Tempalgin

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Tempalgin

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Tempalgin

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Sodium Metamizole, Triacetonamino-4-toluenesulfonate (Tempidone)
Form Oral tablets (Coated tablets)
Pharmacological class Non-narcotic analgesic, Antipyretic, Spasmolytic
Common use Pain relief, Fever reduction, Tension alleviation
Origin Synthetic combination product

What Type of Medicine is Tempalgin?

Tempalgin is a synthetic combination preparation classified primarily as a non-narcotic analgesic, antipyretic, and spasmolytic. It is typically administered in an oral dosage form as coated tablets. The principal component, Sodium Metamizole, is a Pyrazolone derivative that functions to address pain and elevated body temperature. This formulation is distinctive because it combines a potent analgesic with a mild anxiolytic agent, a feature not present in standard single-ingredient pain relievers. This combination is identified under the code N02BB52 (Metamizole, combinations excl. psycholeptics), defining its identity in relation to other pain and fever medicines.

Active Composition and Dual Therapeutic Purpose

The comprehensive effect of Tempalgin is generated by its two active ingredients: Sodium Metamizole and Triacetonamino-4-toluenesulfonate (often referenced as Tempidone). The general therapeutic purpose is to offer relief that addresses both the physical source of discomfort and the associated nervous response. Sodium Metamizole provides the primary, recognized effects of pain relief (analgesic) and fever reduction (antipyretic). Metamizole is utilized for the management of acute pain across various origins.

In parallel, Triacetonamino-4-toluenesulfonate contributes a mild spasmolytic (muscle-relaxing) action. This secondary component helps modulate central nervous excitability, aiming to alleviate tension and restlessness often accompanying acute pain. This makes Tempalgin particularly suited for scenarios where pain is linked to muscular stiffness or elevated stress. The combination creates a synergistic profile, ensuring the drug’s dual action targets the pain signal itself and the body's physical and emotional reaction to it.

What side effects are possible with Tempalgin?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The official safety documentation for this medicine, which contains Metamizole, primarily details the risks based on classifications established by regulatory authorities. Adverse effects are organized by System-Organ Class (SOC) and documented by frequency of occurrence.

Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

The most clinically significant safety concerns are classified as rare or very rare. Serious, potentially life-threatening reactions are noted in regulatory labels, including agranulocytosis (a severe reduction in white blood cells), aplastic anemia, and severe anaphylactic or hypersensitivity reactions. Reactions affecting the blood and lymphatic system, as well as severe cutaneous adverse reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, are explicitly listed as major safety considerations.

Less severe but officially documented effects may involve the Gastrointestinal System (e.g., nausea, vomiting), Renal and Urinary System, and Vascular System (e.g., transient hypotension).

Official Safety Constraints and Patterns

The regulatory profile highlights that the risk of agranulocytosis is not related to the dose and can occur at any time during treatment or shortly after cessation. This serious risk is unpredictable by duration of use. Drug-induced liver injury is also documented and may manifest from a few days up to several months after starting the medicine.

Specific usage is constrained for certain patient groups. The medicine is officially contraindicated during the third trimester of pregnancy and typically in pediatric patients under 15 years old. Use is also restricted in individuals with severe pre-existing blood diseases, impaired bone marrow function, or severe hepatic impairment, as defined in the official prescribing information.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The official overdose profile for Tempalgin (Sodium Metamizole) is defined by the potential for acute systemic toxicity and the requirement for immediate medical intervention.


Documented Overdose Manifestations

System Affected Officially Documented Signs
Gastrointestinal Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain
CNS Somnolence, Vertigo, Spasms (Convulsions)
Renal/Urinary Oliguria, Anuria (severe reduction or cessation of urine output)

Severe Outcomes and Emergency Actions

Regulators document that severe overdose may lead to life-threatening complications, including severe hypotension, cardiovascular shock, acute renal failure, and acute liver impairment.

Immediate medical attention is required upon any suspicion of overdose or if severe symptoms of systemic distress occur. Furthermore, urgent medical assistance is mandated if signs suggestive of agranulocytosis develop (such as unexplained fever, chills, sore throat, or painful mucosal lesions).

No specific antidote is known for Metamizole overdose. Management focuses on symptomatic and supportive treatment, including procedures to limit drug absorption, such as gastric decontamination or activated charcoal, and in severe cases, methods to accelerate elimination, such as haemodialysis.

Therapeutic Uses of Tempalgin

What Tempalgin Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Tempalgin is commonly used across conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms, particularly those involving acute discomfort and fever. Such preparations are utilized in therapeutic areas involving moderate to severe pain and fever. This medication is applied across therapeutic domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, such as in managing headache, toothache, general muscular pain (myalgia), and colic (e.g., renal or biliary).

It is relevant in contexts marked by increased discomfort or tension, and often used during phases when symptoms become more noticeable. It helps address symptom clusters that may become intense or disruptive, offering symptomatic relief to help patients cope more steadily with difficult episodes. The medication may assist with maintaining functional stability when symptoms interfere with routine activities, supporting patients during episodes of heightened discomfort including post-procedural recovery.

Quick Fact: Relief for Pain and Fever
Symptom Domains Mild to moderate pain, elevated body temperature, spasm-related discomfort.
Common Scenarios Acute episodes, post-traumatic discomfort, post-dental procedures.
Primary Benefit Is used to address the overall symptom burden.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who can and cannot use Tempalgin — official regulatory information

The regulatory profile for Tempalgin (Metamizole/Tempidone) establishes that its primary approved population includes adults and adolescents 15 years of age. Use in other groups is either restricted or absolutely prohibited due to specific risks associated with the Metamizole component.

Eligibility Status Defined Populations and Conditions
Contraindicated Patients with a history of agranulocytosis due to Metamizole or related medicines, or with impaired bone marrow function. Absolute prohibition in the third trimester of pregnancy. Contraindicated in patients with acute hepatic porphyria, congenital G6PD deficiency, and severe renal or hepatic impairment. Hypersensitivity to ingredients or related pyrazolone drugs is also a contraindication.
Use Restricted Pregnant patients in the first six months are generally advised against use, though single doses may be considered if no alternative exists. Lactating women must discard breast milk for 48 hours following a single administration. Elderly patients and those with renal or hepatic impairment require conditional use, often involving a recommended reduction in dose.

Connection to the overall eligibility profile

Official documents define eligibility by establishing the standard adult-age use and imposing absolute exclusions on populations where the haematological and circulatory risks are highest, such as in cases of blood cell disorders or late-stage pregnancy. Restrictions further delineate conditional use or dose modifications for populations with reduced drug elimination capacity.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Tempalgin's interaction profile, primarily linked to its active ingredient Metamizole, is officially documented by government regulatory authorities, focusing on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic constraints. These official statements govern combinations with other medicinal products.

Officially Documented Interaction Constraints

Classification Constraint / Requirement
Prohibited/Avoidance Advised Co-administration is restricted with other medicinal products known to cause agranulocytosis or myelosuppression, due to the documented additive risk of serious blood dyscrasias.
Pharmacodynamic Interference Co-administration interferes with the antiplatelet effect of low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for cardiovascular use. To manage this, the regulatory profile includes a timing separation rule.
Pharmacokinetic Effect Metamizole is documented as an enzyme inducer (e.g., CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C19), a mechanism that leads to reduced plasma concentrations (decreased exposure) of co-administered drugs that are sensitive substrates.

Medicines Subject to Exposure Reduction

Metamizole's induction activity causes the plasma levels of several specific medicines to fall, as stated in regulatory documents. These include Bupropion, Ciclosporin, Tacrolimus, Efavirenz, Methadone, Sertraline, and Valproate.

The antiplatelet interference with ASA requires that ASA must be administered at least 30 minutes before Metamizole. Separately, an official caution exists regarding the risk of severe hypothermia when co-administered with Chlorpromazine.

Mechanism of Action

Tempalgin's action is achieved through a dual-component mechanism involving central antinociception and modulation of nervous system signaling. .

Central Modulation of Pain and Temperature Signaling

This primary domain describes Metamizole's central action: the inhibition of the Cyclooxygenase-3 ( COX-3) enzyme primarily expressed in the CNS. This inhibition reduces Prostaglandin E2 ( PGE2) synthesis in the hypothalamus, which leads to a reset of the body's thermoregulatory set-point and the inhibition of central nociceptive signaling. This molecular process modifies early steps that shape the systemic physiological consequences.


Activation of the Body's Endogenous Pain Systems

Metamizole's active metabolites engage and boost the body's natural pain-blocking systems, acting as indirect agonists at Cannabinoid Receptors ( CB1) and modulating the kappa-opioid system. This mechanism activates the descending antinociceptive pathway, initiating a signaling sequence that inhibits the transmission of nociceptive signals at the spinal cord level.


Synergy through Central Modulations and Smooth Muscle Relaxation

The compound Tempidone contributes to the drug's action by functioning as a central modulator of nervous excitability. Concurrently, Metamizole causes smooth muscle relaxation (spasmolysis) by modulating ion channels, like the ATP-sensitive potassium channels, thereby establishing a physiological effect of decreased muscle tone and excitability.

Dosage and Administration Information

This section describes the parameters for the administration and dosing of Tempalgin, a combination product containing Metamizole and Tempidone.


Administration Scope

Feature Detail
Route of administration Oral
Dosing schedule Usual dose: 1 tablet. Maximum Daily Dose (Adults 15 years and older): 4 tablets (2000 mg Metamizole equivalent). The maximum single dose is 1 tablet.
Timing in relation to meals (if applicable) Preferably taken after meals.
Preparation requirements (if applicable) Tablets must be swallowed whole with sufficient water.
Age-group administration rules Adolescents (over 15 years): A typical starting dose is 1 tablet daily, with a maximum daily dose of 2 tablets (1000 mg Metamizole equivalent). Older Adults/Impaired Function: Dosage adjustments are utilized for older or debilitated patients and those with renal or hepatic impairment due to prolonged metabolite elimination.
Missed-dose rules Administration is generally on an as-needed basis for symptoms, not requiring a strict daily cycle.
Special procedural conditions The total quantity administered over 24 hours does not exceed 4 tablets. Use is generally limited to short-term courses, typically 3 to 5 days.

