What term describes a medication that reduces fever?

The term that describes a medication that reduces fever is antipyretic. Antipyretics work by acting on the hypothalamus in the brain, which is responsible for regulating body temperature. When a person has a fever, the body's set point for temperature is elevated as part of the immune response. Antipyretic medications help lower this set point, effectively reducing the fever.

Common antipyretics include medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These medications not only alleviate fever but can also provide relief from discomfort associated with fever, providing symptomatic relief during illness.

In contrast, anti-inflammatory medications primarily work to reduce inflammation and can indirectly affect fever but are not specifically designed to target elevated body temperature. Analgesics are primarily pain relievers and do not focus on lowering a fever, although some analgesics, like acetaminophen, also possess antipyretic properties.