Tag: Prostaglandin antagonists

Contrary to a common misconception, NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are not direct prostaglandin antagonists; they work by an upstream mechanism to reduce pain and inflammation. They achieve their therapeutic effects not by blocking prostaglandin receptors, but by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for synthesizing prostaglandins in the first place.

Millions of people worldwide take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin, which are a class of medication that works by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. These medications, along with more specific therapies, are examples of prostaglandin antagonists that block the effects of these hormone-like lipids to reduce inflammation, pain, and other symptoms.