Acetaminophendosing chart
Medicines for fever or pain relief
Acetaminophen dosing chart (see other side for ibuprofen)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is available without a prescription.
• Determine the correct dose by finding the child’s weight in pounds in the top row 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 2 months of age unless directed by your health care provider.
• If your infant has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher during the first 2 months of life, contact your
child’s health care provider right away.
Acetaminophen also is 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 or having fever-related seizures. Use the same dose as listed above for
the suppository. Most suppositories can be cut to the right dose for your child’s age.
Please call your clinic or pharmacist if you have any questions.
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Weight 6-11 lbs 12-17 lbs 18-23 lbs 24-35 lbs 36-47 lbs 48-59 lbs 60-71 lbs 72-95 lbs 96+ lbs
Milligram dosage 40 mg 80 mg 120 mg 160 mg 240 mg 325 mg 400 mg 480 mg 650 mg
Infant drops
80 mg/0.8 ml 0.4 ml 0.8 ml 1.2 ml 1.6 ml 2.4 ml
1 dropper = 0.8 ml (0.8+0.4) (0.8+0.8) (0.8+0.8+0.8)
Infant Oral
suspension 1.25 ml 2.5 ml 3.75 ml 5 ml
160 mg/5ml (1⁄4 tsp) (1⁄2 tsp) (3⁄4 tsp) (1 tsp)
1 dropper = 5 ml
Children’s Liquid
160 mg/5ml 1.25 ml 2.5 ml 3.75 ml 5 ml 7.5 ml 10 ml 12.5 ml 15 ml
(1 tsp) (1⁄4 tsp) (1⁄2 tsp) (3⁄4 tsp) (1 tsp) (11⁄2 tsp) (2 tsp) (21⁄2 tsp) (3 tsp)
Chewable Tablets
80 mg each2 tablets 3 tablets 4 tablets 5 tablets 6 tablets
Junior Strength
Tablets 2 tablets 21⁄2 tablets 3 tablets
160 mg each
Adult Regular
Strength Tablets 1 tablet 1 tablet
325 mg each
Adult Extra
Strength Tablets
500 mg each
03/17 ©2017 CentraCare Health Pediatrics
Abbreviations:
mg = milligrams
ml = milliliter
tsp = teaspoon
centracare.com
Ibuprofendosing chart
Medicines for fever or pain relief
Ibuprofen dosing chart (see other side for acetaminophen)
• Determine the correct dose by finding the child’s weight in pounds in the top row 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.
• DO NOT give ibuprofen to children under 6 months of age.
Alternating or combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen generally is not recommended. Combining can cause confusion,
dosage errors and poisoning.
• 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.
Avoid aspirinChildren (through age 21 years) should NOT take aspirin if they have chicken pox or flu-like symptoms such as fever,
cold, cough or sore throat. Several studies have linked aspirin to Reye’s syndrome, a severe encephalitis-like illness.
Most pediatricians have stopped recommending aspirin for fevers.
Please call your clinic or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of “Your Child’s Health,” Bantam Books.
Copyright © McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries.
All Rights Reserved.
Weight 12-17 lbs 18-23 lbs 24-35 lbs 36-47 lbs 48-59 lbs 60-71 lbs 72-95 lbs 96+ lbs
Milligram dosage 50 mg 75 mg 100 mg 150 mg 200 mg 250 mg 300 mg 400 mg
Infant drops
50 mg/1.25 ml 1.25 ml 1.875 ml 2.5 ml 3.75 ml 5 ml
1 dropper = 1.25 ml (1.25+0.625) (1.25+1.25) (1.25+1.25+1.25) (1.25+1.25+
1.25+1.25)
Children’s Liquid
100 mg/5ml 2.5 ml 3.75 ml 5 ml 7.5 ml 10 ml 12.5 ml 15 ml 20 ml
(1 tsp) (1⁄2 tsp) (3⁄4 tsp) (1 tsp) (11⁄2 tsp) (2 tsp) (21⁄2 tsp) (3 tsp) (4 tsp)
Chewable Tablets
50 mg each2 tablets 3 tablets 4 tablets 5 tablets 6 tablets 8 tablets
Junior Strength
Tablets 2 tablets 21⁄2 tablets 3 tablets 4 tablets
100 mg each
Adult Regular
Strength Tablets 1 tablet 1 tablet 11⁄2 tablets 2 tablets
200 mg each
03/17 ©2017 CentraCare Health Pediatrics
Abbreviations:
mg = milligrams
ml = milliliter
tsp = teaspoon
centracare.com