Nimesulide

Nimesulide

NSAIDs Prescription only ATC code: M01AX17

What it is

Nimesulide is a prescription-only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that leans towards blocking the form of cyclo-oxygenase which appears at sites of inflammation. Damping that pathway lowers prostaglandin production and with it pain and swelling. It is used for pain and inflammation.

Typical dose
100–200 mg
2× a day
Times
With food

Used for

  • Pain
  • Inflammation

What to know while taking it

It is taken with food, and the stomach-bleeding warning is the class effect showing through. What sets nimesulide apart is the liver: ALT, AST and total bilirubin are the markers followed on it, and the reason it is kept to short courses rather than used as an everyday painkiller. Liver injury from it tends to be quiet at first, which is why those blood values carry more weight than how the person feels. It is not taken alongside warfarin, since bleeding risk adds up.

When to see a doctor

Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, itching, or nausea and loss of appetite that drag on are the liver signs that call for a doctor without delay. Black or tarry stools and coffee-ground vomit mean the same for the stomach.

Worth knowing

  • Watch liver enzymes
  • Raises the risk of stomach bleeding
  • Short courses only

Do not combine with

Markers to watch

Reference information, not medical advice. Discuss any change with your doctor.