Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a long history in the
healthcare system due to their therapeutic potential. These NSAIDs cause ulcerogenicity, stomach
pains, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, mucosa bleeding, and pancreatitis when used moderately
and consistently. With researchers, managing the aforementioned adverse effects therapeutically
is getting increasingly difficult. One method for creating NSAID moieties with low penetration
as well as ulcerogenic properties is the prodrug technique. During the oral consumption
of NSAID-prodrugs, ulcerations, intestinal hemorrhage, and mucosa hemorrhage have significantly
decreased. Considering this background, this review focussed on NSAID prodrugs as
well as their justifications, the pathogenesis of NSAIDs inducing gastrointestinal toxicity, and
the role of different antioxidants and spacer groups. Prodrug moieties have more advantages
over parent medicines concerning both solubility and lipophilicity. In general, NSAID-class
prodrugs can successfully treat both acute and long-term inflammation and aches without causing
ulcerotoxicity and related gastrointestinal side effects, which reduces their burden from the
pharmacoeconomic perspective.