What Are NSAID Medicines?

NSAIDs, an acronym for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are a group of medicines used to treat inflammation, fever, aches, arthritis and pain.

Popular NSAIDs

• Popular over-the-counter NSAID drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs are sometimes used in children's medication, such as Children's Advil®. Prescription NSAIDs include Celebrex and Toradol.

Forms

• NSAIDs can come in tablet form or, in the case of children's medicine, in a liquid.

Common Side Effects

• Common side effects from taking NSAID medications include nausea, constipation, upset stomach, diarrhea, ringing in the ears and bloating.

Serious Side Effects

• Serious, potentially life-threatening side effects of NSAIDs include swelling of the extremities, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, yellowing of the eyes or skin, black stool, stomach pain and vomit that resembles coffee grounds. If these symptoms occur after you have taken an NSAID, call your doctor immediately.

New Warnings

• New labels warn that individuals taking NSAIDs (other than aspirin but including ibuprofen) have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke than people who do not take them. Complications can happen without warning or symptoms and could result in death. Because NSAIDs may cause ulcers, bleeding or GI/stomach perforation, it's important to tell your health care provider if you take blood thinners or oral steroids.