What is Analgin Used For?: A Comprehensive Guide to its Uses and Risks

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

First marketed in Germany in 1922, Analgin—known internationally as metamizole or dipyrone—has a long history as a potent pain reliever and fever reducer. While it was once widely available, restrictions or outright bans are now in place in many countries due to concerns over serious, though rare, side effects like agranulocytosis. This variation makes understanding what is Analgin used for crucial for anyone encountering it abroad.

Quick Summary

Analgin, also known as metamizole, is a potent analgesic, antipyretic, and antispasmodic medication for moderate-to-severe pain, fever, and muscle spasms. Its legal status is highly varied globally due to potential severe adverse effects, notably agranulocytosis.

Key Points

Active Ingredient: Analgin's active ingredient is metamizole, also known as dipyrone.
Primary Uses: It is used for treating moderate-to-severe pain, high fever unresponsive to other treatments, and pain from muscle spasms (colic).
Global Availability: The drug is banned in several countries (e.g., USA, UK, Canada) but remains widely used in others (e.g., Germany, Russia, Mexico, Brazil).
Serious Side Effect: The primary reason for its restricted use is the rare but potentially fatal risk of agranulocytosis, a severe reduction in white blood cells.
Mechanism: Analgin works as an analgesic, antipyretic, and antispasmodic by affecting pain pathways and inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Not a Typical NSAID: While often categorized with NSAIDs, metamizole's mechanism and effects differ significantly, with minimal anti-inflammatory action at clinical doses.
Medical Supervision: Due to serious risks, long-term use requires careful medical supervision and monitoring of blood cell counts, and liver and kidney function.

What is Analgin (Metamizole)?

Analgin is a brand name for the pharmaceutical drug metamizole sodium, a pyrazolone derivative with potent analgesic, antipyretic, and antispasmodic properties. It is used for moderate to severe pain and high fever that has not responded to other treatments. While it is widely available and popular in many parts of the world, including Germany, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Asia, its use is banned or severely restricted in other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Primary Uses and Indications for Analgin

Analgin’s strong and fast-acting therapeutic effects make it a valuable option in regions where it is approved. It is primarily prescribed for a range of pain and fever conditions:

Severe Pain: Analgin is used to manage severe pain after surgery or diagnostic procedures. It is also indicated for chronic pain conditions, including those related to cancer.
High Fever: It is effective in reducing high fever associated with acute infectious diseases, especially when other antipyretics have been unsuccessful.
Spasmodic Pain: The drug’s potent antispasmodic effect is useful for pain caused by spasms in smooth muscles. This includes colic affecting the renal, hepatic (biliary), and intestinal tracts.
General Pain and Inflammation: It can treat pain and associated inflammation in various conditions, including headaches, migraines, toothaches, neuralgia, myalgia, and painful periods (dysmenorrhea).
Inflammatory Diseases: In some cases, it may be used for painful inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or rheumatism.

Mechanism of Action

Analgin’s mechanism is complex and not fully understood, but it is known to act on multiple pathways to produce its effects.

Analgesic Effect: It inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, particularly COX-3 in the central nervous system, which blocks the synthesis of prostaglandins involved in pain and inflammation. It also affects the central nervous system by interfering with the transmission of pain impulses.
Antipyretic Effect: By targeting the thermoregulation center in the hypothalamus, it increases heat dissipation from the body, thus lowering fever.
Antispasmodic Effect: Analgin relaxes the smooth muscles in organs like the bile ducts, urinary tract, and intestines, which helps relieve pain caused by spasms.

Unlike traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, it has minimal anti-inflammatory action at standard clinical doses and does not typically cause the gastrointestinal side effects associated with NSAIDs.

Comparison Table: Analgin vs. Common Analgesics


Feature	Analgin (Metamizole)	Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)	Ibuprofen (NSAID)
Pain Relief	Potent analgesic for moderate to severe pain.	Effective for mild to moderate pain.	Effective for mild to moderate pain.
Fever Reduction	Very effective antipyretic.	Effective antipyretic.	Effective antipyretic.
Anti-Inflammatory	Minimal effect at clinical doses.	Minimal anti-inflammatory effect.	Significant anti-inflammatory effect.
Mechanism	Unique mechanism; inhibits COX and affects CNS pathways.	Primarily centrally acting, inhibits COX enzymes.	Inhibits COX enzymes peripherally, strong anti-inflammatory.
Key Risks	Agranulocytosis (rare but serious), liver injury, severe skin reactions.	Liver damage with overdose.	Gastric bleeding, kidney problems, cardiovascular risk.
Global Status	Restricted or banned in many Western countries due to agranulocytosis risk.	Widely available globally.	Widely available globally.

Important Safety Concerns

While effective, the main reason for Analgin's restricted use is the risk of severe adverse effects. The most serious of these is agranulocytosis, a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by a severe drop in white blood cell count.

Key risks include:

Agranulocytosis: This blood disorder can occur suddenly, severely compromising the immune system and increasing the risk of fatal infections. The risk is unpredictable, not dose-dependent, and has led to the drug's ban in many countries.
Liver Injury: Cases of clinically apparent liver injury, including acute liver failure, have been reported.
Severe Skin Reactions: Rare but potentially fatal skin conditions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, can occur.
Hypotension: Analgin can cause a significant drop in blood pressure, especially when administered intravenously.

Because of these risks, Analgin should only be used under strict medical supervision and only for short-term treatment in regions where it is permitted. Prolonged use requires regular monitoring of blood components, liver, and kidney function.

Conclusion

Analgin, or metamizole, is a powerful and effective medication for treating moderate-to-severe pain, fever, and muscle spasms in countries where it remains available. Its unique mechanism of action and efficacy have made it a popular choice for conditions like post-operative pain and colic. However, the significant and potentially fatal risk of agranulocytosis, alongside other serious adverse effects, means its use is restricted or banned in many parts of the world. Patients should always follow local regulations and consult with a healthcare professional before use, especially when traveling, to understand the risks and determine if suitable alternatives exist. For more information, the European Medicines Agency has conducted extensive reviews on metamizole's benefit-to-risk ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

The safety of Analgin (metamizole) is a subject of debate globally. While it is effective for pain and fever, the risk of a rare but serious blood disorder called agranulocytosis has led many countries to ban or restrict its use.

Agranulocytosis is a potentially fatal condition caused by a sudden, severe drop in white blood cell count. It can occur unpredictably with Analgin use, weakening the immune system and increasing the risk of serious infections.

No, Analgin (metamizole) was withdrawn from the market in the United States in 1977 due to the risk of agranulocytosis.

In many countries where it is available, Analgin is sold over-the-counter. However, in other regions, it is a prescription-only medication, and in many countries, it is entirely banned.

Common side effects may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, stomach pain, and a reddish discoloration of urine. More serious side effects can affect the blood, liver, and kidneys.

Use of Analgin in children varies by country and is often restricted or not recommended. For instance, in some regions, it is not recommended for children under 8 years old, and careful dosage is required.

Alternatives to Analgin include widely available and safer analgesics like paracetamol (acetaminophen) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, which are used to manage mild-to-moderate pain and fever.