Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Antipyretics and Analgesics

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antipyretics, and analgesics are important classes of drugs used for the management of pain, fever, and inflammation. These topics are highly relevant to pharmacy-related competitive examinations, including UPSC Drug Inspector, GPAT, NIPER, AIIMS Pharmacist, Railway Pharmacist, SSC, ESIC, and State Pharmacist examinations.

Analgesics are drugs that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness at therapeutic doses. They are broadly classified into non-opioid and opioid analgesics. Examples include paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, and morphine. Antipyretics reduce elevated body temperature during fever by acting on thermoregulatory pathways, mainly through the inhibition of prostaglandin E₂ synthesis. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are commonly used antipyretics.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are primarily used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and control inflammation. Most traditional NSAIDs exert their pharmacological effects by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, thereby decreasing the synthesis of prostaglandins. These drugs include aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, and ketorolac. Selective COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib and etoricoxib, are another important group of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Although NSAIDs are effective therapeutic agents, they may cause adverse effects, including gastrointestinal irritation, peptic ulceration, bleeding, renal impairment, and cardiovascular complications. Aspirin is particularly important because it irreversibly inhibits platelet cyclooxygenase, producing an antiplatelet effect. Paracetamol differs from traditional NSAIDs because it possesses significant analgesic and antipyretic activity but relatively weak peripheral anti-inflammatory action. An overdose can cause severe hepatic injury.

For competitive examinations, students should focus on the classification, mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, contraindications, drug interactions, and characteristic features of individual drugs. A clear understanding of these concepts helps students accurately solve challenging, conceptual, and clinical-scenario-based multiple-choice questions.

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