VATI Pharmacology Practice Exam

The selected answer accurately describes the primary effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the body. NSAIDs are well-known for their ability to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and lower fever. They achieve these therapeutic effects through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which play a critical role in the production of prostaglandins—substances that mediate inflammation, pain, and fever in the body. By blocking the action of these enzymes, NSAIDs effectively decrease the levels of prostaglandins, leading to a reduction in the inflammatory response and pain signaling.

This mechanism also accounts for their antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties, making them useful in various clinical settings where inflammation and fever are present. Therefore, understanding the role of COX enzymes is crucial in comprehending how NSAIDs function therapeutically.

Other options describe effects that are not associated with NSAIDs. For instance, they do not increase inflammation and pain, nor do they act as antibiotics or enhance the immune response to allergens, aligning them with more specialized medications rather than the therapeutic actions of NSAIDs.