Giving Your Child Acetaminophen Safely
ACETAMINOPHEN DOSAGES (Liquid, Chewable, Tablet)
It is best to give children acetaminophen using their weight instead of age when figuring out how much medicine to give. But if you don't know your child's weight, use their age to figure out the dose.
|
Weight
(lbs = pounds)
|
Age
|
Dosage
(mg)
|
Liquid
Volume (ml)
(Strength =
160 mg/5 mL)
|
Chewable tablet
80 mg
|
Chewable tablet
160 mg
|
Tablet
325 mg
(if able to swallow a pill)
|
|
6–11 lbs
|
0–3 months
|
40 mg
|
1.25 mL
(¼ teaspoon)
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
|
12–17 lbs
|
4–11 months
|
80 mg
|
2.5 mL
(½ teaspoon)
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
|
18–23 lbs
|
1–2 years
|
120 mg
|
3.75 mL
(¾ teaspoon)
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
DO NOT USE
|
|
24–35 lbs
|
2–3 years
|
160 mg
|
5 mL
(1 teaspoon)
|
2
|
1
|
DO NOT USE
|
|
36–47 lbs
|
4–5 years
|
240 mg
|
7.5 mL
(1½ teaspoons)
|
3
|
1½
|
DO NOT USE
|
|
48–59 lbs
|
6–8 years
|
320 mg
|
10 mL
(2 teaspoons)
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
|
60–71 lbs
|
9–10 years
|
400 mg
|
12.5 mL
(2½ teaspoons)
|
5
|
2½
|
1
|
|
72–95 lbs
|
11 years
|
480 mg
|
15 mL
(3 teaspoons)
|
6
|
3
|
1½
|
|
Over
95 lbs
|
Over
11 years
|
640 mg
|
20 mL
(4 teaspoons)
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
Abbreviations: mg = milligram; mL or ml = milliliter / Note: 5 mL = 1 teaspoon; Do not use a kitchen spoon to measure any liquid medicine. Use the measuring tool that came with the medicine.
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever often used for kids (brand names include Tylenol® and others). It also helps bring down fevers. Acetaminophen comes in different forms, including:
When you give your child medicine, always check the strength listed on the label:
-
For a liquid medicine, strength means how many milligrams (mg) of medicine are in a certain amount of liquid (liquid medicines are measured in milliliters [mL]). For example:
-
For a tablet, pill, or suppository, strength means how many milligrams are in each. For example:
-
Chewable tablet labels should say "80 mg each" or "160 mg each."
-
Pill labels should say "325 mg each."
-
Suppository labels should say "80 mg each," "120 mg each," or "325 mg each."
-
Give medicine exactly as directed. Do not give medicine more often than is recommended, and do not give a larger dose than is recommended.
-
Do not give acetaminophen more than 5 times in 24 hours. Giving too much acetaminophen or giving it too often can cause problems with the liver.
-
Do not give any other medicines that also contain acetaminophen, such as cough, cold, or allergy medicines and some prescription pain medicines. Using two medicines that contain acetaminophen could cause your child to get too much.
-
Know your child's weight so that you can give the correct dose.
-
Make sure you and all caregivers write down the time that you give each dose of acetaminophen so that extra doses are not given by mistake.
-
You have any questions.
-
Your child's pain or fever is not getting better after you give the acetaminophen.
-
You accidentally gave your child more than the recommended dose.
-
Your child is getting worse or not improving.
-
Your child develops new symptoms.
