Anti-inflammatory drug

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Anti-inflammatory drug

Anti-inflammatory drugs (pronunciation: /ˌæntiɪnˈflæməˌtɔri drʌɡ/) are a type of medication that are used to reduce inflammation.

Etymology

The term "anti-inflammatory" is derived from the Latin words "anti" meaning against and "inflammare" meaning to set on fire. The term "drug" is derived from the Old French "drogue", possibly deriving later into 'droge-vate' from Middle Dutch meaning 'dry barrels', referring to medicinal plants preserved in them.

Types of Anti-inflammatory drugs

There are two main types of anti-inflammatory drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Corticosteroids).

  • NSAIDs - These are drugs that provide analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects, and, in higher doses, anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Corticosteroids - These are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones.

Related Terms

  • Inflammation - A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
  • Medication - A substance used for medical treatment, especially a medicine or drug.
  • Pain - An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
  • Fever - A temporary increase in body temperature, often due to an illness.
  • Steroid - Any of a large class of organic compounds with a characteristic molecular structure containing four rings of carbon atoms.
  • Hormone - A regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.

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