Oxicam

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to relieve pain, swelling and stiffness in conditions such as arthritis
2. A group of nonsteroidal painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines that reduce pain and swelling in joint and muscle disorders
3. Any of a family of chemically related nonsteroidal drugs prescribed to ease inflammation, aches and stiffness in arthritic patients

Etymology: Oxicam is a name for a family of drugs rather than a single medicine, and it was built from chemistry. The "-icam" ending appears to come from carboxamide, a group of atoms (a carbonyl bonded to a nitrogen) that these molecules share, while "ox-" likely refers to the oxygen-containing enol group in the same structure. Chemists gave the family a shared ending so that its members could be recognised by name. Piroxicam is the best-known member, and its name follows the same pattern, with "pir-" probably drawn from the pyridine ring in its structure. Meloxicam, tenoxicam and lornoxicam are related drugs that share this core and work as anti-inflammatories by blocking cyclooxygenase enzymes.