What are NSAIDs and what are their side effects?
NSAIDs, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, are very common to household medicine cabinets. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are all NSAIDs. This class of drug works by blocking the COX-2 enzyme in the body, which reduces swelling; however, they also block the COX-1, which involves digestion in the GI tract. This often causes serious GI side effects, including ulcers, burns, and bleeding in the stomach lining. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturers of Mobic, originally tried to market Mobic as a COX-2 selective inhibitor. These drugs block the inflammation-causing COX-2 enzyme without blocking the COX-1, an action that, theoretically, should preserve all of the NSAID benefits while eliminating the gastrointestinal side effects. The FDA, however, rejected this claim and reported, It was the agencys position that there was insufficient pharmacology and endoscopy information to support a COX-2 mechanism of action for meli
