New Zealand Pharmacology for Midwifery Students Practice Test

NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, provide analgesic effects primarily by preventing nociceptor sensitization. Nociceptors are sensory neurons that respond to potentially damaging stimuli by sending signals that are interpreted as pain. When inflammation occurs, various chemical mediators such as prostaglandins are released, which can increase the sensitivity of nociceptors, making them more reactive to painful stimuli.

NSAIDs work by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), which is essential for the production of prostaglandins. By reducing the levels of these inflammatory mediators, NSAIDs decrease the sensitization of nociceptors, thereby lowering the perception of pain. This dual action of reducing inflammation and blocking the sensitization of pain receptors is what contributes to the analgesic effect of NSAIDs.

Other options do not effectively explain the primary mechanism by which NSAIDs achieve their pain-relieving effects.