Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) Dosing
Regarding medication dosing for fever: Fever in and of itself is not harmful to your previously healthy child. When you dose medication to treat a fever, you should be treating the discomfort or distress caused by the fever. For example, if your child has a temperature of 101.7 but is acting normally or sleeping comfortably, there is no need to treat this fever because the child is otherwise coping well with the body's natural response to illness. You should allow the body to do what it knows best and get rid of the infection. However, if your child has a temperature of 100.8 and is refusing to drink fluids and is looking rather miserable, certainly give your child an age/weight appropriate dose of fever reducer to make them feel better so that they can drink plenty of fluids and get through their illness without serious complications. Continue to monitor your child closely and dose accordingly as things do change.
It is typical for your child's fever to return when the medication wears off. Remember, you are treating the body's response to illness, NOT the illness itself. So, if the illness is still present after the medication wears off, of course the fever will return.
There are two medications recommended for fever:
- Acetaminophen (name brand is Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (name brands are Motrin and Advil)
Remember:
- Children under 2 months of age may not have any of these medications – rather, call your physician ASAP should your infant have a fever (temperature >100.4)
- Children under 6 months of age should not have Ibuprofen regardless of weight
- Recommended dosing is according to your child's weight if you know your child's weight, and by age if you are unsure. See dose chart below.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Dosage Chart (every 4 hours, as needed)
| Weight | Age | NEW Infant Suspension (160 mg/5 ml) | OLD Infant Drops (80 mg/0.8 ml) | Children's Suspension (160 mg/5 ml) | NEW Children's Soft Chew Tablets (160 mg each) | OLD Children's Soft Chew Tablets (80 mg each) | Jr. Strength Tabs/Caps (160 mg each) | Rectal Suppositories (various doses) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-11 lbs | 2-3 mos. | 1.25 ml | 0.4 ml = ½ dropper | (½) 80 mg suppository | ||||
| 12-17 lbs | 4-11 mos. | 2.5 ml | 0.8 ml = 1 dropper | ½ tsp = 2.5 ml | (1) 80 mg suppository | |||
| 18-23 lbs | 12-23 mos. | 3.75 ml | 1.2 ml = 1½ dropper | ¾ tsp = 3.75 ml | (1) 120 mg suppository | |||
| 24-35 lbs | 2-3 yrs. | 5 ml | 1.6 ml = 2 droppers | 1 tsp = 5 ml | 1 chew tab | 2 chew tabs | (½) 325 mg suppository | |
| 36-47 lbs | 4-5 yrs. | 1½ tsp = 7.5 ml | 1½ chew tabs | 3 chew tabs | 1½ tabs/caps | (2) 120 mg suppositories | ||
| 48-59 lbs | 6-8 yrs. | 2 tsp = 10 ml | 2 chew tabs | 4 chew tabs | 2 tabs/caps | (1) 325 mg suppository | ||
| 60-71 lbs | 9-10 yrs. | 2½ tsp = 12.5 ml | 2½ chew tabs | 5 chew tabs | 2½ tabs/caps | (1) 325 mg suppository | ||
| 72-95 lbs | 11 yrs. | 3 tsp = 15 ml | 3 chew tabs | 6 chew tabs | 3 tabs/caps | (1½) 325 mg suppository | ||
| over 95 lbs | over 11 yrs. | 4 tabs/caps OR 2 adult tabs/caps | (1) 650 mg suppository OR (2) 325 mg suppositories |
Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) Dosage Chart (every 6-8 hours, as needed)
| Infant Drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) | Children's Suspension (100 mg/5 ml) | Chewable Tabs (100 mg each) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Age | if fever < 102.5 | if fever > 102.5 or pain relief | if fever < 102.5 | if fever > 102.5 or pain relief | if fever < 102.5 | if fever > 102.5 or pain relief |
| under 12 lbs | 0-6 mos. | Do not give ibuprofen to an infant under the age of 6 months without specific direction from a physician. | |||||
| 12-17 lbs | 6-11 mos. | 25 mg = 0.675 ml | 50 mg = 1.25 ml | ¼ tsp = 1.25 ml/25 mg | ½ tsp = 2.5 ml/50 mg | ||
| 18-23 lbs | 12-23 mos. | 50 mg = 1.25 ml | 100 mg = 2.5 ml | ½ tsp = 2.5 ml/50 mg | 1 tsp = 5 ml/100 mg | ½ tab = 50 mg | 1 tab = 100 mg |
| 24-35 lbs | 2-3 yrs. | 75 mg = 1.875 ml | 150 mg = 3.75 ml | ¾ tsp = 3.75 ml/75 mg | 1½ tsp = 7.5 ml/150 mg | ¾ tab = 75 mg | 1½ tab = 150 mg |
| 36-47 lbs | 4-5 yrs. | 1 tsp = 5 ml/100 mg | 2 tsp = 10 ml/200 mg | 1 tab = 100 mg | 2 tabs = 200 mg | ||
| 48-59 lbs | 6-8 yrs. | 1¼ tsp = 6.25 ml/125 mg | 2½ tsp = 12.5 ml/250 mg | 1¼ tab = 125 mg | 2½ tabs = 250 mg | ||
| 60-71 lbs | 9-10 yrs. | 1½ tsp = 7.5 ml/150 mg | 3 tsp = 15 ml/300 mg | 1½ tab = 150 mg | 3 tabs = 300 mg | ||
| 72-95 lbs | 11 yrs. | 2 tsp = 10 ml/200 mg OR 1 adult cap/tab | 4 tsp = 20 ml/400 mg OR 2 adult cap/tab | 2 tabs = 200 mg OR 1 adult cap/tab | 4 tabs = 400 mg OR 2 adult cap/tab | ||
| over 95 lbs | over 11 yrs. | For older children who can swallow pills, adult ibuprofen contains 200 mg per capsule/tablet. Children 12 years and older can take 2 adult caps/tabs every 6-8 hours as needed, regardless of the reason for the medicine (fever, pain, headache, etc.). |
Ibuprofen doses are calculated according to the reason for the medicine, including height of fever (rectal/ear) and treatment of pain. If you are taking your child's temperature orally, add one degree to the actual reading to determine the number you should use above. Do not give ibuprofen to a child with chickenpox.
