Paracetamol is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). It is often classified as a NSAID, but paracetamol has few anti-inflammatory effects in many tissues. The main mechanism of action of paracetamol is considered to be inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, and recent findings suggest that it is highly selective for cyclooxygenase COX-2.