Medicines for Fever or Pain Relief

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is available without a prescription. Determine the correct dosage by finding your child's weight on the left margin of the table. You may repeat the dosage every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Do not give acetaminophen more than 5 times a day. Do not use acetaminophen in children under 3 months of age. If your infant has a fever during the first 12 weeks of life, see your child's healthcare provider immediately.

Weight           (Dosage Form)             Dose
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7-13 pounds       infant drops             0.4 ml or 40 mg
                  children's liquid        1/4 tsp or 1.25 ml
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14-20 pounds      infant drops             0.8 ml or 80 mg
                  children's liquid        1/2 tsp or 2.5 ml
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21-27 pounds      infant drops             1.2 ml or 120 mg
                  children's liquid        3/4 tsp or 3.75 ml
                  chewable 80 mg tablets   1+1/2 tablets or 120 mg
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28 -41 pounds     infant drops             1.6 ml or 160 mg
                  children's liquid        1 tsp or 5 ml
                  chewable tablets         2 tablets or 160 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets     1 tablet or 160 mg
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42-55 pounds      infant drops             2.4 ml or 240 mg
                  children's liquid        1+1/2 tsp or 7.5 ml
                  chewable tablets         3 tablets or 240 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets     1+1/2 tablet or 240 mg
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56-83 pounds      chewable tablets         4 tablets or 320  mg
                  Jr. strength tablets     2 tablets or 320 mg
                  adult tablets            1 tablet or 325 mg
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84-111 pounds     chewable tablets         6 tablets or 480 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets     3 tablets or 480 mg
                  adult 325 mg tablets     1+1/2 tablets or 480 mg
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112+ pounds       chewable tablets         8 tablets or 640 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets     4 tablets or 640 mg
                  adult tablets            2 tablets or 650 mg
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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 weight.

Ibuprofen

Determine the correct dosage by finding your child's weight on the left margin of the table. You may repeat the dosage every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Note that some medicines come with a 1.25 ml dropper and others come with a 1.875 ml syringe. Don't let the dropper/syringe difference confuse you. The milligram amount you should give is the same. Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months of age.

Weight           (Dosage Form)             Dose
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12-17 pounds      drops                     1.25 ml or 50 mg
                  children's liquid         1/2 tsp or 2.5 ml
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18-23 pounds      drops                     1.875 ml or 75 mg
                  children's liquid         3/4 tsp or 3.75 ml
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24-35 pounds      drops                     2.5 ml or 100 mg
                  children's liquid         1 tsp or 5 ml
                  chewable tablets          2 tablets or 100 mg
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36-47 pounds      drops                     3.75 ml or 150 mg
                  children's liquid         1+1/2 tsp or 7.5 ml
                  chewable tablets          3 tablets or 150 mg
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48-59 pounds      children's liquid         2 tsp or 10 ml
                  chewable tablets          4 tablets or 200 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets      2 tablets or 200 mg
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60-71 pounds      children's liquid         2+1/2 tsp or 12.5 ml
                  chewable tablets          5 tablets or 250 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets      2+1/2 tablets or 250 mg
                  adult tablets             1 tablet or 200 mg
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72-95 pounds      children's liquid         3 tsp or 15 ml
                  chewable tablets          6 tablets or 300 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets      3 tablets or 300 mg
                  adult tablets             1+1/2 tablets or 300 mg
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96+ pounds        children's liquid         4 tsp or 20 ml
                  chewable tablets          8 tablets or 400 mg
                  Jr. strength tablets      4 tablets or 400 mg
                  adult tablets             2 tablets or 400 mg
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Abbreviations:  mg = milligrams    ml = milliliter    tsp = teaspoon

Alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen

Alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen is generally not recommended. It can be confusing and lead to dosage errors and poisoning. In addition, fevers can almost always be brought down to a comfortable level with just one medicine. If instructed by your healthcare provider to alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen, however, do it as follows:

• Alternate doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen every 4 hours (not every 3 hours).
• Alternate medicines for only 24 hours or less, then return to giving a single product.

Avoid Aspirin

Children (through age 21 years) should not take aspirin, especially 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 encephalitis-like illness. Most pediatricians have stopped using aspirin for all fevers associated with any illness.