title: Nimesulide is a selective COX-2 inhibitory, atypical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
abstract: In this review it is shown that nimesulide, a selective cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, is different from other selective COX-2 inhibitors and classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The anti-inflammatory effect mechanism of nimesulide (inhibition of inflammatory mediators) is similar to other classic NSAIDs, but the protective effect of nimesulide on classic NSAID-induced ulcers elucidates the difference between nimesulide and these other drugs. It is known that the selective COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide prevents NSAID-induced ulcers, while celecoxib and rofecoxib, which are more selective to COX-2, failed to prevent these ulcers. Nimesulide produces gastro-protective effects via a completely different mechanism. In addition, while selective COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases, nimesulide does not exert significant cardiotoxicity. This data suggests that gastrointestinal side effects of classic NSAIDs cannot be related to the COX-1 inhibition alone and also suggest that nimesulide is an atypical NSAID, which is different from both non-selective and selective COX-2 inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. suleyman@atauni.edu.tr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suleyman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cadirci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halici
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; C012655:nimesulide