What it means
Best known in "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugnon-STAIR-oy-dul an-tee-in-FLAM-uh-tor-ee DRUGA drug that relieves pain, fever and inflammation and is not a steroid, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.non- notanti- againstinflamm/o inflammationFull entry " (NSAID), a group that includes ibuprofeneye-byoo-PROH-fenA drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Full entry , naproxen and aspirinAS-prinA drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation and makes platelets less sticky so blood clots less easily.Full entry . They reduce pain, fever and inflammation without being related to cortisone-type steroids (corticosteroids). The word separates them from steroid drugs, which reduce inflammation by a different route and have different side effects.
Related terms
corticosteroid
A drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
A drug that relieves pain, fever and inflammation and is not a steroid, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
ibuprofen
A drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.