What are Antipyretics Drugs, Medicines | Side Effects & More (2024)

What is Antipyretics– The Antipyretics drugs are a popular subcategory of NSAIDs. They are particularly meant to decrease the fever by lowering body temperature. The Antipyretic drugs have been since a long time to prevent and cure symptoms related to fever-like body pain and high temperature. Want to know what are Antipyretic medicines? Read more to know about!

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About | Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are classified under drugs that do not contain steroids. They are mainly used to relieve pain, reduce fever and decrease inflammation in the body. The drugs are mainly used in cases associated with pain and inflammation of acute and chronic conditions. NSAIDs divide its class in three subcategory which is as follows:

  1. Anti-inflammatory
  2. Analgesic
  3. Antipyretic

Analgesics are also called pain relievers. These drugs are used to treat pain associated with painful inflammatory conditions like a rheumatic disease. Antipyretic drugs are mainly and largely used feverish conditions. Some analgesic drugs have antipyretic properties.

About | Antipyretics Drugs

Antipyretic word has been derived from ‘anti’ means ‘against’ and ‘pyretic’ which means ‘feverish’. Fever is mainly caused as a natural defense of the body against infection. They are a whole class of drugs that target prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The main physiological effects of an induced prostaglandin are increased in inflammation, pain, fever and much more. The drugs cause the hypothalamus portion of the brain to override the prostaglandin hormones in the body. This results in a reduction of pain and fever.

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The following are the activity roles played by antipyretic drugs:

  • The drugs are used to treat and cure fever and related pain.
  • It leads to rising in Cyclooxygenase (COX) or prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS).
  • Antipyretic drugs help prevent the rise of body T° that causes fever.
  • It helps reduce proinflammatory mediators. They are helpful in sending anti-inflammatory signals by boosting antipyretic messages within the brain functioning.

How Does Antipyretics Drugs Work?

The brain controls loads of body systems. The portion of the brain called hypothalamus is connected to the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis). It contains millions of small nuclei. One of the main functions of the hypothalamus is to control the temperature of the body. The normal temperature of a human body is said to be 98.6 F.

The hypothalamus may reset the body at a high temperature in response to an infection, illness and other reasons. This includes cancer, vaccines, blood clots, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, infection, illegal l/ side effects of drugs etc. Antipyretic works on hypothalamus part to decrease the level of prostaglandin hormones. This will reduce the temperature of the body.

Types Of Antipyretics Drugs Use to Treat Fever

The antipyretic drug class is divided into different drugs. They are generic drugs. One may find many trade or brand names on the market. These have been scientifically found to be effective as an antipyretic drug. They have effect results for fever but may not treat the illness. Here is the list of antipyretic drugs:

  1. Aspirin, and related salicylates such as magnesium salicylate, choline salicylate, and sodium salicylate
  2. Metamizole (ban in many countries)
  3. Nabumetone
  4. NSAIDs like as naproxen, ibuprofen, nimesulide & ketoprofen,
  5. Paracetamol or Acetaminophen
  6. Phenazone (antipyrine)
  7. Docosanol etc.
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Know In-Depth About The Major Antipyretics Drugs

The Antipyretic drugs are instrumental in solving acute, moderate to a few chronic conditions. Here take a look at them:

Aspirin

One of the popular generic medication, Aspirin is widely used to treat fever. It is also called acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). It has both analgesic and antipyretic properties. The drug is usually advice in mild and moderate conditions for good results. They have been found to be very effective in cases like heart attack, blood clots, strokes, colorectal cancer and much more.

Dosage: As advice by the doctor. It can range from 2300mg to 3g depending on the condition.

Who Need To Avoid: People who are facing the following should avoid taking aspirin:

  • Gastric and duodenal ulcer
  • Hemorrhagic diathesis
  • Hypersensitivity to aspirin or other NSAIDs
  • Children under 12 years of age.
  • Patients with hypersensitivity (attacks to asthma, angioedema, urticaria or rhinitis; pregnancy (third trimester)
  • prothrombin time (PT) with hemophilia
  • Hemorrhagic disorder
  • Gout problems
  • Severe renal or hepatic impairment
  • Lactating mothers etc

Side Effects:

Aspirin is associated with many side effects if not taken under good condition. They can cause gastric hemorrhage, drowsiness, mild headache, hypersensitivity, heartburn, thrombocytopenia, GI disturbance, prolong bleeding time, bloody or tarry stools, rhinitis, urticaria, upset stomach, epigastric discomfort, angioedema, salicylism, tinnitus, bronchospasm, ringing in your ears, hallucinations and much more.

Paracetamol or Acetaminophen

Paracetamol is also known as Acetaminophen. The chemical name of it is APAP i.e. acetyl-para-aminophenol. They are a class of non-opiate drugs. It is classified under both analgesic and antipyretic drugs due to dual features. They are used for mild and moderate pains like a headache, body ache etc with fever or alone.

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Docosanol

Docosanol is also known as behenyl alcohol. It is a saturated fatty alcohol. They are used as an anti-viral drug. They are helpful in cold sores and fever blisters.

Ketoprofen & Ibuprofen (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent; NSAIDs)

They are usually prescribed for inflammation and fever associated with mild to moderate pain. The drugs reduced the hormones levels causing inflammation, pain and high temperature in the body.

There are many more antipyretic drugs in the market. The market of antipyretic drugs is gaining a lot of attention in recent years. There are been severe cases of feverish ailments over the years. One should take the medicine under the prescription of a doctor to avoid any kind of harm and side effects later. If you are a pharma person, you can add it to your business. The antipyretic drug market is a blooming segment.

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What are Antipyretics Drugs, Medicines | Side Effects & More (2024)
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