Eli5 Why does pain relief medication (acetaminophen,Ibuprofen) also lower fevers?

Question

It’s surprising to me that a single compound would effect two systems that on the surface seem very different to me. And it happens two different compounds no less.

In: 6

Answer 1

There’s a group of chemicals called prostaglandins, that are sort of like hormones in that they send messages around the body. In particular, they can provoke fever and inflammation. Most NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins, so they also inhibit fevers and inflammation. Prostaglandins don’t directly create pain, but they kind of add to pain by virtue of inflammation.