Types of medicine
What Is a Fever Reducer? Meaning on Medicine Labels
Fever reducer · say it: FEE-ver ree-DOO-serAlso written: antipyretic, fever reducer/pain reliever, fever medicine
Short answer
A fever reducer (antipyretic) is a medicine that lowers a high temperature, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), ibuprofen or aspirin.
What it means
A fever reducer, or antipyretic, lowers body temperature during a fever. The common ones are acetaminophen (paracetamol) and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin. Most also relieve pain, which is why US labels often say 'Pain reliever/fever reducer'. They ease the discomfort of a fever but do not treat the infection or cause behind it.
The phrase appears in the 'Purpose' line of over-the-counter labels. The warnings that come with it depend on the ingredient: the liver warning for acetaminophen, stomach bleeding and kidney warnings for NSAIDs, and the Reye's syndrome warning that aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers recovering from viral illness. Labels also say to stop and ask a doctor if a fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days. In babies, any fever should be discussed with a doctor, and a very young baby with a fever needs prompt medical assessment.
A fever is often the body's normal response to infection. Lowering it is about comfort; it does not make the illness go away faster.
Where you may see it
- The 'Purpose' line of the Drug Facts panel ('Pain reliever/fever reducer')
- Children's medicine packs
- Pharmacy leaflets
📄 How it looks on a report
Purpose: pain reliever/fever reducer. Stop use and ask a doctor if fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Lowering a fever does not treat the infection behind it.
- It does not mean two fever reducers containing the same ingredient can be taken together.
- Aspirin is not suitable as a fever reducer for children and teenagers.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Fever reducer”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Fever reducer”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acetaminophen
A pain reliever and fever reducer
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Fever reducer” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.