Everything About The Most Common Fever Meds

Men, you know about fever meds! Most of them are also NSAIDs or pain relievers. You'll need to take one when your temperature is 102°F or higher. That said, your doc may recommend taking a fever med if your temperature is over 100.4°F and it's uncomfortable or other treatments haven't worked out. You'll want to talk about everything, including which med to take, with your doc when you've got existing health conditions.

Men, you need fever relief! Many of you will be good with natural remedies for fevers. What a huge, huge win! That said, not all of you can work with only natural fever reducers. Sad. That's when you'll need a prescription or OTC fever medication! Obviously, you've got to know about the common options to make sure you choose the best one.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen's a common fever med, men! You'll get it as a liquid or tablet. Men, you even get to choose when you want a tablet that releases immediately or over time. Hold your horses, though. This med's got some side effects! So many, so many men get dark pee, clay-colored poo, nausea, headaches, itching, and appetite loss on this med. So many! Liver damage is another side effect. Men, you've got to talk to your doc before taking this when you have liver problems already! Even when you don't, you still need to know the signs of liver damage. Men, you know what's coming: bad, bad itching and jaundice! Call your doc when either one appears.

Men, you've got some med interactions with acetaminophen too. They'll happen with sulfa drugs, cancer meds, and meds for gout. Talk to your doc about everything you take. They're your backup to avoid these interactions!

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen's amazing for kicking your fever to the curb! Men, it'll also get rid of inflammation. Most of the time, you need 200 mg every 4 to 6 hours. That said, men, some of you need something stronger! That's when you can take 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours. Just never go over 1,200 mg in a day unless your doc gives you specific instructions to do it!

Men, you know about the side effects. They happen on this med too! Expect a higher risk of stroke or a heart attack on this med. It's even higher when you've already got heart disease, are taking high doses, or are on this med for a long time. Men, when you're a senior, this med increases your risk of stomach bleeding. Many, many men also deal with headaches, ringing in their ears, dizziness, heartburn, and nervousness on this med. Upset stomach is a huge, huge side effect. Taking ibuprofen with food or milk helps so much, you know know that! Everyone does. Men, ask your doc about this med first when you have things like high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, and liver or kidney disease. They'll keep you safe!

Acetylsalicylic Acid

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is so, so powerful. Men, this one's an NSAID too. It'll also tackle your fever so well. So well! You need 325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours for a fever! There are side effects on this one too. You know what to expect! Men, the most common are ringing in your ears, cramps, dizziness, and nausea. Less common ones are things like stomach bleeding and ulcers. Many, many men know the signs of stomach bleeding! They're weakness, feeling dizzy when standing, and tarry poo. Get fast medical attention for these signs!

Listen up. Men, you can't take this med when you've got gout! You know why: it increases your uric acid. When you have diabetes, you have to keep a close eye when you take this med. Yes, a very close eye! It makes your risk of low blood sugar a lot higher when you're on diabetes meds. A lot higher! Men, talk to your doc about this med. They'll let you know what you need to do to be safe.

Diclofenac

You're ready for diclofenac. Of course you are! Men, this one's a prescription anti-inflammatory. It'll handle migraines and arthritis a lot, and yes, it tackles fevers too! That said, there are some huge, huge side effects. Expect upset stomach, constipation, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, and heartburn. Drowsiness is a big one too. So big! The rare side effects are ones that indicate heart failure. Men, you know them: fatigue, feet swelling, and fast weight gain. Call your doc right away if any of them appear. Yes, any of them! Do it for ringing in your ears too.

Men, this med means higher blood pressure for many of you. Yes, for so many of you! That's why you've got to keep a close eye on your blood pressure when you take it. Check it regularly! Tell your doc if you see it get any higher. Of course, you can't take this med when you've already got high blood pressure. It's also not right when you have stomach ulcers, heart disease, stomach bleeding, or asthma. Tell your doc before you take this when you deal with liver disease, kidney disease, or use tobacco.

Naproxen

Naproxen's going to be very, very good for your fever. The best, even! It's an NSAID, men, and you can get it as an OTC med or with a prescription. You're limited to 2 doses a day. You can only take more when your doc says so! Men, make sure you've got a full glass of water with this one. And yes, you know to avoid lying down for 10 minutes after taking it. Men, don't let an upset stomach get the best of you on this med. You've got the power to stop it by eating a little food with this one too! Antacids also help a bit.

Get ready for some other side effects, though. Men, you'll see things like dizziness, heartburn, drowsiness, and headaches. Let your doc know if they get worse or don't go away in a few days. The less common effects need a faster call. These less common ones are easy bruising, painful swallowing, stiff neck, pee output changes, and mood shifts, among others. Men, keep your guard up for med interactions too! This one interacts with ACE inhibitors, diuretics, corticosteroids, and lithium too. Let your doc know about your current meds before adding this one! They'll let you know when you need something else or when a different dose will do. Win.