Chemicals and Drugs

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory agents that are non-steroidal in nature. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, they have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis accounts for their analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions; other mechanisms may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

25 entry terms
  • Anti Inflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antiinflammatory Agents, Non Steroidal
  • Antiinflammatory Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • NSAID
  • NSAIDs
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent
  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent
  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Agent, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory
  • Agent, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Non-Steroidal
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Nonsteroidal
  • Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent
  • Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents
  • Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agent
  • Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Agents
  • Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
  • Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory
  • Aspirin-Like Agent
  • Aspirin-Like Agents
  • Agent, Aspirin-Like
  • Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics
  • Aspirin Like Agent
  • Aspirin Like Agents

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

22 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

87; ANALGESICS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY was heading 1975-89

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Analgesics, Anti-Inflammatory (1966-1986)
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents (1966-1986)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D27.505.696.663.850.014w.040.500w
  2. D27.505.954.158w.030w
  3. D27.505.954.329w.030w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 95

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000894. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000894
  2. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsteroidal_anti-inflammatory_drug
  3. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188724