Antipyretic

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Antipyretic

Antipyretics (literally "against the fire") are drug

Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function....
s that reduce body temperature in situations such as fever

Fever

Fever is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body's thermoregulatory set-point, usually by about 1?2 ?C ....
. However, they will not affect the normal body temperature if one does not have a fever.

Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland ....
to override an interleukin

Interleukin

Interleukins are a group of cytokines that were first seen to be expressed by white blood cells as a means of communication . The name is something of a relic though ; it has since been found that interleukins are produced by a wide variety of body cells....
-induced increase in temperature. The body will then work to lower the temperature and the result is a reduction in fever.

Most are also used for other purposes.

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Encyclopedia

Antipyretics (literally "against the fire") are drug

Drug

Fever

Hypothalamus

Interleukin

Aspirin

Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate medication, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication....
and paracetamol

Paracetamol

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is a widely used over-the-counter drug analgesic and antipyretic . It is commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains, and is a major ingredient in numerous common cold and Influenza remedies....
(acetaminophen), which are used primarily as pain relievers

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the diverse group of Medication used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
. NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs or NAIDs, are Medications with analgesic, antipyretic and, in higher doses, with anti-inflammatory effects ....
are antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and pain relievers. There is some debate over the appropriate use of such medications: fever is part of the body's immune response

Immune system

An immune system is a collection of biological processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumour cells....
to infection.

Herbal remedies with a fever-reducing effect are called febrifuges, and include catnip, chamomile

Chamomile

Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several plants. The word, a combination of ?a?a? "on the ground" + ????? "apple", derives from their applelike scent....
, sage

Common sage

Salvia officinalis is a small perennial evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region and commonly grown as a kitchen and medicinal herb or as an ornamental garden plant....
, wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

Artemisia absinthium is a species of Artemisia , native to temperate regions of Eurasia and northern Africa.It is a herbaceous perennial plant, with a hard, woody rhizome....
and yarrow

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium or Yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere....
. However, the term febrifuge can also refer to a refrigerant

Refrigerant

A refrigerant is a compound used in a heat engine that undergoes a phase change from a gas to a liquid and back. The two main uses of refrigerants are refrigerators/freezers and air conditioners ....
, such as topical alcohol

Ethanol

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatility , flammable, colorless liquid....
, which cools the body by physically removing heat rather than modifying the body's responses. This is not recommended currently, because alcohol can be transferred through the skin and affect the liver. In addition, alcohol slightly raises the body temperature before it brings it down, which, if the fever is already very high could cause permanent damage..

Some cultures use gallstones as antipyretic antidotes like in China for example, obtained from cow or dog meat.