Colorado Tick Fever Medication

Updated: Apr 26, 2022
  • Author: Nicholas Dulin, MD; Chief Editor: Jeter (Jay) Pritchard Taylor, III, MD  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

No specific treatment exists for Colorado tick fever. Regular use of antipyretics provides symptomatic relief. Although ribavirin has shown some activity against the causative viral pathogen in animal experiments, there are no human data to support its use in this setting.

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Analgesics, Other

Class Summary

Treatment of Colorado tick disease is symptomatic and supportive. Bed rest and mild analgesic-antipyretic therapy often helps relieve the associated lethargy, malaise, and fever.

Aspirin (Bayer Aspirin, Ecotrin, Aspercin, Ascriptin, Bufferin)

Aspirin lowers elevated body temperature by dilating peripheral vessels, enhancing the dissipation of excess heat. It also acts on the heat-regulating center of the hypothalamus to reduce fever.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, NeoProfen, Caldolor, Ultraprin)

Ibuprofen is one of the few nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) indicated for reduction of fever.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, APAP 500, Mapap, FeverAll)

Acetaminophen reduces fever by acting directly on hypothalamic heat-regulating centers, thereby bringing about increased dissipation of body heat with vasodilation and sweating.

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