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The ABCs of Pain Management: What You Should Know About NSAIDs

The topic for today is NSAIDS.  I hope you know what this acronym stands for, and I hope you know even more about the topic after you read this post!



First off, NSAID is an acronym that stands for Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug.  This class of drugs has flooded the marketplace in the last twenty or thirty years.  If you don't know the term NSAID, you might be aware of some of the brand or generic names of these drugs, including Aleve®, Naprosyn®, Motrin®, naproxen, and ibuprofen.  But there are many more. These drugs are very effective at reducing fever, pain and inflammation.  But there is more to the story...

I came across a survey in recent news...in a poster session at the recent PAINWEEK conference in Las Vegas, authors cited survey results that were truly shocking.  Forty-seven percent of a responders to a small online survey did not know what an NSAID was, including forty percent of responders who reported that they had taken pain medication in the last twelve months! You can read more of the story about this poster session and survey by clicking here.

For those of you who want to know more about NSAIDs,  here is a portion of my blog post from July 1, 2015. You can click the link to read the post in entirety, but here are some key points:


  • NSAIDs can cause GI upset, GI bleeding and even ulcers with prolonged use.
  • NSAID use can increase risk of heart attack and/or stroke.
  • NSAID usage can negatively affect kidney and liver function.

As I always say when it comes to medication usage--for the most part, less is more. Please use them wisely!

Sources: MedPageToday; Everyday Pain Management Ideas; Wikimedia




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