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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Drug Classes

NSAID

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˈɛnsɛd/abbreviationCore term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, NSAID means: Short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug: a medicine such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac that reduces pain, fever and inflammation.

In Turkish: NSAİİ, steroid olmayan antiinflamatuvar ilaç

How it is used

Said as 'EN-sed' and used constantly in community and hospital pharmacy. NSAIDs work by blocking COX enzymes. Before supplying them, pharmacists ask about stomach ulcers, kidney problems, asthma and blood thinners, because NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding and affect the kidneys.

Example sentences

  1. He's on warfarin, so an NSAID isn't a good choice for his back pain.

  2. Long-term NSAID use can damage the stomach lining.

Common collocations

  • take an NSAID
  • topical NSAID
  • NSAID use
  • avoid NSAIDs
  • analgesicA medicine that relieves pain without making the patient unconscious, from simple products such as paracetamol to strong opioids such as morphine.
  • anticoagulantA medicine that slows down blood clotting, used to prevent and treat clots in conditions such as atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
  • proton pump inhibitorA medicine that strongly reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes, used for heartburn, reflux and stomach ulcers and to protect the stomach from other drugs.
  • side effectAn effect of a medicine that is not the main reason for taking it; most side effects are unwanted, such as nausea, drowsiness or a headache.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Drug Classes

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.