NSAID abbreviation - does that mean anything to you? If not, then we suggest broadening your horizons a little and finding out what these mysterious four letters stand for. Read the article - and everything will become absolutely clear. We hope that it will be not only informative, but also interesting!
NSAIDs - transcript
Let's not languish our readers in ignorance for a long time. NSAIDs stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - drugs are very popular and in demand nowadays, because they are able to simultaneously eliminate pain and relieve inflammation in various organs of our body. If until now you have never had the need to take NSAIDs - this can be considered almost a miracle. You are one of the rare lucky ones, really, your he alth is to be envied!
We are ahead of the next question and immediately tell you about the decoding of the word "non-steroidal". This means that these drugs are non-hormonal, i. do not contain any hormones. And this is very good, because everyone knows how unpredictable and dangerous hormonal drugs can be.
Mostpopular 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 time of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise. Read the list of such remedies, for sure some of them are in your home first aid kit. So, NSAIDs include drugs such as:
- "Aspirin".
- "Amidopyrine".
- "Analgin".
- "Piroxicam".
- "Quickgel".
- "Diclofenac".
- "Ketoprofen".
- "Indomethacin".
- "Ketorol".
- "Naproxen".
- "Ketorolac".
- "Flurbiprofen".
- "Voltarengel".
- "Nimesil".
- "Diclofenac".
- "Ibuprofen".
- "Indopan".
- "Ipren".
- "Upsarin UPSA".
- "Ketanov".
- "Mesulide".
- "Movalis".
- "Nise".
- "Nurofen".
- "Ortofen".
- "Trombo ACC".
- "Ultrafen".
- "Fastum".
- "Finalgel".
Yes, they are all NSAIDs. The list turned out to be long, but, of course, far from complete. And yet hegives an idea of the variety of modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Some historical facts
The first primitive NSAIDs 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 middle of the 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 - it was the first step towards creating the familiar "Aspirin" for all of us.
But it will take many more years of scientific research before this drug is born. A grand event happened 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 hit the Guinness Book of Records as the anesthetic with the largest sales volume. Well, later pharmacists created other non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs).
For what diseases are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used
The range of NSAIDs is very wide. They are very effective in the treatment of 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 diseases of the heart and blood vessels. 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 disease conditions for which the use of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated:
- Fever.
- Headaches, migraines.
- Renal colic.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gout.
- Arthrosis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Dysmenorrhea.
- Inflammatory arthropathies (psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome).
- Postoperative pain syndrome.
- Mild to moderate pain syndrome with injuries and various inflammatory changes.
Classification of NSAIDs by their chemical structure
Reading this article, you already had the opportunity to make sure that there are a lot of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To navigate among them at least a little better, let's classify these funds. First of all, they can be divided as follows: a group - acids and a group of NSAIDs - non-acidderivatives.
The first are:
- Salicylates (you can immediately think of "Aspirin").
- Phenylacetic acid derivatives ("Aceclofenac", "Diclofenac", etc.).
- Pyrazolidines (metamisole sodium, known to most of us as "Analgin", "Phenylbutazone, etc.).
- Oxicams ("Tenoxicam", "Meloxicam", "Piroxicam", "Tenoxicam").
- Derivatives of indoleacetic acid ("Sulindak", "Indomethacin", etc.).
- Derivatives of propionic acid ("Ibuprofen", etc.).
The second group is:
- Sulfonamide derivatives ("Celecoxib", "Nimesulide", "Rofecoxib").
- Alkanones ("Nabumetone").
Classification of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by their effectiveness
The use of NSAIDs in osteochondrosis and in the treatment of other joint diseases can literally work wonders. But, unfortunately, not all drugs are the same in their effectiveness. The undisputed leaders among them can be considered:
- "Diclofenac".
- "Ketoprofen".
- "Indomethacin".
- "Flurbiprofen".
- "Ibuprofen" and some other drugs.
The listed medicines can be called basic; i.e., on their basis, new NSAIDs can be developed and supplied to the pharmacy network, but under a different name and often at a higher price. In order not to waste your money, study the next chapter carefully. The information contained in it will help you make the right choice.
What to look for 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. What? Read on!
For example, you have 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, you will be advised the one that is more expensive. But the fact is that the composition of these drugs is almost identical. And the difference in names is explained by the fact that they are produced by different companies, which is why the brands differ from each other. The same can be said, for example, about "Metindol" 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. Only it will be written, most likely, in small letters.
But that's not all. Actually, it's not that simple! The use of an NSAID analogue of some drug you are familiar with may unexpectedly cause an allergic reaction or side effects that you have never experienced before. What's the matter here? The reason may lie in additional additives, about which, of course, nothing was written on the packaging. So you need to studyalso instructions.
Another possible reason for the different results of analogue 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. Conversely, oversized pills or capsules happen to be as much as 90 percent filled.
