Acetaminophen is available without a prescription. Children older than 2 months of age can be given any one of the acetaminophen products (such as, Tylenol). They all have the same dosage. Give the correct dosage for your child's weight every 4 to 6 hours.
10-11 pounds: drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1/2 dropper 4-6 hours
12-17 pounds: drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1 dropper 4-6 syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 1/2 tsp hours
18-23 pounds: drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1+1/2 dropper 4-6 syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 3/4 tsp hours chewable tablets (80 mg) 1+1/2 tablets
24-35 pounds: drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 2 droppers 4-6 syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 1 tsp hours chewable tablets (80 mg) 2 tablets chewable tablets (160 mg) 1 tablet
36-47 pounds: drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 3 droppers 4-6 syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 1+1/2 tsp hours chewable tablets (80 mg) 3 tablets chewable tablets (160 mg) 1+1/2 tablet
48-59 pounds: syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 2 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 4 tablets hours chewable tablets (160 mg) 2 tablet 60-71 pounds: syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 2+1/2 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 5 tablets hours chewable tablets (160 mg) 2+1/2 tablets adult tablets (325 mg) 1 tablet
72-95 pounds: syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 3 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 6 tablets hours chewable tablets (160 mg) 3 tablets adult tablets (325 mg) 1 to 1+1/2 tablets
96+ pounds: syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 4 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 8 tablets hours chewable tablets (160 mg) 4 tablets adult tablets (325 mg) 2 tablets
Abbreviations: mg = milligrams ml = milliliter tsp = teaspoon
Suppositories: Acetaminophen is also available as a rectal suppository in 120-mg, 325-mg, and 650-mg dosages. Suppositories are useful if a child with a fever is vomiting often or having seizures caused by the fever. Use the same dose as listed above for the suppository. Most suppositories can be cut (for example, cut in half) to supply the right dose for your child's age.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is available without a prescription. Give the correct dosage for your child's weight every 6 to 8 hours.
12-17 pounds: drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 1 dropper 6-8 hours
18-23 pounds: drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 1+1/2 dropper 6-8 hours liquid (100mg/5ml) 3/4 tsp chewable tablets (50 mg) 1+1/2 tablets
24-35 pounds: drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 2 droppers 6-8 hours liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 1 tsp chewable tablets (50 mg) 2 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 1 tablet
36-47 pounds: drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 3 droppers 6-8 hours liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 1+1/2 tsp chewable tablets (50 mg) 3 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 1+1/2 tablet
48-59 pounds: liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 2 tsp 6-8 hours chewable tablets (50 mg) 4 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 2 tablets
60-71 pounds: liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 2+1/2 tsp 6-8 hours chewable tablets (50 mg) 5 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 2+1/2 tablets
72-95 pounds: liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 3 tsp 6-8 hours chewable tablets (50 mg) 6 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 3 tablets adult tablets (200 mg) 1+1/2 tablets
96+ pounds: liquid (100 mg/5ml) 4 tsp 6-8 hours chewable tablets (50 mg) 8 tablets chewable tablets (100 mg) 4 tablets adult tablets (200 mg) 2 tablets --------------------------------------------------------------------- Abbreviations: mg = milligrams ml = milliliter tsp = teaspoon
If instructed by your health care provider to alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen, do it as follows:
Combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen is generally not recommended. Combining can cause confusion, dosage errors, and poisoning.
Children (through age 21 years) should not take aspirin if they have chickenpox or influenza (any cold, cough, or sore throat symptoms). This recommendation is based on several studies that have linked aspirin to Reye's syndrome, a severe encephalitislike illness. Most pediatricians have stopped using aspirin for fevers associated with any illness.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.