What are antipyretic drugs? What are they for?

As we have already mentioned in the brief introduction, when we speak of antipyretic drugs we are referring to a class of medicines that are widely used for the treatment of feverish states, and for this very reason they are also called antipyretic drugs.

Before talking about these drugs in detail, it is important to remember that fever is a defense mechanism put in place by our body in specific circumstances and, precisely for this reason, it is important not to abuse medicines to treat it, sometimes you should let it vent .

In fact, the incorrect use of antipyretic drugs could harm our body as feverish states are useful for fighting, for example, infectious processes, or the presence of some bacteria and viruses.

However, in very specific circumstances, as we will also see in the course of our article, antipyretic drugs are indispensable, for example when our body temperature becomes too high.

On the market we can find different types of antipyretic drugs , with different mechanisms of action, each suitable for different situations. So let’s see what these medicines are.

When should we resort to antipyretic drugs?

In the previous paragraph we have already mentioned that antipyretics must be taken in particular circumstances, such as a too high body temperature, and we must not abuse them because, as with any other medicine, side effects can occur.

Specifically we can say that the conditions in which the doctor recommends taking an antipyretic are the following:

• In the case of an adult, when the body temperature exceeds 39 degrees Celsius;
• In the case of a child, when the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius.

What are the most common antipyretic drugs?

Among the most common antipyretics we certainly remember NSAIDs , a very vast class of medicines within which we also find Acetylsalicylic Acid, commonly known by its commercial name, ie Aspirin® .

Paracetamol also falls into the category of antipyretics and is often mistakenly attributed to NSAIDs but, as we will see better in the next paragraphs, it has mechanisms of action such as not to make it a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Among the other most common antipyretic drugs we also have those mentioned below:

• Niflam®, whose active ingredient is niflumic acid;
• Aleve® , whose active ingredient is naproxen;
• Ketodol®, whose active ingredient is ketoprofen.

There are also other active ingredients that perform an antipyretic action, but they are less used than those we have mentioned and those that we will show you today as they have more consistent side effects, however, among these active ingredients we have:

• Dipyrone;
• Aminophenation;
• Propyphenation.

In this article, however, we will only deal with the most common ones, namely Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (or NSAIDs), Paracetamol, the related side effects and any natural remedies that have an antipyretic action.

What are NSAIDs, what are they and how do they work?

NSAIDs are the so-called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and have an antipyretic action thanks to their systemic activity, consequently, in addition to having an antipyretic function, these medicines also perform a very important anti-inflammatory function.

Among the most common NSAIDs we certainly remember those based on Ibuprofen, such as those mentioned below:

• Brufen® ;
• Subitene®;
• Arfen®;
• Moment®;
• Actigrip®;
• Vicks®;
• Nurofen® .

Ibuprofen is an active ingredient that manages to inhibit COX-1 and COX-2, both at a peripheral level and at the level of the central nervous system and this mechanism of action makes it an excellent antipyretic.

It has found wide use in the medical field because in addition to the antipyretic and anti-inflammatory action typical of NSAIDs, it has an excellent analgesic function, further helping us to restore the correct functioning of our body.

Even the acetylsalicylic acid that we have already mentioned above has proved to be an excellent antipyretic. We are talking about the active ingredient of the very common Aspirin® which, in addition to being used for the treatment of fever, is also useful in the following cases:

• Muscle pains;
• Toothache;
• Flu symptoms;
• Headache;
• Neuralgia;
• Rheumatic pains.

The basic functioning is very similar to that of ibuprofen, i.e. it is able to inhibit the action of COX-1 and COX-2, however it is not recommended for children under the age of 14 as there is a risk to suffer from Reye’s Syndrome.

What is Paracetamol used for? How does it work?

The second antipyretic drug that we will discuss in this article is Paracetamol , also known by the following trade names:

• Tachipirina®;
• Acetamol®;
• Tachiflu ® ;
• Tachifludec®;
• Panadol®;
• Efferalgan®;
• Sanipirin®;
• Minofen®.

In addition to having an antipyretic action, paracetamol is also an excellent analgesic and, like all drugs of its kind, it is useful for the treatment of feverish states, flu symptoms and acute diseases of our respiratory tract, but also for painful manifestations of various entities.

Many classify paracetamol among NSAIDs but, given that they have different mechanisms of action, it is incorrect to attribute this drug to this category.

In fact, paracetamol has a very particular mechanism of action. Specifically, it is capable of inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme at the level of the central nervous system, thus reducing the synthesis of PGE2, a substance that plays a fundamental role in increasing body temperature.

Unlike NSAIDs which, as we have said, are not recommended for children under the age of 14, paracetamol is widely used in the case of children because it is well tolerated, especially at the gastrointestinal level.

Are there any contraindications or possible side effects associated with antipyretic drugs?

As with any other type of drug, even in the case of antipyretics we can encounter side effects , the severity of which depends on the situation of the individual, the type of drug he takes and the dosage of the same.

For example, in the case of ibuprofen, the risks concern above all the little ones, and can be the following:

• Renal complications;
• Gastrointestinal problems;
• Asma.

Especially with regard to the second point, namely gastrointestinal problems, doctors recommend taking ibuprofen-based drugs only with a full stomach.

Aspirin, on the other hand, is also famous for its direct action on blood clotting and, obviously, this factor could involve risks, especially in the presence of certain circumstances.

In fact, doctors strongly advise against taking aspirin, or any other medicine with the same active ingredient, if we are following anticoagulant-based therapy or if we are suffering from conditions in which blood clotting appears to be altered in itself.

Among the other contraindications of Aspirin® we also find the following points:

• in gastritis;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• peptic ulcer.

Furthermore, as we have already said previously, using Aspirin as an antipyretic under the age of 14 can lead to the risk of the onset of Reye’s Syndrome, a serious pathology affecting the nervous system. However, this risk also occurs if other types of NSAIDs are taken.

Taking Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs is also strongly discouraged for the treatment of chicken pox. In these cases, another antipyretic drug, namely paracetamol, has proved to be useful.

Even the latter, despite being well tolerated by our body, especially in the case of the little ones, should in any case be taken with caution because it can involve the risk of encountering problems affecting the kidneys or our liver.

For all these reasons, before taking any type of antipyretic drug, remember to contact your family doctor who is the only one who, after a careful visit, will be able to solve your problem.

Are there any natural antipyretics? Which ones are they?

Before dealing with any natural remedies with antipyretic action, it is good to remember that, even in these cases, the doctor should be consulted because we do not know if these remedies can possibly interfere with other therapies or, even, can involve other risks in our specific case. .

Natural products that have an antipyretic function, above all because they are able to increase perspiration levels and, therefore, lower body temperature, are certainly the following:

• lime tree ;
• Elderflowers .

In addition to these remedies, we can also use plants that have an antipyretic effect thanks to the presence of salicylates. Among these plants we certainly remember the willow and the spirea .

Last but not least, we can implement some remedies to naturally decrease the temperature of the body, namely:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day;
• Avoid exposure to sudden changes in temperature;
• Prefer foods high in carbohydrates and antioxidants;
• Avoid playing sports or undergoing other strenuous sports activities.