Sometimes drugs are also produced in retarded form, that is, as long-acting (prolonged) drugs. An important feature of such drugs is the ability to be absorbed gradually, so that their action can last for a whole day. Such a drug does not need to be drunk 3 or 4 times a day, a single dose will be enough. This feature of the drug should be indicated on the package or directly in the name. For example, "Voltaren" in prolonged form is called "Voltaren-retard".
List of analogues of known drugs
We publish this little cheat sheet in the hope that it will help you better navigate the many beautiful pharmacy packages. Let's say you immediately need effective NSAIDs for arthrosis to relieve excruciating pain. You take out a cheat sheet and read the following list:
- Analogues of "Diclofenac", in addition to the already mentioned "Voltaren" and "Ortofen", are also "Diclofen", "Dicloran", "Diclonac", "Rapten", "Diclobene", "Artrozan","Naklofen".
- Indomethacin is sold under brands such as Indomin, Indotard, Metindol, Rheumatin, Indobene, Inteban.
- Analogues of "Piroxicam": "Erazon", "Piroks", "Roxicam", "Pirocam".
- Analogues of "Ketoprofen": "Flexen", "Profenid", "Ketonal", "Artrosilen", "Knavon".
- The popular and inexpensive "Ibuprofen" is found in drugs such as Nurofen, Reumafen, Brufen, Bolinet.
Rules for taking NSAIDs
The use of NSAIDs can be accompanied by a number of side effects, so it is recommended that you follow these rules when taking them:
1. Familiarization with the instruction and following the recommendations contained in it are mandatory!
2. When taking a capsule or tablet by mouth, take it with a glass of water to protect your stomach. This rule must be followed even if you drink the most modern drugs (which are considered safer), because an extra precaution never hurts;
3. Do not lie down after taking the drug for about half an hour. The fact is that gravity will contribute to a better passage of the capsule down the esophagus;
4. It is better to refuse alcoholic beverages, since the combined NSAIDs and alcohol are an explosive mixture that can cause various stomach diseases.
5. One day is not worth ittaking two different nonsteroidal drugs will not increase the positive result, but most likely will add up the side effects.
6. If the medicine does not help, check with your doctor, you may have been prescribed too low a dose.
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 disturbed by symptoms such as
- Nausea (sometimes very bad).
- Heartburn.
- Vomiting.
- Dyspepsia.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Diarrhea.
- Ulcer of the duodenum and stomach.
All of the above troubles are NSAID-gastropathy. Therefore, doctors so often try to prescribe their patients the lowest possible doses of classic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To minimize adverse effects on the stomach and intestines, it is recommended that you never take these drugs on an empty stomach, but only after a large meal.
But problems with the digestive system are not all the side effects that some of the NSAIDs can cause. Certain drugs can have a bad effect on the heart, as well as on the kidneys. Sometimes their reception can be accompanied by a headache and dizziness. Another serious nuisance is that they have a destructive effect on intra-articular cartilage (of course, only with prolongedapplication). Fortunately, a new generation of NSAIDs are now available on the market, which are largely freed from these shortcomings.
New generation non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
In the past two decades, several pharmaceutical companies have simultaneously 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 under the supervision of a doctor can be taken in very long courses. Moreover, the terms 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 medicines like:
- "Movalis".
- "Nise" (aka "Nimulid").
- "Arcoxia".
- "Celebrex".
We will tell 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 injection (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 withsevere arthrosis of the hip or knee joints, "Movalis" is simply irreplaceable.
Different forms in which NSAIDs are produced
Most of the 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 a variety makes it possible in some cases to avoid harm during treatment while obtaining a faster therapeutic effect.
So, NSAIDs of a new generation, used in the form of injections for arthrosis, have much less effect on the gastrointestinal tract. But there is a downside to this coin: when administered intramuscularly, almost all non-steroidal drugs are capable of producing a complication - necrosis of muscle tissue. That is why NSAID injections are never practiced for a long time.
Basically, injections are prescribed for exacerbation of inflammatory and degenerative-dystrophic 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.
Usually, 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-treatment of such common ailments as osteochondrosis or arthrosis, seek help from a medical institution, that is where youcan help.
Can NSAIDs be used during pregnancy
Doctors categorically do not advise pregnant women to take NSAIDs (especially this prohibition applies to the third trimester), as well as mothers who are breastfeeding. It is believed that drugs in this group can adversely affect the bearing of the fetus and cause various malformations in it.
According to some reports, such a harmless drug, according to many, like Aspirin, can increase the risk of miscarriage in the early stages. But sometimes doctors, according to indications, prescribe this drug to women (in a limited course and in minimal doses). In each case, the decision should be made by a medical specialist.
During pregnancy, women often have back pain and there is a need to solve this problem with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as the most effective and fast-acting. In this case, the use of "Voltaren gel" is acceptable. But - again - its independent use is possible only in the first and second trimester, in late pregnancy, the use of this strong drug is allowed only under the supervision of a doctor.
Conclusion
We told you what we knew about NSAIDs. Deciphering the abbreviation, the classification of drugs, the rules for taking them, information about side effects - this can be useful in life. But we want our readers to need medicines as rarely as possible. Therefore, in parting, we wish you good heroic he alth!
