AN'TIPY'RINE (derivation same as of an tipyretics). An artificial alkaloid, having the composition C„H,,N,O. It is a white, crystalline powder, freely soluble in water and alcohol, and having a slightly bitter taste. It diminishes the force and frequency of the heart's action and low ers the arterial tension; reduces the frequency of respiration and the amount of carbonic acid given off, and diminishes the amount of urine, of urea, and of uric acid. The temperature of the body is diminished, partly on account of per spiration, but also from increased radiation of heat on account of dilatation of the superficial blood vessels, and perhaps also from lessened beat production. Antipyrine tends to allay nervous irritability and to relieve pain. It some times forms met-hamoglobulin in the blood.
T. As an antipyretic, it is prompt, and, as a rule, very efficient. The fall of temperature be gins in half an hour, usually reaches its lowest point in from two to five hours, and lasts from five to eight hours. The fall is usually through several degrees, and sometimes below normal. It is generally accompanied by sweating, and occa sionally by signs of heart failure.
2. As an analgesic. it is prompt and efficacious. It has proved of great value in all varieties of neuralgia, both superficial and visceral; in all forms of headache. and in dysmenorrhoea. It is, of course, more serviceable when these conditions are of functional origin and not organic.
3. ...1s an antiperiodie, it is of no value.
4. For rheumatism, it is frequently very use ful, resembling in its action salicylic acid. It lessens the severity of an attack by relieving pain and reducing temperature, but seems to have no influence in diminishing the liability to heart complications, and is probably not curative.
5. As a nervous sedatire, it is of some value in epilepsy. but of doubtful utility in chorea. in
whooping cough it often abates the frequency and severity of the paroxysms, but does not seem to shorten the course of the disease.
(1. an hypnotic, it seems to be of sonic. use, inducing sleep by removing the pain or fever which prevents it.
7. As a it is efficient locally in powder or solution.
8. For the 'morphine habit, it is used as a sub stitute for morphine, by mouth or hypodermi cally, but is of doubtful value.
'Antipyrine frequently produces untoward symptoms. These may be grouped under: ( I.) Circulatory. Cyanosis, frequent and feeble heart action, dyspncea, sometimes collapse, occur not uncommonly. Serious symptoms have he pro duced by ten or fifteen grains, and even death has been caused. This must be remembered especially in cases where the natural tendency of the disease is toward heart weakness. In these eases it is very advisable to give sonic stimulant with the anti pyrine. If it has to be given frequently, great • care most he used, as a cumulative action has been noticed in several cases. The dose which is at first safe may become poisonous if repeated several times in a day. individual susceptibility varies greatly. (2.) Cutaneous. Among the rashes noticed are some which resemble measles, scarlatina, urtiearia, erythema, and pnrpura. These are unpleasant, hut not serious. (3.) Ncrrous. These include various paresthesire, vesical spasms and cramps, but are usually not serious.
It may be given by mouth in powder, or dis solved in water or an alcoholic beverage. The dose depends upon individual susceptibility. It is also administered hypodermatieully. See ACE TANILID ; PIIENACETIN.