Chapter 17 Nonopioid Analgesics: NSAIDs, COX-2 Inhibitors, and Acetaminophen Flashcards
1. NSAIDs are antihyperalgesic compounds with antiinflammatory activity determined by their ability to decrease prostaglandin formation through inhibition of COX following tissue injury. 2. There are two major isoforms of COX. COX-1 is largely constitutive and is responsible for the production of prostaglandins involved in homeostatic processes in the stomach (gastric protection), lung, and kidney, and in platelet aggregation. COX-2 is an inducible form created in the presence of inflammation,
NSAIDs are structurally diverse, but all have
antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic or antihyperalgesic
properties
How does acetaminophen differentiate from NSAIDs?
weak anti-inflammatory effects and its generally poor ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) in the presence of high concentrations of peroxides,
as are found at sites of inflammation.
Unlike NSAIDs, acetaminophen does not have an adverse effects
on platelet function or gastric mucosa
The mechanism of action of NSAIDs is
inhibition of prostaglandin
production from arachidonic acid by either reversible or irreversible acetylation of the cyclooxygenase
(COX)
COX is present in at least two isoforms
(COX-1 and COX-2) and is dispersed throughout the
body.
What is COX-1?
COX-1 isoform is constitutive, causing hemostasis, platelet aggregation, and the production of prostacyclin,
which is gastric mucosal protective. The inhibition
of the COX-1 isoform may be responsible for the adverse
effects related to the nonselective NSAIDs.
COX-2 isoform that is induced by
proinflammatory stimuli
and cytokines causing fever, inflammation, and pain, and thus the target for antipyresis, anti-inflammation, and analgesia by NSAIDs
COX-1 mediates the production of
prostaglandins that are essential in the homeostatic processes in the stomach (gastric protection), lung, and kidney, and platelet aggregation
COX-2 is generally considered to be an inducible enzyme, provoking pathologic processes such as
fever, pain, and inflammation
Where is COX-2 expressed?
COX-2, despite being the inducible isoform, is
expressed under normal conditions in a number of tissues, include brain, testis, and kidney.In inflammatory states, COX-2 becomes expressed in macrophages and other cells propagating the inflammatory process
The pain associated with inflammation and prostaglandin
production results from
the production of prostanoids in the inflamed body tissues that sensitize nerve endings and leads to the sensation of pain
NSAIDs peripheral
mechanisms of action.
Peripherally, prostaglandins
contribute to hyperalgesia by sensitizing nociceptive sensory
nerve endings to other mediators (such as histamine
and bradykinin) and by sensitizing nociceptors to respond to non-nociceptive stimuli (e.g., touch). Peripheral
inflammation induces a substantial increase in COX-2,
and prostaglandin synthase expression in the central nervous system (CNS)
NSAIDs central
mechanisms of action.
Centrally, prostaglandins are recognized to have direct actions at the level of the spinal cord enhancing nociception, notably the terminals of sensory neurons in the dorsal horn
Where in the spinal cord are COX-1 and COX-2 expressed ?
Both COX-1 and COX-2 are
expressed constitutively in dorsal root ganglia and spinal
dorsal and ventral gray matter but inhibition of COX-2 and
not COX-1 reduces hyperalgesia
interleukin-1beta (IL-1b)
the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1b) plays a
major role in inducing COX-2 in local inflammatory cells
by activating the transcription factor NF-kB
In the CNS IL-1b causes
increased production of COX-2 and PGE2, producing hyperalgesia, but this is not the result of neural activity arising from the sensory fibers innervating the inflamed tissue or of systemic IL-1b in the plasma
Interleukin 6 (IL-6)
interleukin 6 (IL-6) triggers the formation of PGE2 in the CNS, which in turn causes increased production of COX-2 and PGE2.
Two forms of input from peripheral inflamed tissue to the CNS.
The first is mediated by electrical activity in sensitized nerve fibers innervating the
inflamed area, which signals the location of the inflamed
tissue as well as the onset, duration, and nature of any
stimuli applied to this tissue. The second is a humoral signal
originating from the inflamed tissue, which acts to produce a widespread induction of COX-2 in the CNS
FIGURE 17-1
Site of action of NSAIDs
Administration of NSAIDs
NSAIDs are most often administered enterally, but intravenous,
intramuscular, rectal, and topical preparations are
available
NSAIDs relation to protein
NSAIDs are highly bound to plasma proteins, specifically to albumin (.90%), and therefore only a small portion of the circulating drug in plasma exists in the unbound (pharmacologically active) form
The volume of distribution of NSAIDs
is low, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 L/kg, suggesting minimal tissue binding
NSAIDs Acid or Base?
Most NSAIDs are weak acids with pKa less than 6, and since weak acids will be 99% ionized two pH units above their pKa, these antiinflammatory
medications are present in the body mostly in the ionized form. In contrast, the coxibs are nonacidic, which may play a role in the favorable tolerability profile
Major absorptive site for orally administered NSAIDs
most NSAIDs are administered
enterally and their pH profile facilitates absorption via the
stomach, and the large surface area of the small intestine produces a major absorptive site for orally administered NSAIDs