Instruction Classifications (High-Level)

Classification Detail
Administration method type Oral
Frequency pattern As-needed (1 to 3 times daily)
Use-context constraints Duration-limited symptomatic use.

Resulting Procedural Structure

Step sequence:

  • Take 1 film-coated tablet with a sufficient amount of water.
  • Repeat the single dose only as needed, up to a maximum frequency of 3 times per day.
  • Do not exceed the absolute maximum daily dose of 4 tablets.

Connection to the overall use protocol: Tempalgin is an oral medication intended for short-term, acute usage on an as-needed basis. The protocol is defined by specific maximum single and daily doses to maintain controlled exposure levels. Furthermore, the application of adjusted dosing for specific populations integrates patient physiological status into the administration principles.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of studies for Tempalgin

The research base for Tempalgin is primarily derived from clinical investigations into its main active component, Sodium Metamizole, and specific trials that research has explored the combination product that includes Triacetonamino-4-toluenesulfonate (Tempidone). The evidence helps contextualize what has been observed regarding the medicine's role in managing acute symptom patterns.


Evidence for Acute Pain and Fever Management

This section summarizes the body of research, including Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Meta-analyses, that describes research into the Metamizole component concerning short-term pain intensity and elevated body temperature.

The research examined Metamizole in numerous Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), where its short-term effects was studied for comparison against a placebo or other active treatments. These studies were applied in research contexts involving short-term or episodic symptom patterns for adult patients experiencing acute pain associated with conditions such as headache, toothache, muscle pain ( myalgia), or colic. The research also monitored changes in body temperature to assess physiological strain in patient populations presenting with fever. Findings describe patterns observed in these studies where the research monitored outcomes related to pain and fever. The evidence base for short-term outcomes is categorized by regulators and reviews as High.


Evidence for Pain Accompanied by Tension and Spasm

This part will focus on the research structure concerning the combination product, outlining how clinical trials examined the secondary component, Tempidone, in relation to pain associated with nervous tension and stiffness.

The combination product was evaluated in Clinical Trials involving adult patients whose acute pain was observed in association with nervous tension or muscular stiffness. These studies monitored outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance and tension. Findings describe patterns related to the presence of the Tempidone component when monitored alongside outcomes related to tension.

However, the evidence level for the specific contribution of the combination’s dual action appears to be Moderate. Limited comparative evidence is lacking from large-scale published trials that rigorously isolates and quantifies the symptomatic patterns of the Triacetonamino-4-toluenesulfonate component when specifically added to Metamizole.

Key Studies & References Metamizole in the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders: Current Concept Review

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Tempalgin (FAQ)

Q: What is Tempalgin primarily used for?

Tempalgin is indicated for the relief of mild to moderate pain and for the management of high fever when other treatments are not suitable or have been ineffective. Its use is generally intended for short-term management.


Q: How should I store Tempalgin?

It is generally recommended to store Tempalgin at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture. Keep the medication in its original container, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Check the product label for specific storage instructions.


Q: Can Tempalgin be taken with other pain relievers?

Patients should consult a healthcare provider before combining Tempalgin with any other pain relievers or medications. Taking multiple pain medications at the same time may increase the risk of side effects or interaction, particularly if they contain similar active ingredients. Professional guidance is necessary to manage potential interactions.


Q: What are some important warnings related to Tempalgin use?

Important warnings often focus on the potential for serious blood disorders, such as agranulocytosis, which is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect. Patients are typically advised to stop treatment and seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs of infection, fever, sore throat, or mouth ulcers. The medication should also be used with caution in individuals with certain liver or kidney conditions, or a history of specific allergies. Official regulatory information should always be reviewed for a complete list of warnings.


Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of Tempalgin?

If a dose of Tempalgin is missed, patients should take it as soon as they remember, unless it is nearly time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, the missed dose should be skipped, and the patient should continue with their regular dosing schedule. Double doses should be avoided. Patients should seek advice from their healthcare provider regarding the management of missed doses.

How should Tempalgin be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Tempalgin

To ensure the stability and quality of Tempalgin tablets (metamizole sodium and triacetonamine-4-toluenesulfonate), specific regulatory storage conditions must be followed.

Storage Requirements

Condition Requirement
Temperature Store below 25 °C.
Protection Protect from light and moisture.
Container Keep in the original container/package.
Child Safety Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Tempalgin must be handled as pharmaceutical waste. Disposal should not occur via wastewater or general household trash. The product must be discarded according to local requirements for unused medicines to prevent environmental contamination.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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