Antipyretic:
A drug that is used to treat
fever because of its ability to
lower body temperature that is elevated above the
normal.
Antipyretics relieve fever through their effects on the
temperature regulating center in the
hypothalamus of the
brain. Their actions cause
dilation of the blood vessels (capillary beds) in the skin, bringing
overheated blood to the surface for cooling; in addition, the
sweatglands are stimulated to provide copious perspiration that
cools the body further through
evaporation. An antipyretic drug may also be
analgesic (
acetominophen), or analgesic and
anti-inflammatory (
aspirin).
--From The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs