ANTIPYRETICS

DEFINITION OF NSAIDS
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
agents (usually abbreviated to
NSAIDs) are a group of
medicines that relieve pain and
fever and reduce inflammation
 GROUP OF NSAIDS

Anti Analgesic Antipyretic Inflammatory

DEFINITION OF
ANTIPYRETIC
‘A drug that reduces fever by
lowering the body temperature ’
 It is basically an agent that reduces fever.
In greek,

Anti Pyretos

Against Pertaining to fever

 Pyrexia is an important part
of the body's defense
against infection.
 Normal body temperature-
(37.2 - 37.5°C)
 Most bacteria and viruses
that cause infections in
people thrive best at 98.6°F.
 HISTORY OF ANTIPYRETICS
 323 BC- Alexander the great was treated using
external cooling agent.
 1500 BC- Egyptians were aware of antipyretic
property of willow leaves
 1763 - Reverend Edward Stone who submitted a
letter to Royal society of London about
successful treatment on fever
 Later salicylic acid was isolated and tests for
antipyretic activity were performed.
 Several manipulation gave standard drug used
in today's era
CHEMICALLY SYNTHESISED
DRUGS
 Acetaminophen
 Salicylate sodium
 Metamizole
 Nabumetone
 ACETAMINOPHEN
 Also known as paracetamol
 They are not NSAID’s
 Acts by increasing the pain threshold
 Temporary relief of fever
 Majorly used due to its direct effect on
heat regulatory centre.
SALICYLATE SODIUM
 It is a sodium salt of salicylic acid
 Prepared from phenolate and CO2
under high temperature and pressure.
 Directly inhibits both types of COX
 Acts as NSAID’s
 METAMIZOLE
 Belongs to class of phenyl pyrazole
 Used in past as fever reducer
 Inhibits only COX-1
 It can blocks PG-dependent as well as
independent pathways of fever. Its
mechanism is not clear yet.
NABUMETONE
 Belongs to the family of naphthalene

 Parent hepatic 6-methoxy

Compound biotransformation 2-naphthylaceticacid

 Which is potent inhibitor of COX1 and

COX2 receptor binging site
 PARACETAMOL /
ACETAMINOPHEN

 Paracetamol 500 mg
tablet
 Dosage: adult; 500-
1000mg every 4-6 hours,
max. of 4 g daily.
PHARMACOKINETICS
 Absorption- stomach intestinal
mucosa
 Distribution- Blood plasma
 Metabolism- Liver
 Excretion- in urine and bile 
 USES OF THE ANTIPYRETICS DURING PREGNANCY
 In pregnant women, immunity is greatly reduced, so they are more
likely to get sick for colds and infectious diseases, which are
accompanied by an increase in temperature. First of all, it is worth
remembering that Aspirin is completely contraindicated during
pregnancy and lactation, as this drug blocks prostaglandin, and
this causes bleeding, which can be dangerous for the health of the
future mother and baby.

 In the first and second trimester, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol can

be taken to lower fever, but only after the recommendation of the
attending physician. But starting from the third trimester,
Ibuprofen is strictly prohibited.
 CONTRAINDICATIONS

 Intolerance of active components of the drug.

 Admission together with other antipyretic

drugs.

 Pregnancy and breast-feeding (in some cases)

GENERAL ADVERSE EFFECT
 CNS: headache, tinnitus, dizziness
 CVS: fluid retention hypertension,
edema, CHF (rarely)
 GI: abdominal pain, dysplasia, nausea,
vomiting, ulcer or bleeding (rarely)
 Hematologic: rare thrombocytopenia,
neutropenia, or even aplastic anemia
 Hepatic: abnormal liver function test
and rare liver failure
 Pulmonary: asthma
 Rashes: all types pruritus
 Renal: renal insufficiency, renal
failure, hyperkalemia, and proteinuria
 TOXOCITY
 

 Gastric irritation
 Prolong bleeding time
 mucosal lesions
 gastrointestinal discomfort
 Renal toxicity
STORAGE CONDITIONS
It is very important to store
antipyretic medicines in a place
that is inaccessible to young
children. The air temperature
should not exceed +25 degrees.
NURSING
RESPONSIBILITIES
NURSES RESPONSIBILITIES
The nurse must be aware that his or
her responsibilities in giving drugs are
governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act
1971 and the Misuse of Drugs
(Amendment) Regulations 2005, for
controlled drugs, and the Medicines
Act 1968, for prescription-only
medicines, together with additional
regulations formulated locally.
Drug therapy plays a major part in
the treatment of patients.
Traditionally, medicines have
been prescribed by doctors and
the nurse’s responsibility has been
to ensure safe and reliable
administration and to monitor
side-effects.
PHYSICIAN ORDER
The medication administration record
(MAR) is based on the physician's order
and provides the information the nurse
needs to administer medication. The
MAR contains the name of the patient,
the name and dosage of the medication to
be administered, frequency/time of
administration, and the method of
introducing the drug into the patient's
body (route of administration).
PATIENT IDENTIFICATION
 Prior to administering medication, the
nurse verifies the patient's identity. The
"Journal of Continuing Education in
Nursing" reports that "patient
misidentification continues to be the
root cause of many errors.“
 To prevent errors, the nurse uses two
sources of identification and checks for
matching information.
 She compares the patient's wristband
identification with a written document
such as a MAR or physician's order.
 Alternately, the nurse may ask the
patient to state his name and birthdate
and match the information to the
patient's wristband.
PATIENT RIGHT
 In safely treating the patient, the nurse
observes six patient rights, ensuring that
she administers the right medication, in
the right dosage, to the right patient, at
the right time, via the right route, in
accordance with the physician's orders.
 Nurse completes the process with the
right documentation.
 In addition, before a nurse administers
medication, references the action and
expected effect of the drug.
 Nurse monitors the patient and reports
any adverse reactions to the medication
PREVENTING ERRORS
 Health-care providers prescribe and
administer medication according to a
medication distribution system.
 The health-care team works together to
identify and prevent errors in the system.
 The nurse verifies medical calculations with
a colleague and consults the prescribing
physician or her nursing supervisor if she
suspects that a prescribed dosage of
medication is unsafe.
 The nurse also identifies prescribed
medications, over-the-counter drugs, and
client allergies that can interfere with the
physician's recommended drug therapy.
 Nurse gathers data pertaining to the patient's
medical history and compares it to the MAR
to identify incompatible drug combinations or
possible allergic reactions to medication.
NURSES RIGHTS
 Medical facility guidelines also ensure six
rights of the nurse.
 The nurse has the right to legible, clearly
written medication orders that specify the
dosage, route, and time for medication
administration.
 The nurse also has the right to receive the
correct form of the drug from the pharmacist
and to access information about the drug.
 Nurse has the right to report problems in the
medication system, to halt the
administration process if she identifies an
unsafe condition, and she has the right to
work in a medical facility that provides
guidelines and policies for safe
administration of medication.
‘ GOD IS THE WONDERFUL
CREATOR OF THE FETUS’
‘ MOTHER IS A GUARD OF
HEALTH OF THE FETUS’
‘GYNECOLOGIST IS THE
GUIDE OF THE MOTHER’
CONCLUSION
 These drugs are commonly
being used for management of
fever.
 No scientific evidence that this
combination is safe antipyresis.
 There is evidence that the
improper use of these agents
may cause harm.
 Do not take any drug without
prescription of doctor.