NSAIDs
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
NSAIDs
Examples: ibuprofen, naproxen, ketorolac, aspirin
Mechanism
Reduces prostaglandin-mediated pain and inflammation; many agents can also affect platelet function, stomach lining, and kidney blood flow.
Used for
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Fever reduction
- Antiplatelet effect for aspirin
Side effects
- GI bleeding
- Kidney injury
- Fluid retention
- Bleeding risk
- Bronchospasm in sensitive clients
Nursing actions
- Assess bleeding risk, kidney disease, anticoagulant use, and GI ulcer history.
- Teach to report black stools, coffee-ground emesis, low urine output, or unusual bruising.
- Avoid duplicate OTC NSAID use unless specifically instructed.
Hold / question cues
- Active GI bleeding
- Severe kidney injury
- NSAID-sensitive asthma reaction
- High bleeding risk
Antidote / reversal
- No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.
NCLEX pearl
- NSAIDs can hurt stomach, kidney, and clotting safety.
Individual drug cards
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Review Aspirin through the Over-the-Counter Meds source folder: know why it is used, what makes it unsafe, what to assess first, and what the client must report.
Review Ibuprofen through the Over-the-Counter Meds source folder: know why it is used, what makes it unsafe, what to assess first, and what the client must report.
Tinnitus can be a salicylate toxicity clue.
Black stools or coffee-ground emesis after NSAID use is a priority bleeding cue.
Pain and inflammation medication class with kidney, GI bleeding, and platelet-risk concerns.