NSAIDs is an acronym for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used to bring down fevers and control swelling or other immune reactions. You are probably familiar with several NSAIDs that are common over-the-counter pain relievers. They all have slightly different effects, so you might have to experiment to find what works best for you.
Aspirin
Aspirin, in the class of drugs called salicylates, is the cheapest NSAID. Although aspirin is really useful for pain relief and heart attack prevention--in part because it helps prevent blood clots from forming--you might find that aspirin irritates your stomach. Aspirin can cause prolonged bleeding or bleeding of your stomach lining, so you may need to take other NSAIDs. The risk of bleeding makes it unsafe for you to take aspirin for at least five days before surgery. Brand names of aspirin include Bayer and Anacin.
Remember that aspirin can cause a serious condition called Reye's syndrome in children, especially if they have chicken pox or another virus, so never give aspirin to a feverish child. Instead you can use the NSAID ibuprofen (see below) or acetaminophen (which is not technically an NSAID because it does not control inflammation. Tylenol is acetaminophen).
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a fever reducer and pain reliever that is especially useful for arthritis pain and menstrual cramping. Unlike aspirin, it doesn't interfere with blood clotting, but it, too, can cause stomach irritation and bleeding of your stomach lining. You should not take ibuprofen and aspirin at the same time because of the risk of a bad interaction. Brand names of ibuprofen include Motrin, Midol, Nuprin and Advil.
Naproxen
Naproxen is a prescription-only NSAID. Doctors commonly prescribe it for relief of debilitating pain in patients with arthritis, gout, tendinitis, bursitis or serious menstrual cramps. The anti-inflammatory effect of naproxen helps reduce swelling and ease joint pain and stiffness.
Celecoxib
NSAIDs inhibit pain-causing molecules called COX. Unlike other NSAIDs, the coxibs, such as celecoxib, specifically inhibit only one type of COX molecule. Compared to the non-specific NSAIDs, that specificity makes celecoxib less likely to irritate your stomach.
Like naproxen, celecoxib must be prescribed by your doctor. Celecoxib can relieve the pain of several types of arthritis and is especially useful to ease acute dental pain. It can also reduce the number of intestinal polyps in people who suffer from an inherited disease called familial adenomatous polyposis. You might know celecoxib by its brand name Celebrex.
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