Medicines, and their ingredients, tend to have unpronounceable and frankly intimidating names, not meant to be anything but gibberish to the public. But for those of us who do not have a degree in medicine, chemistr, or any related subject, here is a simple explanation. COX – 2 inhibitors help to reduce inflammation.

Before we delve into the myriad functions of COX – 2 inhibitors, we have to explain NSAIDS, which is the short form of ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’.  Steroids are also drugs that reduce inflammation, but they cause some side effects which can be harmful for the human body. NSAIDS do not cause these side effects.

NSAIDS are taken by millions of people every day. They work as pain killers, they reduce fever, and as mentioned before, they reduce inflammation. Many doctors prescribe NSAIDS for joint pain in the elderly, especially joint pain caused by arthritis.

NSAIDS target a chemical called prostaglandin, which causes swelling and inflammation. These chemicals are produced by two types of enzymes in the body, COX 1 and COX 2. Some NSAIDS block prostaglandins produced only by COX 2. They do not inhibit COX 1 prostaglandin. For this reason, these selective inhibitors are called COX 2 inhibitors.