Sometimes, inflammation treatment includes medication. You may have heard of NSAIDS or anti-inflammatory medicine without even realizing it. Prescription medication is commonly prescribed alongside diet and exercise changes to help alleviate or treat side effects.

These medications are commonly prescribed to help reduce inflammation, decrease swelling, and manage pain. NSAIDs are available both over the counter and through a prescription from your doctor. It is not recommended to start or stop a medication without consulting with your doctor or other health care professional.

Here are a few common anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medicines that you may be able to find at your local drugstore.

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (Including Advil, Motrin, and Midol)
• Naproxen (Including Aleve and Naprosyn)

Even if you choose to stick to over-the-counter NSAIDs, you may still want to talk to your doctor about the right type and the correct amount of anti-inflammatory medicine to take. Your doctor can explain the advantages and downsides of different NSAID medication.

Also, your doctor might have you try a couple of different anti-inflammatory medications before deciding on the one that you should stick with. In many cases, simple over-the-counter medicine ends up being effective enough in reducing inflammation and easing its effects. 

NSAIDs are not intended to be a permanent solution to inflammation. Like any medication, there are risks of developing side effects. Plus, the chance of developing side effects tends to increase the longer that NSAIDS are taken. 

Here are some common gastrointestinal side effects that could potentially occur from long term use of NSAIDS:

• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation

Side effects of NSAIDs are mainly gastrointestinal, which means they are related to the stomach and the intestines. This is because anti-inflammatory medicine blocks COX-1, an enzyme that assists in protecting the linings of our stomachs.