What is the Difference Between Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Anti inflammatory Drugs

The key difference between steroidal and nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs is that steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit phospholipase A2 enzyme to block the inflammatory cascade while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclooxygenase enzyme to block the inflammatory cascade.

Steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are two different types of medications available in the market to reduce inflammation in the human body due to different causes. They are widely used in medicine. Moreover, both of these molecules block the effects of inherent chemicals in the body called prostaglandins that promote inflammation, fever, and pain.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
3. What are Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
4. Similarities – Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
5. Steroidal vs Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Steroidal vs Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

What are Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs?

Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a type of anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce inflammation in the human body. These drugs inhibit the phospholipase A2 enzyme from blocking the inflammatory cascade. Phospholipases, one of the main substances released during inflammation, are quickly converted to arachidonic acid by phospholipase A2. Later, arachidonic acid may enter two different arms of the inflammatory cascade. By following the pathway, it may be converted to prostaglandins by the enzyme cyclooxygenase. By following the other pathway, it may be converted to leukotrienes by the enzyme lipooxygenase. Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs block both arms of the inflammatory cascade.

Steroids anti-inflammatory drugs decrease vasopermeability, redness, edema, and pain. In addition, they have an added advantage as they keep leukocytes sequestered from the site of the inflammation by blocking the lipooxygenase arm of the inflammatory cascade. Steroids anti-inflammatory drugs may come from animals, plants, and human sources. They may constitute of sex steroids, corticosteroids, and anabolic steroids. In the case of corticosteroids, they are used in a variety of conditions, including skin diseases, hormonal insufficiencies, and tumors. Corticosteroids are also primarily used in the treatment of joint pain and inflammation. However, they have narcotic effects and may become very addicting drugs for patients.

What are Nonsteroidal Anti inflammatory Drugs?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes from blocking the inflammatory cascade. They block only one arm of the inflammatory cascade. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are members of an anti-inflammatory drug class that reduces pain, inflammation, and fever, and prevent blood clots. NSAIDs act by inhibiting the enzyme activity of cyclooxygenase (COX 1 and COX2). In cells, this enzyme is involved in the synthesis of key biological mediators known as prostaglandins and thromboxanes, which are involved in inflammation and blood clotting, respectively.

The side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeds, anemia, heart attack, and kidney disease. Some of the most prominent NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. They are all available over the counter in most countries.

What are the Similarities Between Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs?

• Steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are two different types of medications available in the market to reduce inflammation in the human body due to different causes.
• Both drug classes can reduce inflammation, pain, and fever.
• They have side effects.
• They are easily available in the market.

What is the Difference Between Steroidal and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs?

Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit phospholipase A2 enzyme from blocking the inflammatory cascade, while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclooxygenase enzyme from blocking the inflammatory cascade. Thus, this is the key difference between steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Furthermore, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs block both arms of the inflammatory cascade, while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs block only one arm of the inflammatory cascade.

The below infographic presents the differences between steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Steroidal vs Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are two different types of prominent anti-inflammatory drug classes. Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit phospholipase A2 from blocking the inflammatory cascade. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclooxygenase enzyme from blocking the inflammatory cascade. So, this summarizes the difference between steroidal and nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs.

Reference:

1. “Corticosteroids.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “NSAIDS.”NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cortisol for injection” By LHcheM – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “200mg ibuprofen tablets” By Ragesoss – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia