ABSTRACT
Analgesics are a class of drugs used to relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness. They can be broadly divided into narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesics. In general narcotic analgesics do not have antiinflammatory properties, however many nonnarcotic analgesics have antiinflammatory properties and can be broadly categorized into steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition to analgesics and antiinflammatory properties, many NSAIDs have antipyretic properties. These nonnarcotic analgesics and antiinflammatory drugs are in widespread use and a number of them are available over-the-counter. These drugs are primarily used for the treatment of low to moderate pain, although a number of newer compounds can be used for management of severe pain also. The common indications for their use include soft tissue injury, strains, sprains, headaches, and arthritis. Although these drugs are relatively safe, toxicity from these compounds can also be encountered due to widespread use of these drugs. Furthermore, many of these compounds are available in combination with other drugs, thus adding to the toxicity profile of these compounds. This chapter discusses the therapeutic drug monitoring of several commonly used NSAIDs. Acetaminophen which mostly has analgesic and antipyretic with limited antiinflammatory properties is also discussed in this chapter. The chemical structures of some of these drugs are shown in Figure 20.1, and some pharmacokinetic properties of these drugs are shown in Table 20.1.
