Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Insert Inflammation Diagram

Analgesics, Anti-inflammatories and Anti-gout Agents

This group is comprised of drugs that reduce mild to moderate pain (analgesic) of a different type or quality than narcotics and by a different mechanism than the narcotic analgesics The analgesics within this group are not interchangeable for the relief of pain associated with gout, muscle ache, or muscle ischemia

Nonnarcotic Analgesics
Clinical Indication
Prevent or interrupt mild to moderate pain associated with inflammatory conditions without altering consciousness (analgesic, antiinflammatory)
Pain quality is often described as a dull ache in joint pain (osteoarthritis, gout) muscle pain (myalgia) headache (nonmigraine)

Reduce elevated body temperature (fever) (antipyretic)

Sensation of Pain
Pain is composed of at least two elements
localized stimulation of peripheral nerves through damage or inflammation recognition of pain within the CNS

Mechanism of Action
Nonnarcotic analgesics relieve pain by selectively inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis (prostaglandin synthetase) centrally (hypothalamus) and peripherally

Prostaglandins stimulate peripheral nerve endings producing pain impulses that are carried to the CNS (prostaglandin G2 & H2) enhance local inflammation (prostaglandin E2) produce localized edema (E2) constrict blood vessels (local ischemia, G2 & H2)

Types of Nonnarcotic Analgesics

Nonnarcotic analgesics differ in their chemical class and ability to produce analgesia, antipyresis, and/or be antiinflammatory N-acetyl-p-aminophenol acetaminophen Salicylates aspirin, diflusinal Synthetic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAID)
Naprosyn - Naproxen Fenoprofen - Nalfon Ibuprofen- Advil, Motrin Indomethacin - Indocin

Salicylates & Aspirin

Oldest group, from willow bark, known to
reduce fever and pain increase peripheral blood flow (vasodilation) prophylactically inhibit clotting

Pharmacological Effects
Gastrointestinal Nausea due to erosion of stomach lining
Decrease prostaglandin cytoprotective mucus secretion

Cardiovascular Inhibit platelet aggregation & clot formation

Reduce the risk of death & reinfarction following myocardial infarction

Salicylates Adverse Effects

Nausea, heartburn, dyspepsia Vomiting Gastrointestinal bleeding Prolong bleeding time Hepatoxicity (elevated serum enzymes) Hypersensitivity (in sensitive patients)- rash, laryngeal edema, asthma

Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

reduce pain associated with inflammation
are not steroids (e.g. cortisone)

include aspirin and salicylates

are useful in the management of
o headache (nonmigraine)

o muscle aches and pain,

o Dysmenorrhea o joint pain of osteoarthritis

Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Inflammation is characterized by local swelling (edema) redness (erythema, vasodilation) warmth pain
Intermediated by prostaglandins (G2, H2, E2, F2)

NSAIDs Mechanism of Action

Inhibit inflammation and reduce pain by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins
Stabilize cell membranes to prevent further leakage of substances (edema)

NSAIDs Adverse Effects

Nausea Gastrointestinal distress, ulceration,bleeding Vomiting CNS stimulation Headache Vertigo Mental confusion Hypersensitivity reactions (rash, fever) Hepatic damage (elevated serum enzymes)

NSAIDs Special Considerations

Aspirin sensitive patients may develop anaphylactic reactions angioedema asthma Chronic toxicity is the same as for aspirin tinnitus gastrointestinal bleeding black tarry stools

Chronic Salicylate Toxicity

Salicylism is a constellation of symptoms that occur in some patients with the chronic use of large doses of aspirin and other salicylates Nausea Vomiting Headache Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Hyperglycemia Delirium

Acute Salicylate Poisoning

Accidental ingestion of a large dose by children or attempted suicide may produce
Depression of respiratory centers Respiratory acidosis CNS depression Sweating Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance Hypotension & vasodilation Coma Death

Acetaminophen
Weak prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor Useful for reducing fever and headache (nonmigraine) Should not substitute for antiinflammatory drugs Does not affect platelet aggregation/clotting May be used as an aspirin substitute in aspirin-sensitive patients

Acetaminophen Adverse Effects

Acute toxicity Nausea Vomiting Hepatoxicity (elevated serum enzymes) Acidosis Respiratory depression

Special Caution
Aspirin and acetaminophen in children and teenagers who have active viral infections (flu or chicken pox) may result in Reyes syndrome, potentially life-threatening

Insert Gout Diagram

Antigout Drugs
Clinical Indication
Treatment of gout, a special inflammatory condition in which uric acid deposits in the joint fluid of the toes, knees, or kidneys because uric acid is overproduced or not efficiently excreted
Phagocytes digest the uric acid and set up a cycle of localized inflammation

Antigout Drugs
Drugs in this class include Acute treatment Colchicine Aspirin, naproxen

Prophylaxis Allopurinol blocks uric acid production Probenecid for uric acid excretion Sulfinpyrazone for uric acid excretion

Drug Interactions
NSAIDs are highly bound to albumen and will displace other drugs from these binding sites causing increased concentration of active drugs in the blood such as Oral anticoagulants, e.g., warfarin Antibiotics, Anticonvulsants, Methotrexate

Increased risk of hepatotoxicity when given with alcohol, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, rifampin

Immunomodulating Agents
Immunosuppressive drugs decrease the activity of the immune system and are useful in severe allergic and inflammatory conditions, and in the prevention of organ rejection following transplantation Immunostimulant drugs activate the immune system and increase the ability of the body to resist infection and the growth of abnormal cancer cells

Insert Immune Diagram

Immune Cells
Macrophages initiate the immune response Helper T-cells activate other T- and B-cells Killer T-cells attack and kill infectious organisms B-cells produce antibodies Suppressor cells inhibit the immune system Memory cells retain immunogenic information and provide long-term immunity

Immunosuppressant Drugs

Corticosteroid Drugs
Derivatives of adrenocorticosteroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex Used to suppress the immune system in severe allergy, inflammation, and prevent rejection following organ transplantation Prednisone and prednisolone are two widely used corticosteroid drugs Corticosteroids are often used in combination with other immunosuppressant drugs

Cytotoxic Immunosuppressant Drugs

Azathioprine inhibits the synthesis of immune cell DNA and is mainly used to prevent organ transplant rejection Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating drug used in immune-based diseases to decrease antibody production by B-cells Mycophenolate inhibits T- and B-cell activity and is used to prevent renal organ transplant rejection

Noncytotoxic Immunosuppressant Drugs

Cyclosporine inhibits the function of interleukin-2 and is widely used to prevent organ rejection following transplantation Tacrolimus is similar to cyclosporine in action and clinical usage Leflunomide inhibits the synthesis of DNA in T- and B-cells and is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Immunosuppressive Monoclonal Antibodies

Muromonab-CD3 binds to and inhibits the action of T-cells involved in organ transplant rejection Daclizumab binds to and blocks the interleukin-2 receptor; it is used to prevent renal allograft rejection Infliximab inhibits TNF-alpha which is an inflammatory factor active in Crohns disease

Immunostimulant Drugs
Alpha-, Beta-, and Gamma-interferon are antiviral factors normally produced by activated immune cells, they are used as drugs to activate the immune system in certain viral infections and cancers Interleukin-2 is an immune factor normally produced by lymphocytes, it is used as a drug to activate the immune system in certain cancers