Word parts
What it means
A medicine that brings a raised body temperatureBOD-ee TEM-pruh-churThe degree of heat of the body, measured with a thermometer as one of the vital signs.Full entry back down. The most common are acetaminophen and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugnon-STAIR-oy-dul an-tee-in-FLAM-uh-tor-ee DRUGA drug that relieves pain, fever and inflammation and is not a steroid, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.non- notanti- againstinflamm/o inflammationFull entry such as ibuprofeneye-byoo-PROH-fenA drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Full entry and aspirinAS-prinA drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation and makes platelets less sticky so blood clots less easily.Full entry . They work on the brain's temperature control center in the hypothalamushy-poh-THAL-uh-musA small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.hypo- belowthalamus inner chamber (a part of the brain)Full entry . Many antipyretics also relieve pain.
For the nurse
Recheck the temperature 30 to 60 minutes after giving one. Teach parents not to give aspirin to children or teenagers with a viral illness, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, and to keep the total daily acetaminophen dose within the label limit.
In a chart
"Temp 39.1 °C (102.4 °F); acetaminophen 650 mg PO given; recheck 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) at 1 hour."
At a glance
| Drug class | antipyretic |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Tylenol (acetaminophen); Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen) |
| Spanish | antipirético |
| Also written | antipyretics |
Related terms
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
A drug that relieves pain, fever and inflammation and is not a steroid, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
aspirin
A drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation and makes platelets less sticky so blood clots less easily.
ibuprofen
A drug that eases pain, fever and inflammation; a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
body temperature
The degree of heat of the body, measured with a thermometer as one of the vital signs.