Dorothy FarrarAnti-inflammatory drugs (anti-inflammatories)
The term antiphlogistics comes from the Greek and consists of the words “anti”: against and “phlogosis”: inflammation. A synonym for this is anti-inflammatory and, like anti-inflammatory drugs, is translated as anti-inflammatory .
What are anti-inflammatory drugs?
Anti-inflammatory drugs are drugs that intervene at various points in the highly complex biochemical processes of inflammation. They inhibit the formation of the transmitter substance prostaglandin type E and are therefore also referred to as “prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors”. Anti-inflammatory drugs belong to the group of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs . called NSAIDs for short. To treat inflammation and inflammation-induced pain, doctors usually prescribe chemically produced anti-inflammatory drugs.
In alternative and natural medicine as well as in healing practice, antiphlogistics that nature has to offer are also used. In the meantime, it is not uncommon for chemical and natural or herbal medicines to be combined with one another in order, among other things, to bring about an anti-inflammatory effect. Indigenous people use only herbal and natural antiphlogistics and have done so with great success over generations.
Medical application
Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs always depends on the cause that triggered the inflammation and the inflammatory pain. Any sensitivity of the patient to the ingredients of certain anti-inflammatory drugs should also be taken into account in the treatment.
In addition, it plays a major role whether the inflammation occurs acutely or whether a chronic condition is already present, because some drugs from the group of anti-inflammatory drugs are not suitable for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain because, in addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, they also have a whole range of unwanted and often intolerable side effects.
If foreign substances or pathogens are the cause of the inflammation, it is usually an acute event. If a genetic load plays a major role, it is likely to be a chronic inflammatory process that usually has to be treated differently for the reasons already mentioned regarding side effects and intolerances in order to avoid secondary diseases as far as possible.
Antiphlogistics are mainly used for inflammatory changes and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, the pain-relieving and fever-reducing effect is also used here. Sciatica pain is also a typical case for the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Forms, groups and active ingredients
Anti-inflammatory drugs come in a variety of dosage forms. They are available as tablets/capsules/effervescent tablets, oral drops/solution, topical ointments and gels, solution for injection for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous administration and as suppositories. For acute treatment at the doctor’s or in the clinic, a form of injection is usually used. For the independent therapy of the patients, antiphlogistics are usually prescribed in tablet form, as a solution for oral administration or as suppositories. The latter prescription is usually given when the patient has a sensitive stomach or has had a stomach ulcer in the past.
If the stomach is in acute danger, the injection remains the doctor’s choice to avoid the gastrointestinal tract. Anti-inflammatory drugs are roughly divided into two groups: glucocordicoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The best-known glucocordicoid is probably cortisone . NSAIDs include salycil derivatives (Aspirin®), arylacetic acid derivatives (Diclofenac or Voltaren®), indoleacetic acid derivatives (Rantudil forte®), arylpropionic acid derivatives (Ibuprofen Aktren®, Neuralgin®), anthranilic acid derivatives (Mobilat® ) Etc.
Herbal, natural and pharmaceutical alternatives
Chemically manufactured antiphlogistics are indispensable in today’s pharmaceutical industry and medicine. On closer inspection, however, it is noticeable that the chemical anti-inflammatory drugs are very similar in their mode of action to already known herbal and therefore natural anti-inflammatory drugs. A well-known example is the comparison of ASA and willow bark extract. If you don’t want to use the chemical club right away, you can use willow bark extract instead of Aspirin®.
Other herbal anti-inflammatory drugs are devil’s claw , nettle, rosehip, aspen, goldenrod, ash, etc. Combination preparations containing several optimally coordinated herbal anti-inflammatory drugs are often available. Such as the mixture of aspen, goldenrod and ash.
Anyone who counts on natural active ingredients has the advantage that the pharmacist can create individual mixtures based on the existing complaints and symptoms. This is relatively difficult with chemically manufactured anti-inflammatory drugs, since these are manufactured in specified units by the pharmaceutical industry. A combination of chemical substances and active ingredients from nature is certainly also useful in order to achieve a maximum effect with fewer side effects. If you are open to this, you may be able to completely reduce to natural antphlogistics after a certain period of therapy.
Risks and side effects
Like most medicines, antiphlogistics also have the mostly undesirable side effects in addition to the desired effects. The side effects can be so strong that they impair the user’s well-being and it is necessary to discontinue the medication before the symptoms are alleviated. In this case, the attending physician must carry out a careful risk-benefit analysis.
It becomes more dangerous when it is not just a matter of impairment of well-being due to side effects, but also when it turns out that the user is allergic to one or more active ingredients. This requires rapid action by a doctor, since there is an acute danger to life. It is predominantly asthmatics who, in particular, do not tolerate anti-inflammatory drugs of the NSAID type.
A widely feared side effect of many anti-inflammatory drugs is the reduced formation of stomach-protecting mucus induced by prostaglandin inhibition, which often leads to massive gastrointestinal complaints up to and including gastric and intestinal bleeding due to gastric ulcers. It is therefore advisable to use gastric protection if oral antiphlogistics are necessary. Before and immediately after surgical interventions, many anti-inflammatory drugs should not be taken due to their blood-thinning properties, and drugs with other mechanisms of action should be used instead.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.