Fever reducers are medications that help lower a person’s temperature. In doing so, they relieve symptoms related to illness, including achiness, chills, headache and irritability. When used correctly, these drugs are safe for most people and cause few side effects.

People who have mild fevers (102 degrees Fahrenheit or less, or 39 degrees Celsius or less) may not require treatment of any kind. Even patients with higher temperatures usually do not require treatment, because higher temperatures generally are not dangerous in and of themselves. However, patients may find that fever reducers relieve the discomfort brought by illness.

Medications that are used to treat fevers are typically known as antipyretic agents. They work by blocking the mechanisms in the body that cause fever, but do not treat the underlying condition responsible for the fever. The most common antipyretics are acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin. In many cases, fever reducers are combined with medications used to block pain, commonly known as analgesics.

People are urged to inform physicians of any allergies or medical conditions that they have because some may prevent the use of certain pain and fever medications. Some people may experience upset stomach and other side effects when taking certain fever and pain medications. Symptoms of overdose can be similar to the medication’s side effects, but are usually more severe.

People are urged to consult with a physician before taking any additional prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements or herbal medications. Some of these substances may interact poorly with fever reducers. In addition, people are urged not to take more than one fever reducer or pain reliever at one time unless a physician directs them to do so.

Certain populations should exercise particular caution in taking fever reducers. These include children, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and elderly people. In addition, children should never use aspirin because the use of this drug in children with bacterial and viral infections can lead to Reye syndrome, a rare condition that can damage the brain or liver.