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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.
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Weight Dosage Form Dose Every
===================================================================== 10-11 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1/2 dropper 4-6 ===================================================================== 12-17 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1 dropper 4-6 ===================================================================== 18-23 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 1+1/2 dropper 4-6 ===================================================================== 24-35 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 2 droppers 4-6 ===================================================================== 36-47 pounds drops (80 mg/0.8ml) 3 droppers 4-6 ===================================================================== 48-59 pounds syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 2 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 4 tablets hours ====================================================================== 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 ====================================================================== 72-95 pounds syrup (160 mg/5 ml) 3 tsp 4-6 chewable tablets (80 mg) 6 tablets hours 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 ====================================================================== 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
,EXSURIHQ$GYLO0RWULQLVDYDLODEOHZLWKRXWDSUHVFULSWLRQ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Weight Dosage Form Dose Every
==================================================================== 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 ==================================================================== 24-35 pounds drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 2 droppers 6-8 hours ==================================================================== 36-47 pounds drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) 3 droppers 6-8 hours ==================================================================== 48-59 pounds liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 2 tsp 6-8 hours ==================================================================== 60-71 liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 2+1/2 tsp 6-8 hours chewable tablets (100 mg) 2+1/2 tablets ==================================================================== 72-95 pounds liquid (100 mg/5 ml) 3 tsp 6-8 hours ==================================================================== 96+ pounds liquid (100 mg/5ml) 4 tsp 6-8 hours ===================================================================== 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 fol ows:
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 il ness.
Pediatric Advisor 2006.4; Copyright 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books. This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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