Treatment of high fever with medicines

It should be said that a fever is a symptom that requires calling a doctor to your home, rather than waiting in line at a clinic. What to do if the temperature of 38-39.5 does not go down and the patient's health is noticeably worsening? Definitely call an ambulance, and the doctors at the emergency room will provide assistance, take the necessary tests, and prescribe treatment.

If the temperature has been lowered before the doctor or ambulance arrives, it is necessary to clearly tell the doctors when the temperature appeared, to what limit it rose and how long it remained in this state. But in order for the fever to subside, it is often necessary to take certain measures, so the question of how to bring down a temperature of 38-39.5 degrees comes to the agenda if the patient's condition is worsening, and the ambulance is still on the way?

Medicines that help normalize a person's body temperature are called antipyretics. The most popular in this regard are: the antipyretic "Paracetamol" and drugs from the NSAID group "Ibuprofen", "Acetylsalicylic acid", "Nimesulide", as well as their analogues.

Among the analogues of Ibuprofen, the most commonly used drugs to combat fever and heat are Nurofen, Ibuprom, Ibufen, and Solpaflex.

Popular drugs based on paracetamol: Panadol, Efferalgan, Solpadeine, Calpol, Cefekon.

Acetylsalicylic acid preparations that are suitable for reducing temperature: "Aspirin", "Aspirin-Upsa", "Upsarin-Upsa". These preparations are used less frequently due to the negative impact on the gastrointestinal mucosa and some recent studies by scientists who have put forward the theory that aspirin contributes to the development of cancer, making cancer cells more resistant to the action of drugs.

Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs based on nimesulide: "Nise", "Nimesil", "Nimulide". Such drugs are also less popular than paracetamol and ibuprofen, since they are usually taken for pain and inflammation, and not as an antipyretic.

There are also quite common, thanks to advertising, combination medications for fever and pain: "Askofen", "Kopacil", "Rinza", "Grippostad", "Citropak", "Ibuclin", "Next", which help relieve several symptoms of colds at once and often act faster and stronger than single-component medications.

How to bring down a child's temperature at home?

For these purposes, paracetamol-based drugs are best suited, which are considered the safest for children, giving preference to forms in the form of syrups, mixtures, rectal suppositories. So, the children's version of the drug "Paracetamol" is presented as a suspension, suppositories and syrup. "Panadol" is available in the form of a suspension and suppositories. "Efferalgan" has such forms of release for children as suppositories and syrup. "Tsefekon" can be used to treat children in the form of suppositories, and "Calpol" in the form of a suspension.

The second on the list of recommended drugs for treating children are ibuprofen-based drugs. These are Nurofen in the form of suspension and suppositories, Ibufen syrup, as well as Ibuprofen suspension and children's suppositories.

Most of the above medications can be used to treat children from 1-3 months, which is considered quite acceptable at a temperature of 38-38.5-39-39.5 degrees, which could not be brought down by other non-drug methods. The suspension based on nimesulide "Nise" is allowed only from 2 years of age. And aspirin preparations in tablet form - only from 4 years, and then with great caution (there is information that there is a risk of developing Reye's syndrome, characterized by acute liver failure and encephalopathy).

If the use of folk remedies and medications does not give an effect, and the temperature continues to rise, a combined injection of diphenhydramine and analgin (2 ml of each drug) can help, which is what emergency doctors often turn to. There are 2 more options for a lytic mixture that will help quickly bring down a persistent temperature:

• Analgin, No-Shpa, Suprastin
• Analgin, Papaverine, Diphenhydramine

All preparations are taken in ampoules in equal proportions (1 ml each). In this combination, they provide the fastest possible effect of temperature reduction, while they are not used separately for these purposes.

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Budget drugs for heat and fever

As we can see, there is no shortage of medications for treating fever in adults and children today. Previously, this was treated mainly with acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol in tablets. Now the choice of drugs has expanded, and such a convenient form of release for use in children and pregnant women as rectal suppositories has appeared.

Let's look at some of the most popular drugs based on paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid and ibuprofen: "Paracetamol", "Ibuprofen", "Kopacil", "Ibuclin".

