CapseraNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Compare the named medicines in this source-linked class directory.
Membership describes a named action or a component of a combination. A medicine may appear in several families. Medicines in one family are not automatically interchangeable; this is a study directory, not a prescribing guide.
No matching drugs. Try another name.
Generic names and pronunciation
| Ibuprofen · eye-byoo-PROE-fen |
| Meloxicam · mel-OX-i-kam |
| Aspirin · AS-pir-in |
| Naproxen · na-PROX-en |
| Celecoxib · sel-e-KOX-ib |
| Diclofenac · dye-KLOE-fen-ak |
| Ketorolac · KEE-toe-ROLE-ak |
| Indomethacin · in-doe-METH-a-sin |
| Nabumetone · na-BUE-me-tone |
| Etodolac · ee-toe-DOE-lak |
Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.
Body system and related classes
Body systems: Pain · Musculoskeletal · Eye & ear
How each medicine works
| Ibuprofen — Has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. The selected label says the mechanism is not fully understood and may involve inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. |
| Meloxicam — Inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and prostaglandin synthesis; analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. |
| Aspirin — Aspirin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and platelet aggregation through cyclooxygenase acetylation; its irreversible platelet COX-1 inhibition reduces thromboxane A2 formation. |
| Naproxen — Has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. The mechanism is not completely understood but involves COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition; reduced prostaglandin production may contribute. |
| Celecoxib — Has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects; its mechanism is believed to involve reduced prostaglandin synthesis, primarily through COX-2 inhibition. |
| Diclofenac — Has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. The mechanism is incompletely understood but involves COX-1/COX-2 inhibition and reduced prostaglandin synthesis. |
| Diclofenac — The mechanism is not completely understood but involves inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2. Diclofenac inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in vitro; reduced peripheral prostaglandins may contribute to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. |
| Ketorolac — NSAID analgesic with an incompletely understood mechanism that may involve prostaglandin-synthetase inhibition. |
| Ketorolac — Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug thought to act by inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis. |
| Indomethacin — Mechanism is incompletely understood but involves COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition; reduced prostaglandin synthesis may contribute to its peripheral effects. |
| Nabumetone — Prodrug converted in the liver to 6MNA, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. |
| Etodolac — Shows anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity in animal models. Its mechanism is not completely understood and may involve prostaglandin-synthetase inhibition. |
Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.
What each medicine is used for
| Ibuprofen — Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; Mild to moderate pain; Primary dysmenorrhea |
| Meloxicam — Relief of osteoarthritis signs and symptoms; Relief of rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms; Pauciarticular or polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in patients weighing at least 60 kg |
| Aspirin — Minor aches and pains; Headache and toothache; Menstrual and arthritis pain |
| Naproxen — Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, AS; Tendonitis, bursitis, acute gout; Pain; Primary dysmenorrhea |
| Celecoxib — Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis from age 2 years; ankylosing spondylitis; Acute pain in adults; Primary dysmenorrhea |
| Diclofenac — Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Ankylosing spondylitis |
| Diclofenac — Pain of osteoarthritis of the knee |
| Ketorolac — Continuation after IV/IM ketorolac for moderately severe acute pain requiring opioid-level analgesia in adults; combined IV/IM plus oral treatment must not exceed 5 days |
| Ketorolac — Inflammation after cataract surgery in patients aged 2 years and older; Temporary relief of ocular itching due to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in patients aged 2 years and older |
| Indomethacin — Moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, including acute flares; Moderate-to-severe ankylosing spondylitis; Moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis; Acute painful shoulder caused by bursitis and/or tendinitis |
| Nabumetone — Relief of osteoarthritis signs and symptoms in adults; Relief of rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms in adults |
| Etodolac — Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in adults; Acute pain in adults |
Each list is the uses line from the medicine’s study card.
Telling these medicines apart
Medicines in this class: 12
By body system: Pain (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Diclofenac, Ketorolac) · Musculoskeletal (Meloxicam, Indomethacin, Nabumetone, Etodolac) · Eye & ear (Ketorolac)
Listed on more than one card in this class
Used for
Primary dysmenorrhea · 3/12: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celecoxib
Acute pain in adults · 2/12: Celecoxib, Etodolac
Common side effects
Dyspepsia · 7/12: Meloxicam, Naproxen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac (oral), Indomethacin, Nabumetone, Etodolac
Nausea · 5/12: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac (oral), Indomethacin, Etodolac
Diarrhea · 5/12: Meloxicam, Celecoxib, Diclofenac (oral), Nabumetone, Etodolac
Abdominal pain · 5/12: Naproxen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac (oral), Nabumetone, Etodolac
Dizziness · 3/12: Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Etodolac
Headache · 3/12: Naproxen, Diclofenac (oral), Indomethacin
Upper respiratory tract infection · 2/12: Meloxicam, Celecoxib
Warnings
Renal toxicity · 4/12: Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Diclofenac (topical), Indomethacin
Hepatotoxicity · 3/12: Meloxicam, Diclofenac (topical), Indomethacin
Heart failure and edema · 3/12: Meloxicam, Diclofenac (topical), Indomethacin
Interactions
ACE inhibitors · 2/12: Ibuprofen, Nabumetone
Anticoagulants / antiplatelets · 2/12: Naproxen, Celecoxib
SSRIs / SNRIs (bleeding) · 2/12: Naproxen, Celecoxib
Anticoagulants (warfarin) · 2/12: Diclofenac (oral), Diclofenac (topical)
Drugs interfering with hemostasis (SSRIs) · 2/12: Diclofenac (oral), Diclofenac (topical)
Boxed warning
10/12: Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Naproxen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac (oral), Diclofenac (topical), Ketorolac (oral), Indomethacin, Nabumetone, Etodolac
Same boxed-warning wording on: Naproxen, Celecoxib
Same boxed-warning wording on: Indomethacin, Nabumetone, Etodolac
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.