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- AuthorScot Henry
Scot Henry's career spans 2 decades of study and research including an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences (UNBC, 2000), a PhD in Molecular Virology (EUMC, 2008), and work at Columbia University in cutting edge medical sciences (through to 2015). With 21 scientific articles, local and federal grants, 9 review articles and 1 book chapter, Scot continues to consult and remains a reviewer for 14 scientific magazines.
View bio - InstructorBethany Lieberman
Bethany is a certified OB/GYN nurse who has a master's degree in Nursing Education.
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Learn what an antipyretic is. Review the antipyretic definition and meaning. Learn about the multiple antipyretic uses through studying antipyretic examples.Updated: 11/21/2023
Table of Contents
- What is an Antipyretic?
- Antipyretic Uses: Fever and Additional Ailments
- The 3 Classes of Antipyretic Medication
- Antipyretic Effects
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between analgesics and antipyretics?
An analgesic relieves pain, by either reducing an inflammation or by changing the method in which your brain recognizes pain. An antipyretic, specifically reduces fevers by overriding the prostaglandin induced increase in body temperature, reducing the amount of inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream.
What does "antipyretic" mean in medical terms?
Antipyretics are used to reduce or eliminate a fever. Some operate by the indirect means and treat the root cause of the fever, such an an inflammatory response to a viral or bacterial infection, others act directly on the symptoms of the inflammation, pain and or discomfort.
What does the word antipyretic mean in medical terms?
An antipyretic is a pharmaceutical agent or a non-pharmacological agent that reduces or eliminates a fever, usually induced by some source of inflammation.
Table of Contents
- What is an Antipyretic?
- Antipyretic Uses: Fever and Additional Ailments
- The 3 Classes of Antipyretic Medication
- Antipyretic Effects
- Lesson Summary
An antipyretic is a drug or treatment that relieves or reduces fever. The etymology of the word antipyretic comes from the Greek -anti, meaning counter to, or the opposite of, and pyretos meaning fever from pyr, meaning fire.
Plants that contain natural antipyretic properties are commonly referred to by ethnobotanists as febrifuge. Many of these plants have been used for centuries by Indigenous American tribes, as well as by traditional medicinal practitioners in China, India, Pakistan, and around the world.
Extracts from Solanum nigrum or Black Nightshade, the root of Gentiana crassicaulis or thick-stemmed gentian, Lactuca serriola or Prickly Lettuce whose sap contains lactucarium, a substance similar to low-grade opium, can all be used as antipyretics to reduce fever and inflammation and have some pain-relieving properties.
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In humans, a fever is the raising of the body's temperature beyond the homeostatic temperature of 98.6F or 37C. A fever can be caused by multiple vectors including infections (both viral and bacterial) and inflammation (stemming from a variety of sources, including rheumatoid arthritis or allergies). Some recreational drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can also cause an increase in body temperature.
Fever occurs in response to a change in the body that causes an inflammatory response associated with an increase in immune-activated white blood cells. The immune system reacts to some non-self-entity and increases the circulation of proinflammatory cytokines into the bloodstream. The fever is induced by the increased production of prostaglandin E2 which alters the firing rate of hypothalamus neurons that control thermoregulation. This can cause severe pain and discomfort, sweating, and headaches. In short, a fever is rather uncomfortable.
Most fevers will range between 100F or 37.7C and 104F or 40C, depending on the type of infection, some fevers can be as high as 108F or 42.2C.
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Fevers are generally a good thing, as the body is responding to an infection or problem of some sort and is attempting to self-regulate. Problems with fevers arise when they last longer than a few days or reach a particularly high range of temperatures. Doctors will prescribe or suggest the use of antipyretics to control the temperature and bring the fever down a few degrees, both to reduce the discomfort but also to treat the underlying cause.
Methods to reduce a fever without the use of antipyretics can include simple rest, consuming lots of fluids such as light broth, water or electrolyte solutions, cooling baths, or simply a cool room with loose-fitting clothing. These methods can be applied without the aid of a doctor or pharmaceutical interventions and have been used successfully by folk medicine and laypersons for centuries.
What is Antipyretic Pain Relief?
Most of the antipyretics in use today are generally used to treat low-grade pain, but also have antipyretic properties, which make them an excellent choice for the reduction of fever and the discomforts associated with a fever.
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Antipyretic medications generally come in three classes of drugs that can be sold over-the-counter (OTC).
- Acetaminophen - used to treat low-grade pain, are non-specific cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitors
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- Salicylates - used to treat low-grade pain and lower fevers, are non-specific cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitors
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- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - used to treat pain and lower fevers. available in two forms, a non-specific cyclooxygenase inhibitor (COX-1 and COX-2) or as a specific, COX-2 inhibitor.
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All three classes of antipyretics have similar mechanisms of action; they modulate the activity of the cyclooxygenases COX-1 and or COX-2, to reduce pro-inflammatory molecules in the bloodstream.
Antipyretic Examples
Salicylates are mainly used as analgesics, to treat headaches and minor pain, under the most common brand name of Bayer Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)). Salicylates also have some antipyretic properties as they reduce the activity of cyclooxygenase COX-1, which, in turn, reduces pro-inflammatory molecules and cytokines like TNF-alpha.
Acetaminophen, like brand names Tylenol, Paracetamol, or Panadol, again, are generally used to reduce aches and mild pain but can be used to reduce fever in the same manner as Aspirin. Paracetamol is only mildly effective to treat fever as its effects are non-specific on both COX-1 and COX-2 and result in only a fraction of a degree of temperature drops.
