February 22, 2024
Background:
Just about every other day, I encounter a parent who says "the medicine did not work!" Almost all children medications are weight based - a younger kid needs less medicine, a bigger kid needs more medicine. Appropriate dosing of medications is important if the medication is to work. Below you will see the weight-based dosing for the most common over-the-counter (OTC) meds.
OTC Medication Dosages
Doses are based on weight (be sure to use the right metric - lbs or kg). As your child gets bigger, the dose of medicine they will need increases.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol):
Use for pain relief and comfort if your child has a fever. (It will bring the fever down but will not do anything for underlying cause of the fever.)
Give by mouth every 4 hours as needed; give no more than 5 doses in 24 hours.
Please, check the drug preparation and concentration you are using. Read all the labels and carefully follow directions. Acetaminophen overdoses are very dangerous.
|
Weight |
6-11lbs |
12-17lbs |
18-23lbs |
24-35lbs |
36-47lbs |
48-59lbs |
|
DOSE |
40 mg |
80 mg |
120 mg |
160 mg |
240 mg |
320 mg |
|
Infant acetaminophen liquid (160mg/5mL) |
1.25mL |
2.5mL |
3.75mL |
5mL |
|
|
|
Children's Acetaminophen Suspension/Elixir 160mg/5mL |
1.25mL 1/4 tsp |
2.5 mL 1/2 tsp |
3.75 mL 3/4 tsp |
5 mL 1 tsp |
7.5 mL 1 1/2 tsp |
10 mL 2 tsp |
|
Acetaminophen Chewtabs/Meltaway 80mg/tab |
|
|
1 ½ tab |
2 tabs |
3 tabs |
4 tabs |
|
Acetaminophen Junior Strength/Meltaway 160mg/tab |
|
|
|
1 tab |
1 1/2 tabs |
2 tabs |
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil):
Use for pain relief and comfort if your child has a fever. (It will bring the fever down but will not do anything for underlying cause of the fever.)
Give by mouth every 6-8 hours as needed.
Only use for children over 6 months of age and if the child is drinking fluids well.
|
Weight |
6-11lbs |
12-17lbs |
18-23lbs |
24-35lbs |
36-47lbs |
48-59lbs |
|
Dose |
|
50 mg |
75 mg |
100 mg |
150 mg |
200mg |
|
Ibuprofen Infant Drops (50mg/1.25mL) |
Not recommended |
1.25 mL |
1.875 mL |
2.5 mL |
3.75 mL |
|
|
Ibuprofen Children’s Suspension (100mg/5mL) |
|
|
|
5 mL 1 tsp |
7.5 mL 1 ½ tsp |
10 mL 2 tsp |
|
Ibuprofen Chewtabs 50mg |
|
|
1 ½ tabs |
2 tabs |
3 tabs |
4 tabs |
|
Advil Junior Strength 100mg |
|
|
|
|
|
2 tabs |