II. Read the following text. Antipyretics

A n antipyretic is a type of medication that will prevent or reduce fever by lowering body temperature from a raised state. It will not affect normal body temperature if the patient does not have a fever. There are many of these drugs with which people may have great familiarity. Widely available over-the-counter types include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, salicylic acid or aspirin and paracetamol. All of these medications can be used to lower fevers, and there are other medications that might be tried if these do not work.

One of the distinctive parts of the definition of antipyretics is that they are medications that only lower body temperature when fever is present. This is why over-the-counter drugs listed above are applicable as use for other things like treatment of inflamation, pain or, in the case of salicylates, daily treatment for stroke prevention. Fever reducers could not be particularly effective for other treatments, if they always lowered body temperature. Using them might mean dropping the temperature of the body below safe levels.

The reason that these medications typically only work on temperature when required has to do with the way the body responds to infection. When infection of any type occurs, the body may begin reducing a substance called interleukin, which sends a message to the hypothalamus to increase temperature. Antipyretics essentially override this message, and the hypothalamus responds by lowering temperature to normal.

It’s often necessary for people to continue to take antipyretics for a few days or more to keep a fever from coming back. Other medications like antibiotics might be useful in bacterial infections too, as these may help reduce infection and reduce release of interleukin. On the other hand, some viral infections quickly leave and people might only need a single dose of antipyretics to regulate the temperature.

There are many potential forms antipyretics might take, even in over-the-counter types. They could be available in pill form, in chewable tablets, in quick dissolve strips or in liquid. Many people may take suppository types of medications, and this is particularly helpful when controlling fever of someone who is vomiting.

There are 3 classes of antipyretic medications that are sold over-the-counter:

• Salicylates – aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), choline salicylate (Arthropan), magnesium salicylate (Arthriten), and sodium salicylate (Scot-Tussin Original);

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol);

• NSAIDs – ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and ketoprofen.

There are some general things to remember about the common antipyretics. Aspirin should never be used in children unless it is prescribed. Acetaminophen/paracetamol is usually contraindicated in those with liver disease. Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs may need to be avoided by people with NSAID allergy or who take any form of blood thinner. More antipyretics are not better; there can be dangerous consequences when people exceed the recommended dose.

Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What type of medication is an antipyretic?

2. Do antipyretics affect normal body temperature when the patient doesn’t have a fever?

3. Why are NSAIDs applicable as use not only in case of a fever?

4. How do antipyretics lower the body temperature to normal?

5. How long is it necessary to take antipyretic drugs?

6. What forms of antipyretic medications are available nowadays?

7. Suppository types of medications are particularly helpful when controlling fever of someone who is vomiting, aren’t they?

8. Why should aspirin never be used in children unless it is prescribed?

9. In what case is acetaminophen contraindicated?

10. What people must avoid NSAIDs?

11. What can antipyretic medications result in?