Today, fever reducers come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, drops, suppositories, and even patches that can lower fever with a single application. However, their active ingredients almost all belong to one class: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and indomethacin. Moreover, they share a common characteristic: "three fears" when used.
First, the fear of duplicate medication. Everyone knows that larger doses of medication increase the risk of liver and kidney damage, but they might overlook that taking similar drugs together can also increase the risk of adverse reactions. Drugs like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin have similar chemical structures. Taking two of them at the same time is equivalent to doubling the dose of one fever reducer, which can easily lead to problems. Furthermore, there are dozens of medications on the market with these ingredients, so when choosing a medicine, it is crucial to avoid mixing products containing these drugs. It is best to use only one type of fever reducer and to take it for a maximum of 3 consecutive days. Many elderly people take aspirin long-term to prevent coronary heart disease; they must consult a doctor before taking other fever reducers, otherwise, they may harm their kidneys.
Second, the fear of alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption harms the liver, and fever reducers can also harm the liver. The combination will definitely increase the burden on the liver. At the same time, the gastric mucosa can be directly damaged, potentially leading to serious gastrointestinal adverse reactions such as gastric bleeding and ulcers. A special reminder for patients with chronic pain: never take antipyretic and analgesic drugs when drinking medicinal wine.
Third, the fear of coffee. Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine found that if patients drink several cups of coffee before taking paracetamol, it can significantly increase the drug's damaging effect on the liver. Studies have shown that the caffeine in coffee can triple the toxicity of the harmful metabolite produced by paracetamol in the liver—"N-acetylbenzoquinone"—thereby amplifying the damage to the liver. Jiang Yuli, Chief Pharmacist of the Department of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital.