Medical Uses
NSAIDs are usually indicated for the treatment of acute or chronic conditions where pain and inflammation are present. Research continues into their potential for prevention of colorectal cancer, and treatment of other conditions, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
NSAIDs are generally indicated for the symptomatic relief of the following conditions:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthropathies (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome)
- Acute gout
- Dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain)
- Metastatic bone pain
- Headache and migraine
- Postoperative pain
- Mild-to-moderate pain due to inflammation and tissue injury
- Muscle stiffness and pain due to Parkinson's disease
- Pyrexia (fever)
- Ileus
- Renal colic
- They are also given to neonate infants whose ductus arteriosus is not closed within 24 hours of birth
Aspirin, the only NSAID able to irreversibly inhibit COX-1, is also indicated for inhibition of platelet aggregation. This is useful in the management of arterial thrombosis and prevention of adverse cardiovascular events. Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation by inhibiting the action of thromboxane A2.
In 2001, NSAIDs accounted for 70,000,000 prescriptions and 30 billion over-the-counter doses sold annually in the United States.
Read more about this topic: Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug
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