Drugs have multipurpose uses. While an overdose of drugs may have serious side effects, there are a number of drugs essential for medical treatment. Nsaids and Steroids are two such drugs that have multi-facet uses. However, an excessive consumption of either can have serious repercussions on the health of the individual.
Nsaids vs Steroids
The main difference between nsaids and steroids is that Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs refer to a classification of drugs that reduces fever, decreases pain, and prevents blood clots. In contrast, steroids are biologically active compounds that curb redness, pain, vasopermeability, and edema.
Nsaids reduce fever, decrease pain, and prevent blood clots. The side effects of excessive consumption of nsaids include increased pronness to a heart attack, gastrointestinal ulcers and bleed, and kidney disease. People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, or who are over 50 years of age shall use the nsaids with utmost caution. However, the application of nsaids to curb cancer related pain or non-cancer pain is unclear.
Steroids refer to biologically active compounds that perform two pivotal biological functions. One common way to classify steroids is on the basis of their chemical composition. The classes of steroids based on such classification include cholestanes, cholanes, pregnanes, androstanes, and estranes. There is a need to practice caution in using steroids. Gonane forms the nucleus of all steroids and sterols. It has a composition of seventeen carbon atoms.
Comparison Table Between Nsaids and Steroids
| Parameters of Comparison | Nsaids | Steroids |
| Definition | Nsaids refer to a classification of drugs that reduces fever, decreases pain, and prevents blood clots. | Steroids refer to biologically active compounds that perform pivotal biological functions. |
| Addiction | Nsaids have a fewer chance of becoming addictive than steroids. | Steroids have a higher chance of becoming addictive than nsaids. |
| Type | Nsaids are man-made drugs. | Steroids come from plants, animals, and fungi. |
| Side Effects | An overdose of nsaids has fewer side effects than an overdose of steroids. | An overdose of steroids has higher side effects than an overdose of nsaids. |
| Examples | The most common examples of nsaids are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. | Examples of steroids are prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone. |
What is Nsaids?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs refer to a classification of drugs that reduces fever, decreases pain, and prevents blood clots. When consumed in excess amounts, nsaids may also decrease inflammation. However, there are some side effects to an overdose of nsaids. Thus, the drugs should be consumed in limited amounts only.
The side effects of excessive consumption of nsaids include increased proneness to a heart attack, gastrointestinal ulcers and bleed, and kidney disease. The ATC code of nsaids is M01A. The nsaids came into use from the 1960s onwards in order to distinguish them from the stigmatised steroids. The most common types of nsaids are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
Nsaids have several practical applications. Nsaids have a predominant use to provide relief from the post dental pain such as dental extraction. Nsaids may also have a use to curb post surgical pain among the patients when combined with some other medications. However, the application of nsaids to curb cancer related pain or non-cancer pain is unclear.
People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, or who are over 50 years of age shall use the nsaids with utmost caution. In most cases, nsaids should be avoided by people who suffer from peptic ulcer, uncontrolled hypertension, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease or are in the third trimester of pregnancy.
What are Steroids?
Steroids refer to biologically active compounds that perform two pivotal biological functions. The first function is to alter membrane fluidity of cell membranes. The second function is to serve as signalling molecules. Steroids are predominantly found in plants, animals, and fungi. There is a need to practice caution in using steroids.
Gonane forms the nucleus of all steroids and sterols. It has a composition of seventeen carbon atoms. Fungal steroids maintain the integrity of the fungal cellular membrane. The composition of fungal steroids includes ergosterols. On the other hand, animal steroids include sex hormones, corticosteroids, and anabolic steroids.
One common way to classify steroids is on the basis of their chemical composition. The classes of steroids based on such classification include cholestanes, cholanes, pregnanes, androstanes, and estranes. It is important to note that steroids don’t function as sources of energy for any species or organisms.
A vital function of steroids is to curb redness, pain, vasopermeability, and edema. They also have a practical application in the treatment of ocular inflammation. Over the years, there have been developments relating to the delivery of steroids to patients. New methods involve a steady supply over an extended period of time.
Main Differences Between Nsaids and Steroids
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs refer to a classification of drugs that reduces fever, decreases pain, and prevents blood clots. In contrast, steroids refer to biologically active compounds that perform pivotal biological functions.
- The most common examples of nsaids are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. On the other hand, examples of steroids are prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone.
- Nsaids have a fewer chance of becoming addictive than steroids.
- An overdose of nsaids has fewer side effects than an overdose of steroids.
- Nsaids are man-made drugs. In contrast, steroids come from plants, animals, and fungi.
Conclusion
Thus, nsaids and steroids vary immensely. The most common examples of nsaids are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. On the other hand, examples of steroids are prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone. The nsaids came into use from the 1960s onwards in order to distinguish them from the stigmatised steroids. In contrast, a vital function of steroids is in the treatment of ocular inflammation.
Nsaids have several practical applications. Nsaids have a predominant use to provide relief from the post dental pain such as dental extraction. Gonane forms the nucleus of all steroids and sterols. It has a composition of seventeen carbon atoms. In addition, nsaids have a fewer chance of becoming addictive than steroids. Moreover, they have less harsh side effects than steroids. However, caution must be exercised in the consumption of nsaids and steroids.
References
- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00956462
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article/PMC6203474/