Fevers can be scary. But there are several things you can do to safely manage your fever at home and help make you more comfortable. Fluids: Drinking plenty of water can not only prevent dehydration but can also help lower your body temperature. Rest: Your body is working on overdrive to fight off infection. Be sure to get plenty of sleep so you can help your body recover. Light foods: Eat foods that are easy to digest, like crackers and soup. Avoid dairy products like milk and cheese. Cool compress: Apply a damp washcloth to your forehead to help lower your temperature. Over-the-counter (OTC) fever reducers: OTC pain relievers/fever reducers can lower your temperature and help relieve head and body aches. Common OTC pain relievers/fever reducers are acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in TYLENOL, while NSAIDs include aspirin (for example, Bayer), ibuprofen (for example, Advil and MOTRIN IB), and naproxen sodium (for example, Aleve). OTC medicines are safe and effective when used as directed, but they must be used safely in order to avoid harm. Safely treating with OTCs If you are treating your symptoms with an OTC pain reliever/fever reducer, there are important safety considerations: Read the Drug Facts label Every time you take a medicine, make sure you read the Drug Facts label. OTC pain relievers/fever reducers have differences that could matter to your health–including their ingredients, warnings, and directions–which can all be found on the Drug Facts label. This is important, because with certain pain/fever medicines, your age, health conditions, and other medications you are taking may increase your risk of side effects. Make the right choice for you. Take the right amount at the right time With all medicines, it is important to know: How much medicine to take (also known as the dose) When to take it, and Any health warnings associated with the medicine. Taking too much of a medicine or taking another dose too soon can cause harm. You should never exceed the maximum daily limit of any medicine. For example, severe liver damage can occur if you take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours—this is the max daily dose of acetaminophen. Taking more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours can cause acetaminophen overdose. With NSAIDs, you should take the smallest effective dose, and take it for the shortest amount of time needed. For more information on adult dosing, see acetaminophen dosing here and NSAIDs dosing here. These dosing charts will help you understand how often you can take TYLENOL, as well as MOTRIN IB, Advil, or Aleve.­­ For dosing information for children and infants, see acetaminophen dosing here and ibuprofen dosing here. Take only ONE active ingredient at a time It is very important that you know the active ingredients in your medicines. Many medicines contain the same active ingredients. For example, more than 500 OTC and prescription medicines contain acetaminophen, and many of these products are for cold and flu. If you are taking a cold medicine that contains acetaminophen, you should not also take another medicine that contains acetaminophen. Taking too much can harm your liver. See more examples of these medicines here. Concerns about ibuprofen You may have seen or heard of concerns about ibuprofen and COVID-19. To date, we have not seen any scientifically reliable data to support an association between the use of ibuprofen and worsened outcomes from COVID-19. Each person should speak to their healthcare professional about what treatment option may be right for them for their individual condition or needs. And as always, read and follow the Drug Facts label to ensure you are using the medicine correctly.