Lornoxicam: a Newer NSAID

Pain relieving drugs are one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide either through prescription or as over the counter medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs usually abbreviated as NSAIDs, are the drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and, in higher doses, with antiinflammatory effects. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2. So, most of the side effects develop as a result of cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity. Certain NSAIDs, for example, rofecoxib and nimesulide have been banned because of their adverse effects. Lornoxicam (chlortenoxicam) is a strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory NSAID of the oxicam class with better tolerability profile when compared to other NSAIDs. Its analgesic activity is comparable to that of opioids. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of post operative pain and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present review provides an overview of lornoxicam.