"Paracetamol" is one of the most popular drugs used to reduce body temperature. Most of us are used to tablets with this name, convenient for treating adults, but in nature there are also children's forms of the drug. Although they are somewhat more expensive, they are still more convenient if you need to bring down the temperature of a small child who is unable to swallow a tablet. In addition, dosing such drugs is much more convenient than using tablets crushed into powder.

The tablets are intended for the treatment of patients from the age of 3, provided that they can swallow this form of release without chewing. A single dose of paracetamol for patients over 12 years old is 325-500 mg (no more than 1500 mg), the frequency of taking the medicine is 3-4 times a day.

Children over 9 years of age should take no more than 1500-2000 mg of paracetamol per day, 4 times a day, and children 3-6 years of age - no more than 1000-1500 mg (250-325 g per dose).

Take the tablets whole (or half a tablet) after meals with plenty of liquid.

"Paracetamol" in suspension form can be given to children from 1 month before meals in pure form, after which the child is given water. Newborns up to 3 months are given 2 ml of suspension per dose, babies up to one year - 2.5-5 ml. Children 1-6 years old should take 5-10 ml of the drug, and children up to 14 years - 10-20 ml.

The frequency of taking the medicine is prescribed by the doctor and does not depend on the child's age (3-4 times a day). But it should be taken into account that the maximum daily dose of the drug should not exceed 60 mg of paracetamol (2.5 ml of suspension) for each kilogram of the patient's body weight.

Paracetamol syrup is recommended for use from 3 months of age. The dosage of the drug is identical to the suspension. Patients over 12 years old can take the drug in a dosage of 20-40 ml. The frequency of administration remains the same.

Rectal suppositories, like the suspension, are approved for use from the second month of the baby's life. For children under 6 years old, a single dose is calculated as 15 mg of paracetamol for each kilogram of the child's weight. The daily dose should not exceed 60 mg per kg of weight.

For convenience, suppositories are available in different dosages: 80 (child weighing 4-6 kg), 170 (child weighing 8-12 kg) and 330 mg (for children weighing up to 24 kg).

Doctors do not recommend using suppositories if there are inflammatory diseases of the rectum. For other forms of the drug, the main contraindications are hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and severe kidney pathologies or liver disease with impaired organ functionality. The syrup and suspension additionally contain sugar, so it is undesirable to give them to children with diathesis and babies with a hereditary disorder of glucose metabolism.

The most common, although rare, side effects of the drug are considered to be allergic reactions of varying severity. Also possible: blood disorders, renal colic and inflammation of the glomerular system of the organ, the appearance of pus in the urine (pyuria), increased excitability or, conversely, drowsiness, nausea and pain in the epigastrium (for oral forms), slight depression of the heart.

"Ibuprofen" is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is in almost everyone's medicine cabinet, although mostly in tablet form. Given its multiple indications for use, it can be called a virtually universal budget drug.

At a temperature of 39-39.5 degrees, the drug is used for no more than 3 days. Patients over 6 years old are prescribed 1 tablet of the drug 2-3 times a day with an interval of 6 hours (no more than 3 tablets per day). Teenagers over 12 years old and adult patients can take the medicine with an interval of 4-5 hours. In this case, a single dose can be increased to 2 tablets, the daily dose - up to 6.

For children, the drug is available in the form of a suspension and suppositories. The suspension can be prescribed from 6 months, suppositories - from 3 months to 2 years.

Infants under one year of age are prescribed the suspension in a single dose of 2.5 ml, children under three years of age should be given 5 ml of the drug, under 6 years of age - 7.5 ml, under 9 years of age - 10 ml per dose. The medicine should be taken 3 times a day.

The dose for adolescents aged 9-12 years is 15 ml with the same frequency of administration and limiting the treatment of fever to 3 days.

Rectal suppositories "Ibuprofen" are prescribed to children under 9 months, one three times a day, and to older children - 4 times a day with an interval of at least 4-6 hours.

