Paracetamol : mode of action

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Does anyone know how does paracetamol work as an antipyretic?

Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

Hi,

To understand paracetamols mode of action, we need to know the underlying

mechanism behind fever:

Infection or inflammation activates body's immune mechanism- Macrophages-these

macrophages release Endogenous pyrogens which along with Prostaglandins(also

released during infection/infammation) activates the Hypothalamic

thermoregulatory center and increase the 'thermostat point' making the body

respond as it would to a 'cold stimuli'. In other words it causes an increase in

heat production by the body, which we call as fever.

Paracetamol inhibits these prostaglandins and endogenous pyrogens hence acting

as antipyretics..

Also remember that paracetamol has a preferential COX 2 action, hence the action

is more central(brain) and effective at inhibiting the PGs in the CNS.

Hope this helps,

Regards

Smriti

>

> Hi,

>

> Does anyone know how does paracetamol work as an antipyretic?

>

> Thanks

>

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

[Guest guest]

It def helps :)Many thanks Simitri. Sent from my iPhoneOn 2 Jun 2012, at 18:56, "doc_smriti" <doc_smriti@...> wrote:

Hi,

To understand paracetamols mode of action, we need to know the underlying mechanism behind fever:

Infection or inflammation activates body's immune mechanism- Macrophages-these macrophages release Endogenous pyrogens which along with Prostaglandins(also released during infection/infammation) activates the Hypothalamic thermoregulatory center and increase the 'thermostat point' making the body respond as it would to a 'cold stimuli'. In other words it causes an increase in heat production by the body, which we call as fever.

Paracetamol inhibits these prostaglandins and endogenous pyrogens hence acting as antipyretics..

Also remember that paracetamol has a preferential COX 2 action, hence the action is more central(brain) and effective at inhibiting the PGs in the CNS.

Hope this helps,

Regards

Smriti

>

> Hi,

>

> Does anyone know how does paracetamol work as an antipyretic?

>

> Thanks

>

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

=