Which medication is primarily classified as an anti-inflammatory?

Ibuprofen is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Its primary function is to reduce inflammation, as well as to provide analgesic (pain relief) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects. It works by inhibiting enzymes in the body known as cyclooxygenases (COX), which play a key role in the production of substances called prostaglandins that mediate inflammation, pain, and fever.

In contrast, diphenhydramine is an antihistamine primarily used to treat allergies and motion sickness, and it can also cause drowsiness. Acetaminophen is commonly used as a pain reliever and fever reducer, but it does not have significant anti-inflammatory properties like ibuprofen does. Amoxicillin, on the other hand, is an antibiotic used to fight bacterial infections and does not have anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, ibuprofen stands out as the primary anti-inflammatory medication among the listed choices.