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From: uribe@muddcs.UUCP (Lydia Uribe)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Aspirin vs. Tylenol
Message-ID: <346@muddcs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 25-Jan-86 02:48:10 EST
Article-I.D.: muddcs.346
Posted: Sat Jan 25 02:48:10 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 28-Jan-86 00:02:06 EST
References: <2208@aecom.UUCP>
Reply-To: uribe@muddcs.UUCP (Lydia Uribe)
Distribution: na
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA
Lines: 31
Summary: Tylenol *is* an effective antipyretic

In article <2208@aecom.UUCP> werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) writes:
>
>	Tylenol (Acetominophen) is purely an analgesic without anti-inflam
>or anti-pyretic effects.  It has the advantage, however, of having less
>short-term side effects, so is better tolerated.  Moreover, it is the belief
>of the author that a large portion of its success is due to the fact that
>most people don't have about the objective relief of signs, as long as the
>pain/discomfort goes away.
>
Acetaminophen is indeed an effective antipyretic, of equal efficacy with
aspirin.
>
>The mechanism of Aspirin:
>         Moreover, both Leukotrienes and Prostaglandins are mediators of
>inflammation, and both (but particularly PG-E2) have something to do with
>fever.
>
Prostaglandin-E is produced as a response to endogenous pyrogen and causes
the hypothalamus to increase the body's temperature set point, resulting in 
fever.  Aspirin and acetaminophen block this prostaglandin synthesis, causing
the hypothalamus to re-establish the normal set point; they also cause 
increased heat dissipation (by cutaneous vasodilatation and increased 
sweating).
>
>				Craig Werner

(Reference:  American Pharmaceutical Association, _Handbook of Nonprescription
  Drugs_, 7th edition, Chapter 11)

                                     Lydia Uribe
                                     ...scgvaxd!muddcs!uribe