What is "antipyretic"

Antipyretic \An`ti*py*ret"ic\, a. (Med.) Efficacious in preventing or allaying fever. -- n. A febrifuge.

"reducing fever; that which reduces fever," 1680s, from anti- + Greek pyretos "fever, burning heat," related to pyr "fire" (see fire (n.)) + -ic.

a. (context medicine English) That reduces fever; fever-reducing. n. A pharmaceutical that reduces fever; a febrifuge.

1. adj. preventing or alleviating fever [ant: pyretic]

2. n. any medicine that lowers body temperature to prevent or alleviate fever [syn: febrifuge]

Antipyretics (, from anti- 'against' and 'feverish') are substances that reduce fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which results in a reduction in fever.

Most antipyretic medications have other purposes. The most common antipyretics in the United States are ibuprofen and aspirin, which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used primarily as analgesics (pain relievers), but which also have antipyretic properties; and acetaminophen (paracetamol), an analgesic with weak anti-inflammatory properties.

There is some debate over the appropriate use of such medications, as fever is part of the body's immune response to infection. A study published by the Royal Society claims fever suppression causes at least 1% more influenza cases of death, which would result in at least 700 extra deaths per year in the United States alone.