What are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors?
NSAID’s and COX-2 inhibitors are medications that can decrease pain and inflammation and which have a long history of use in various kinds of arthritis and other painful conditions. There are two enzymes (body chemicals) that these medications can block: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-2 is the chemical that causes arthritis inflammation. COX-1 protects the stomach from ulcers. Both of these enzymes have many more actions, but the aforementioned are especially important to understanding the excitement that surrounded the introduction of COX-2 inhibitors. While it was believed that COX-2 inhibitors could stop inflammation in the joints without causing ulcers, it was later discovered that COX-2 inhibitors still caused ulcers, though fewer than the older NSAID’s, which block both COX-1 and COX-2 (also called non-selective NSAID’s). These older, non-selective medications include naproxen (Naprosyn® and Aleve®), diclofenac, (Voltaren®) and ibuprofen (Motrin®). The newer, COX-2 selective agents include
