Inflammation causes pain, swelling, and tissue damage when it persists. An anti-inflammatory is a medication that reduces the inflammatory response, thereby relieving those symptoms and limiting further injury.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclo-oxygenase enzymes and are widely used for arthritis, soft-tissue injury, and fever. Corticosteroids act more broadly on immune pathways and are reserved for more severe or systemic inflammation because of their side-effect profile. Newer biologic agents target specific cytokines in autoimmune disease.

Anti-inflammatory treatment is not always appropriate; some inflammation is protective. Clinicians weigh the benefit of symptom control against risks such as gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, or metabolic disturbance. Short courses at the lowest effective dose remain a guiding principle for many of these drugs.

• Medication that reduces inflammation and its symptoms
• Includes NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and targeted biologics
• Used in injury, arthritis, and autoimmune conditions
• Balanced against risks of infection and other side effects