Ibuprofen preparations will have more contraindications than paracetamol. In addition to hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, these are gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases (especially for suppositories), some visual and hearing impairments, liver cirrhosis, liver and kidney dysfunction, aspirin asthma. As well as edema syndrome, potassium deficiency in the body, severe heart failure, any types of bleeding and blood clotting disorders.

The use of the drug may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn and other unpleasant reactions from the gastrointestinal tract. As well as headaches, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, drowsiness or increased excitability, kidney and heart problems, allergic and local reactions.

It must be said that despite the severity of some side effects of ibuprofen, taking the drug is very rarely accompanied by adverse reactions, which is why doctors love the drug.

"Kopacil" is a combination drug for reducing temperature in adult patients. It is produced in the form of tablets and contains 3 active substances: acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine with their inherent effects and contraindications.

The drug in the form of tablets to combat fever and fever should be taken after meals. A single dose for patients over 16 years old is 1 tablet. The frequency of administration is 2-3 times a day. The minimum interval between doses is 4 hours. The duration of treatment is no more than 3 days.

The drug should not be used in case of hypersensitivity to its components, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, blood clotting disorders, severe liver and kidney diseases, when organ functionality is significantly reduced. Contraindications also include severe heart failure and serious cardiovascular diseases, acute pancreatitis, prostatic hypertrophy, glaucoma, epilepsy, and alcohol abuse.

The side effects of the drug "Kopacil" correspond to drugs containing aspirin and paracetamol. This is irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, as a result of which ulcerative diseases of the stomach and intestines may worsen, increased attacks of bronchial asthma in asthmatics, a slight increase in blood pressure, increased pulse, increased activity of liver enzymes, decreased blood sugar, bleeding of various localizations due to decreased blood viscosity, sleep disorders, and the development of acute renal failure. Allergic reactions are also possible, including bronchospasm, Quincke's edema, anaphylaxis.

"Ibuclin" is a multicomponent drug based on two of the most effective and safe drugs at temperature: ibuprofen and paracetamol. The drug is available in tablet form, but has separate forms for adults and children. Children's tablets easily dissolve in water, forming a suspension, and attract children with fruit and berry flavors.

"Adult" tablets should be taken orally, without crushing, but with plenty of water. This should be done between meals, continuing treatment for no more than 3 days.

A single dose for patients over 12 years of age is 1 tablet containing 400 mg of ibuprofen and 325 mg of paracetamol. Adults can take no more than 3 tablets per day, adolescents - no more than 2.

The children's Ibuclin tablet (Ibuclin Junior) contains smaller doses of active ingredients: 100 mg of ibuprofen and 125 mg of paracetamol. This form is intended for treating a temperature of 38-39.5 degrees in children over two years of age. In this case, the tablets themselves must first be dissolved in 1 teaspoon of water (5 ml).

Babies aged 2-3 years can be given no more than 3 tablets, and children aged 4-5 years no more than 4 tablets per day. The maximum dosage for children aged 6-8 years is 6 tablets, and teenagers under 14 years can take up to 8 tablets per day. The daily dose should be divided into 3-4 doses, i.e. children aged 2-5 years should take 1 tablet per dose, and older children - 2 tablets.

Contraindications to taking the drug include hypersensitivity to any of its components, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer (especially in the acute stage or in the presence of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract), severe liver and kidney pathologies, bronchial asthma, recurrent nasal polyposis, optic nerve diseases, coagulation disorders and some other blood diseases. As well as glucose metabolism disorders, hyperkalemia, inflammatory bowel diseases, etc.

The drug has various side effects, but they develop relatively infrequently. Taking the pills may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations and pains in the gastrointestinal tract, headache, sleep and vision disorders, changes in blood composition, allergic reactions, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and edema, some decrease in sugar and hemoglobin in the blood. Liver and kidney dysfunctions are observed mainly with long-term use of the drug (more than 5 days, which are allowed for the treatment of pain syndrome).

All the above-described drugs are not prohibited during pregnancy, but they should be used especially carefully during this period, giving preference to single-component "Paracetamol" and "Ibuprofen" in minimally effective doses. The greatest caution should be observed in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.

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