Medicines for Fever or Pain Relief
Acetaminophen
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.
Type May Give
Weight (Dosage Form) Dose Every
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10-11 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1/2 dropper 4-6
hours
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12-17 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1 dropper 4-6
syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 1/2 tsp hours
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is available without a prescription. Give the correct dosage for your child's weight every 6 to 8 hours.
Type May Give
Weight (Dosage Form) Dose Every
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12-17 pounds drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 1 dropper 6-8 hours
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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
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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
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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
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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
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60-71 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
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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
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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
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Abbreviations: mg = milligrams ml = milliliter tsp = teaspoon
Alternating or Combining Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen
If instructed by your health care provider to alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen, do it as follows:
- Alternate doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen every 4 hours.
- Alternate medicines for only 24 hours or less, then return to a single product.
Combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen is generally not recommended. Combining can cause confusion, dosage errors, and poisoning.
Avoid Aspirin
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.
