Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medicines that can relieve pain, reduce inflammation and lower a high temperature.
They’re commonly used for things such as:
- headaches
- sprains and strains
- colds and flu
- painful conditions involving inflammation, such as arthritis
Some NSAIDs can be bought over the counter from shops and pharmacies, including ibuprofen and aspirin. Others are only available on prescription.
For The Reluctant Patient, the important bit was pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen is an NSAID, and it helped considerably when my painfully swollen foot turned out to be gout.
Unfortunately, NSAIDs aren’t suitable for everybody and can interact with other medicines – including some medicines used to lower blood pressure. Always check the information supplied with the medicine and ask a pharmacist or doctor if you’re unsure.
From the Case Files
The Case of The Fragile Foot
A mysterious pain in my foot calls for expert medical advice. So naturally, I turn to Google and a bloke down the pub.