Cold medications are not approved for children under 4 years old.
Please do not give any medication to infants less than 2 months old.
Please do not give these over the counter medications if your child has a history of liver or kidney failure.
Please call the office immediately if your infant is under 2 months and has a fever of greater than 100.4 F rectally.
Temperature should be measured rectally in infants under 6 months of age. Underarm (axillary) or ear (otic) thermometers should be reserved for children over the age of 6 months. An oral thermometer is not appropriate until your child can hold it under his or her tongue for several minutes without biting (usually around age 5).
Make sure you do not mix medicines containing the same components (Tylenol & Feverall® for example).
All doses are determined by weight not age.
Please remember these are guidelines, follow the manufacturer's label on all products.
Please remember that you are treating your child, not a number on the thermometer. Your goal in treating a fever is to make your child comfortable, not to make the number lower.
Always check the label for the type of medicine you are giving as well as to check the dosage.
Ibuprofen (Advil® / Motrin®) Note: Ibuprofen cannot be given to infants less than 6 mos. old.
Please wait until your infant is at least 6 months old before using ibuprofen. Doses can be given every 6 hours. When treating fever or pain, the chart below can be a guideline:
Weight
Milligram Dosage
Drops 50mg/ 1.25ml
Children's liquid
100mg/5ml
Chewable Tabs 50mg ea.
Junior strength Caps or chews 100mg ea.
12-17 lbs
50 mg
1.25ml
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml)
N/A
N/A
18-23 lbs
75 mg
1.875ml
3/4 tsp (3.75 ml)
N/A
N/A
24-35 lbs
100 mg
1.25+1.25 (2.5ml)
1 tsp (5 ml)
2 tablets
1 tablet
36-47 lbs
150 mg
N/A
1 1/2 tsp (7.5 ml)
3 tablets
1 1/2 tablets
48-59 lbs
200 mg
N/A
2 tsp (10 ml)
4 tablets
2 tablets
60-71 lbs
250 mg
N/A
2 1/2 tsp (12.5ml)
5 tablets
2 1/2 tablets
72-95 lbs
300 mg
N/A
3 tsp (15ml)
6 tablets
3 tablets
>95 lbs
400 mg
N/A
4 tsp (20ml)
8 tablets
4 tablets
> 95 lbs
Or Give
Adult
Dosage
Of
Adult Tablets
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may be given every 4 hours as needed.
Dosing frequency is every 4-6 hours. When treating fever or pain, the chart below can be a guideline:
Dosing frequency is every 4-6 hours. When using suppositories, petroleum jelly can be used to assist in the insertion of the suppository. Insertion of the suppositories is similar to using a rectal thermometer. When treating fever or pain, the chart below can be a guideline:
Weight:
Milligram Dosage
Children's Suppository
80mg each
Children's Suppository
120mg each
Junior Strength Suppository 325mg each
12-17 lbs
80 mg
1 suppository
N/A
N/A
18-25 lbs
120 mg
1 1/2 suppository
1 suppository
N/A
26-35 lbs
180 mg
N/A
1 1/2 suppositories
N/A
36-47 lbs
240 mg
N/A
2 suppositories
N/A
48-74 lbs
325 mg
N/A
N/A
1 suppository
75-95 lbs
500 mg
N/A
N/A
1 1/2 suppositories
>95 lbs
650 mg
N/A
N/A
2 suppositories
Benadryl® (diphenhydramine) is used for hives and to reduce the itchiness associated with rashes such as with eczema or poison ivy.
Benadryl® can be given every 6-8 hours as needed. Most children become sleepy after taking Benadryl®. However, occasionally, a few children have the opposite response and get “hyper” with Benadryl®. A test dose during the day is advised.
