NSAID is an abbreviation for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications posses analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. The drugs have similar anti-inflammatory and eicosanoid-depressing action as steroid and in order to distinguish them from the latter ones, the term non-steroidal is used.

Most of NSAIDs are used as common pain killers, but the most preferable of them is paracetamol for the reason it has less side effects and in the price matter it is cheaper than other types of NSAIDs. For people with different inflammatory diseases non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are considered to be the best treatment. Do not expect immediate result from NSAIDs. The effect will be revealed only after a week or two.

NSAIDs are prescribed in the following conditions:

• inflammatory forms of arthritis and in some cases the drug is prescribed in severe forms of osteoarthritis
• rheumatism, strains, sprains
• pain during period
• pain caused by kidney stones
• dental pain
• as a pain relief during post-operative period
• in some cases NSAIDs are prescribed in order to reduce fever
• migraines
• other conditions that cause pain and are accompanied by inflammation

What should every person know about non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs side effects: The frequency of drug's side effects differs among NSAIDS. Most commonly met side effects are diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness. NSAIDs maybe the cause of appeared edema. Among most serious side effects are liver and kidney failure, long lasting bleeding after injury or ulcers.

The following non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are approved in the USA: aspirin, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, naproxen, tolmetin. This is just a part of approved NSAIDs but the list is bigger. Before starting a treatment consult a doctor about the medication.