Overview Of Common Fever-Reducing Medications

Most fever medications are also pain relievers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories! Adults need to take a fever medicine if their temperature is 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Of course, they need to consider fever medication when other treatments are not working. Typically, their fever still needs to reach at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for this option! Patients need to talk about which fever medication is best for them with a doctor. A pharmacist is another option here! This is vital for everyone, but especially those with underlying health conditions. It keeps them safe!

Fever relief is essential. After all, no one enjoys having a fever! Many patients use natural remedies for fevers. In many cases, they work! However, natural fever reducers are not always helpful. This is why patients turn to a prescription or over-the-counter fever reducer. Patients must understand the common options and discuss them with a doctor first. This ensures that they get the best medication for their fever!

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is the most common fever medication! It is offered in many formulas, including as a liquid or oral tablet. When taken orally, patients choose between immediate-release and extended-release tablets! Some tablets are even dissolvable. Unfortunately, this medication has side effects. The most common are nausea, headaches, dark urine, and clay-colored stool. Other side effects are appetite loss and itching! Liver damage is also possible. Patients are at risk when they take this medication in large doses or for long periods. Individuals with existing liver problems need to talk to their doctor before taking this medication! In addition, every patient must know the signs of liver damage. They include intense itching and jaundice! They have to call their doctor if these signs appear.

There are medication interactions with acetaminophen! Examples include gout medication, cancer drugs, and sulfa drugs. Patients need to review their current medications with their doctor first to avoid these interactions!

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Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is another great medication for relieving a fever. It also helps reduce inflammation! Most adults need two hundred milligrams every four to six hours. However, the dose can reach four hundred milligrams when necessary! Of course, they must still wait four to six hours for a second dose. Finally, patients cannot exceed 1,200 milligrams per day unless their doctor has directed them otherwise!

This medication has side effects as well. It increases the risk of stroke or heart attack in some patients. Patients with heart disease are at a particularly high risk for this! The risk is also high when patients take this medication for long periods or in large doses. This medication makes stomach bleeding more likely in seniors. Other side effects include heartburn, headaches, nervousness, ringing in the ears, and dizziness! As this medication triggers an upset stomach, individuals need to take it with food. A glass of milk works as well! Patients with certain conditions must ask their doctor about ibuprofen first. These conditions include liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and asthma.

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Acetylsalicylic Acid

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is an anti-inflammatory medication. It relieves pain while also reducing fevers! Adults need 325 to 650 milligrams every four to six hours to reduce a fever. Of course, this medication also has side effects. The most common is ringing in the ears! Other side effects include abdominal cramps, nausea, and dizziness. Less commonly, patients deal with stomach ulcers and bleeding, occasionally without pain. Signs of stomach bleeding include tarry stool, weakness, and feeling dizzy upon standing. Patients need to receive prompt medical help for these symptoms!

Gout patients cannot take this drug. The reason is that it increases uric acid! Diabetes patients need to track their blood sugar carefully on this medication. It increases the risk of low blood sugar when they are also taking medication for their diabetes! Overall, individuals need to talk to their doctor to determine when this medication is safe for their needs. Their doctor will also recommend a good dose!

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Diclofenac

Diclofenac is another common anti-inflammatory. This medication treats migraines and arthritis. Of course, it also reduces fever! This time, however, it is a prescription medication available orally. Common side effects include drowsiness, upset stomach, headaches, and heartburn. Other ones to watch for are diarrhea, constipation, and dizziness! Rare side effects of this medication are rapid weight gain, fatigue, and swelling in the feet. These are warning signs of heart failure! Patients need to tell their doctor right away if they appear. They also need to call immediately if they hear ringing in their ears.

This drug increases blood pressure in many patients. Thus, all patients need to monitor their pressure regularly when they take this medication! Their doctor needs to know about any elevations. Some individuals cannot take diclofenac, such as pregnant women. Patients with heart disease, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, stomach bleeding, or asthma cannot take it as well. Patients also need to tell their doctor when they have a history of kidney disease, liver disease, or tobacco use.

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Naproxen

Naproxen is another powerful anti-inflammatory. It is offered by prescription as well as over-the-counter! Patients are limited to taking two doses of this medication a day. However, sometimes a doctor will allow three doses. They must drink a full glass of water with each dose and avoid lying down for ten minutes! This medication has an upset stomach as a side effect. Patients reduce this risk by taking this medication with food or milk! Of course, taking it with an antacid also helps. Other side effects are heartburn, headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness. Patients need to call their doctor when these effects get worse or do not go away!

There are other less common side effects as well. They include painful swallowing, mood changes, easy bruising, and vision changes. Patients also deal with urine output changes and a stiff neck with no known cause on this medication. They have to tell their doctor right away if any of these appear! Of course, naproxen interacts with some medicines. They include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, lithium, and corticosteroids. Thus, patients need to review a list of their current medications with their doctor first. Many of them need adjusted doses or to find another medication.