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen sodium), and prescription NSAIDs like Vioxx and Celebrex are used to treat a variety of ailments including mild to moderate aches and pain, reduce fever, and reduce blood clotting. Their pharmacokinetics are similar to salicylates and acetaminophen in that they reduce the activity of COX-1 and COX-2. NSAIDs come in two different forms, most commonly as a non-specific COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor and a less common variety that is a specific COX-2 inhibitor.
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Fever may occur during infection, inflammation, tissue damage, or due to some diseases. In a fever, the infected or damaged tissue activates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which, in turn, increase the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 near the hypothalamus in the brain. This increase in prostaglandin causes the hypothalamus to trigger an increase in body temperature. Antipyretics work in these pathways by interrupting, either non-selectively, in the case of acetaminophen, salicylates, and some NSAIDs, the activity of cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2, or selectively on COX-2 with prescriptions medications like Celebrex and Vioxx.
COX-1 is a fairly ubiquitous enzyme and has roles in many normal physiological processes including the regulation of stomach acids and the stomach lining, which is why any interruption in its activity leads to gastrointestinal issues, such as ulcers or internal bleeding. COX-2 is expressed during inflammation, so its specific inhibition leads to the desirable antipyretic effects of various NSAIDs.
Salicylates are generally well tolerated but some people experience an Aspirin intolerance that produces adverse effects that can range from diarrhea to depression. Salicylates have been used for generations to prevent or slow the incidence of heart attack, as their use disrupts the aggregation of platelets.
Acetaminophens are generally well tolerated but can cause some gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea and abdominal pain, though these are generally mild with normal dosing. Higher or routine dosing can lead to a range of gastrointestinal problems like peptic ulcers, intestinal bleeding, or even liver failure.
The non-specific types of NSAIDs such as Naproxen do lower fever levels but also come with the risk of stomach and gastrointestinal issues. The development of COX-2 specific NSAIDs, such as the prescription medications Celebrex and Vioxx, have reduced the gastrointestinal issues of the non-specific NSAIDs but have other issues including thrombosis and an increased rate of heart attacks.
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A fever is a body's response to an infection, some form of inflammation, or other diseased states. The body responds by increasing the levels of prostaglandin near the hypothalamus neurons that control body thermoregulation, increasing the body temperature. This is a self-protective mechanism to change the environment so the invading infection or causes of the inflammation can no longer survive.
Antipyretic drugs are compounds that interfere with the activity of some of the enzymes involved in the production and activation of prostaglandin and are thus able to reduce a fever by slowing the fever response at the molecular level. There are no specific antipyretic drugs, rather most are analgesic drugs with an antipyretic effect. These drugs come in three classes, salicylates, acetaminophen, and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). All three classes have benefits and side effects, as their mechanism of action is generally on the COX series of cyclooxygenase enzymes that regulate gastrointestinal function. The drug's interference in these pathways can lower fever, reduce pain and discomfort, but can also cause a variety of gastrointestinal issues, ranging from benign to life-threatening, depending on concentration and length of dosing.
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Video Transcript
Fever Panic
Mrs. Roberts is frantic. Her three-month-old baby, James, feels hot and is fussy. She took his temperature, and he has a fever of 101.9o F! In a panic, she immediately calls the pediatrician, who tells her James needs an antipyretic. This only adds to Mrs. Roberts' state of panic—she has absolutely no idea what an antipyretic is.
What is an Antipyretic?
The pediatrician explains to Mrs. Roberts that an antipyretic is just a fancy name for something that prevents, reduces, or relieves a fever. The name is derived from the prefix ''anti,'' which means ''against,'' and the Greek word ''pyretos,'' which means ''fever'' or ''pyr (fire).'' The doctor explains to Mrs. Roberts that an antipyretic can be as simple as a cool bath or an ice pack, or she can use medication.
It's important for Mrs. Roberts to know that a fever is not an actual illness, but instead is the body's natural way of fighting off an infection. Fever slows down the growth of bacteria and viruses and activates the body's immune system by enhancing white blood cell production. Not all fevers require an antipyretic, and the goal of antipyretic therapy should be aimed at improving the comfort of the baby. Since Mrs. Roberts' baby is more fussy than usual, James may benefit from some medication.
There are actually three classes of medications that can be bought over the counter to reduce fever. The three classes are salicylates (such as aspirin), acetaminophen (more commonly known as Tylenol), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Advil or Aleve. For babies, acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be administered by mouth according to the baby's weight.
Effects of Antipyretics
Antipyretics work by affecting the hypothalamus gland that is located in the brain and is responsible for regulating the body's temperature. Antipyretics dilate the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, which results in a decreased temperature by heat radiation, convection, and evaporation. This leads to sweat, which cools the body.
So, let's go back to our frantic patient. Mrs. Roberts finds some comfort after speaking to her pediatrician and decides to start with some cold packs and Tylenol for her son, now that she is more familiar with antipyretics therapy and the goals for treating a fever.
Lesson Summary
Antipyretics are used to prevent, treat, and relieve fevers, from the use of cold packs to over-the-counter medications. The three classes of antipyretics are salicylates (such as aspirin), acetaminophen (more commonly known as Tylenol), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Advil or Aleve. A clinical example was used to demonstrate when antipyretics could be used in a baby with a fever.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is for your information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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