Which term describes medications that lower body temperature?

• A. Antipyretic
• B. Decongestant
• C. Mucolytic
• D. Antihistamine

Answer: (A)

Antipyretics are drugs used to reduce fever. Fever is caused by the hypothalamus raising the body’s temperature set point in response to pyrogens, which increases prostaglandin E2 production. Antipyretics inhibit the cyclooxygenase enzymes in the brain, lowering PGE2 and returning the set point to normal. As a result, the body expends heat through vasodilation and sweating, which lowers the actual temperature. Examples include acetaminophen and NSAIDs. The other drugs listed have different primary actions—decongestants relieve nasal stuffiness by vasoconstriction, mucolytics thin mucus, and antihistamines block histamine receptors to treat allergic symptoms—so they don’t primarily lower body temperature.