want our readers to need medications as rarely as possible. Therefore, in parting, we wish you good, heroic health!
General recommendations for the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
When using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a number of recommendations should be followed to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the risk of developing serious adverse reactions. You should be aware that your medicine may be sold under different trade names. For example, the commercial names aspirin, upsarin UPSA, aspinat, taspir, etc. designate medicines that contain the same active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid (this is an international nonproprietary name (INN), which is the same in all countries, regardless of the manufacturer). If you see the same INN on the branded packaging, then avoid a possible overdose, do not take all these drugs at the same time, consult your doctor for an explanation of the dosage regimen.
What is your NSAID used for?
NSAIDs are used to relieve elevated body temperature (fever), relieve pain symptoms and as anti-inflammatory drugs. For pain symptoms (joint pain, sciatica, etc.), NSAIDs do not treat the disease, but only eliminate its unpleasant manifestations. When used as an antipyretic, they relieve only the symptoms of fever, but do not affect the causes of the disease (for example, influenza viruses, acute respiratory infections, the causative agent of pneumonia, etc.) Remember the serious side effects of NSAIDs!!!: drug-induced asthma from NSAIDs, ulcerogenic effect (ulceration of the gastric and intestinal mucosa) during long-term therapy with this group of drugs
What should you keep in mind when taking NSAIDs?
NSAIDs are prescription drugs and are available with a prescription. They are used strictly in accordance with the doctor’s instructions; the recommended dosage regimen should be followed and the prescribed dose should not be exceeded.
NSAIDs can cause ulceration of the gastric and intestinal mucosa even with a short course of therapy, however, it has been noted that the likelihood of these complications increases significantly as the duration of treatment increases. Hidden intestinal bleeding may be invisible to the patient and, if he does not have any disturbing symptoms, can even result in death if measures are not taken in time to stop the bleeding.
What factors may contribute to an increased risk of ulcerogenic effect?
1. Combination of NSAIDs with corticosteroids and anticoagulants
- Increasing the duration of taking NSAIDs
- Smoking, alcohol abuse, eating spicy and highly fried foods and other bad habits
- Elderly age
- Presence of concomitant diseases affecting the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract
6. Consult with your doctor about the advisability of stopping taking NSAIDs before or after surgery, for example, during coronary artery bypass grafting and other surgical interventions in which heavy bleeding may develop. NSAIDs should not be used in patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum; for bronchial asthma, allergic reactions to taking NSAIDs, for pain before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). NSAID drugs have a damaging effect on the fetus, so they should not be used by pregnant women. They pass into breast milk when a woman breastfeeds her baby, so during this period you should avoid taking such popular drugs as acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, ketotifen, etc. When using NSAIDs with other drugs, dangerous incompatibilities may occur. Therefore, if you are going to take it yourself or have already started using over-the-counter drugs at your own peril and risk, or another specialist (surgeon, phlebologist, neuropathologist, etc.) has written you a prescription for a prescription drug, you should definitely consult with your doctor to determine their compatibility.
For which symptoms should you immediately contact your doctor or any other medical specialist?
You should be well aware of the signs of ulcer perforation, internal bleeding, stroke, myocardial infarction, which may result from the use of NSAIDs. You should make arrangements to see your doctor if you have dark stools, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, slurred speech, or swelling of your face or throat. If you experience itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, vomiting blood, blood in the stool including sticky black consistency, skin rash or blisters with high fever, unusual weight gain, swelling of the arms and legs, nausea , as well as those that appear against the background of the listed signs of increased fatigue and weakness, taking NSAIDs should be stopped immediately.
What else is important to know about NSAIDs
NSAIDs usually increase the likelihood of a heart attack, however, acetylsalicylic acid is an exception to this rule. Prescription drugs should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. Many NSAIDs are freely available in the Russian Federation without a prescription. When self-medicating, follow some rules that will allow you to avoid the side effects of over-the-counter drugs when used for a long time. So, do not take aspirin as a pain reliever for more than 7 days and 3 days if you are using it as a fever reducer. This figure may differ for other drugs, but on average it is 10 days. NSAIDs are available in tablets, injection solutions, and ointments. Ointments are the safest dosage form of NSAIDs, however, to enhance activity they often have to be taken together with tablets and even injected, which increases the risk of developing negative side reactions of the drugs on the body.
