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 Ask Dr. Jana
Fever Medication: Knowing The Dose | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
How do I know how much Tylenol® or Motrin® to give my son?
— Christina in Tallmadge, Ohio | | | ANSWER |
May 27, 2000 | | | Dear Christina,
Dosing for both Tylenol® (acetaminophen) and Motrin® (ibuprofen) is based on a child's weight. The manufacturers of both of these over-the-counter medications provide printed information on or in the box that can give you an idea of how much medicine to give your child and how often. However, I have always recommended that parents make a habit of asking their child's health care professional at each well visit (and definitely at a sick visit) the proper dose of medicine for their child at his current weight so they don't find themselves without all the information they need when their child becomes sick in the middle of the night.
In support of this suggestion, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement on October 1, 2001, recommending that pediatricians give specific written information about acetaminophen dosing (and the risks of inappropriate dosing) as a routine part of each well-child visit.
Here are a few other important things for you to be aware of when it comes to using these common children's medications:
- Take these medications seriously. Although they can be both safe and effective, they do have the potential to cause serious problems when given in inappropriate doses.
- Pay attention to the strength of the medication you are giving; The infant drops contain far more medication than does the same dose of children's syrup. If a parent were instructed to give his child a teaspoon (5 ml) of acetaminophen syrup and mistakenly gave a teaspoon of the infant drops instead, the child would get approximately three times the recommended dose!
- Be sure to discuss the use of rectal acetaminophen with your child's health care provider before giving it to your child, since it is easy to give too much or too little by this route.
- Make sure that you let your child's doctor and pharmacist know whenever you are giving your child acetaminophen, and read labels carefully. Many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines also contain acetaminophen, and giving them in addition to giving acetaminophen alone has the potential for overdose.
— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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