Abstract
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, have a substantial role in medical practice. They are commonly acquired as over-the-counter medications but may also be prescribed for their ability to relieve pain, alleviate inflammation, and reduce fever. NSAIDs work by inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX), affecting the production of mediators involved in pain pathways and inflammation. NSAIDs have become well known for a multitude of adverse effects, which stem from altering the homeostatic properties of cyclooxygenase in various organs. In an attempt to mitigate some of the adverse effects, COX-2 selective medications were introduced; however, there still remain undesired reactions and potential harm from their use.
Note: Although acetaminophen is not an NSAID, it is typically discussed alongside these compounds. In this text, acetaminophen is covered in the Cancer Pain chapter.
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Change history
27 March 2021
The book was inadvertently published with incorrect authorships in Chapters 13, 14 and 47. It has been updated along with corresponding affiliation information as follows: Chapter 13:
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Maturana, R., So, A., Gritsenko, K. (2019). Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). In: Khelemsky, Y., Malhotra, A., Gritsenko, K. (eds) Academic Pain Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18005-8_13
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